Getting started
The recommended stack, in one table
What to use at each layer and why, in one table.
| Layer | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Scaffold | npm create solana-dapp@latest (an *-anchor template) |
Anchor program + frontend + wallet, in one command |
| Programs | Anchor (default) · Pinocchio if you need extreme performance | Anchor saves you most of the boilerplate and automates the account validations |
| TS client | @solana/kit v8 |
The current library, modular and tree-shakeable (the plugin API is the same since v7). @solana/web3.js v1 is legacy |
| Wallet UI | @solana/kit-plugin-wallet + @solana/react (Wallet Standard) · Privy for embedded wallets |
Login with email; the user installs nothing |
| Network | Devnet | Free SOL; nobody deploys to mainnet in a hackathon |
| RPC | Triton (one API key per team) | The public endpoint falls over right during the demo |
| Tests | LiteSVM / Mollusk (unit) · Surfpool (integration, with a mainnet fork) | Fast; no full validator to spin up |
| Codegen | Codama | Typed TypeScript client from the IDL |
| Tokens | SPL Token / Token-2022 · @solana/token-helpers |
Do not write your own token program |
| NFTs | Metaplex Core (Umi) · Bubblegum for compressed | Solved and audited |
| Oracles | Pyth · Switchboard | Prices and real-world data |
| Gasless | Privy fee sponsorship · Kora | The user never sees "you need SOL" |
| Machine-to-machine payments | x402 (Faremeter, Corbits, PayAI) | An agent or client pays an API per request, in USDC |
| AI in the editor | Solana MCP + solana-dev-skill |
Up-to-date docs; without this the model writes 2023 code |