How does Applet work - FAQs
Applet gives you a lightweight canvas for building modern web apps quickly. It specializes in single-page, client-side apps with a small, dependable stack so you can prototype, iterate, and ship your ideas as quickly as you have them.
Important: Applet is in public alpha - things are changing rapidly and improving everyday. There's never been a better time to join the community on Discord, and share your thoughts
What you can build Copied! Link to this section
Data-centric apps
- Dashboards, charts and trend views - perfect for personal budget tracking
- Form wizards, quizzes
- Tables, filters, and project tracking kanban boards
Interactive prototypes & design tools
- Component playgrounds
- Design token editors (theme controls)
- Motion/animation labs
Media & creative
- Audio synths and loopers
- Lightweight video players and editors - combine clips, add timestamped notes, break things into chapters
- 3D viewers & configurators (think material toggles, “studio light” presets etc)
Simple games
If you follow me (Jack) on LinkedIn, you will have seen some of these games I've built with Applet 😜
Mobile-first & offline-friendly
- PWAs (installable apps) - like a journal or personal note-taker to have on your phone
Tip: This is just a quick run-down of some basic ideas and common use cases. Just because something isn't in this list, doesn't mean you can't build it. We love seeing the more creative things that Appleteers come up with. 😎
At a (slightly technical) glance Copied! Link to this section
Applet’s core stack is made up of:
- React 19 (The UI building blocks)
- Tailwind 4 + shadcn/ui (Styling and accessible components)
- Applet also comes with built-in support for producing:
- Charts and data visualisation (with Recharts / D3)
- Animations & micro-interactions (with Framer motion)
- Audio synthesis & sequencing (with Web Audio API)
- 3D scenes and viewers (with Three.js)
You can add additional libraries, but not swap out the framework stack.
The simple version: you get a fast, responsive app that runs in the browser, uses clean design primitives, can draw charts, play audio, render 3D, and more.
For more info about Applet's limits, check out this article.
When to choose Applet Copied! Link to this section
Pick Applet when you want to:
- Build fast, focused tools and prototypes.
- Ship data dashboards, admin surfaces, or creative labs without spinning up servers.
- Keep things portable (runs anywhere a modern browser does).
Consider a different approach if you require:
- Full server-side rendering, SEO, or multi-page content.
- Complex backend logic, secure secret handling on your own server, or deep OS integrations.
FAQs Copied! Link to this section
Can I add other libraries?
Yes—utilities, chart helpers, form libs, etc. The core framework (React) stays the same.
Can I store data offline?
Not just yet - but we're working on it. Watch this space!
What about authentication?
Same as above, it's on its way. 🔜
