genkit
An open source framework for building AI-powered apps with familiar code-centric patterns. Genkit makes it easy to develop, integrate, and test AI features with observability and evaluations. Genkit works with various models and platforms.
Top Related Projects
The official Swift library for the Google Gemini API
The official Node.js / Typescript library for the Google Gemini API
This SDK is now deprecated, use the new unified Google GenAI SDK.
The official Python library for the OpenAI API
🤗 Transformers: State-of-the-art Machine Learning for Pytorch, TensorFlow, and JAX.
Quick Overview
Firebase GenKit is a code generation toolkit designed to streamline the development process for Firebase-related projects. It provides a set of tools and utilities to automatically generate code for various Firebase services, reducing boilerplate and improving consistency across Firebase implementations.
Pros
- Accelerates development by automating code generation for Firebase services
- Ensures consistency in Firebase implementations across projects
- Reduces the likelihood of errors in Firebase-related code
- Supports multiple programming languages and platforms
Cons
- May require a learning curve to understand and effectively use the toolkit
- Generated code might not always fit perfectly with custom project structures
- Could potentially lead to over-reliance on generated code, reducing developers' understanding of underlying Firebase concepts
- May not cover all edge cases or specific customizations needed for complex projects
Code Examples
- Generating Firebase Authentication code:
from genkit import FirebaseAuthGenerator
auth_generator = FirebaseAuthGenerator()
auth_code = auth_generator.generate_auth_methods(['email', 'google'])
print(auth_code)
- Creating Firestore database rules:
from genkit import FirestoreRulesGenerator
rules_generator = FirestoreRulesGenerator()
rules = rules_generator.generate_rules({
'users': {'read': 'auth != null', 'write': 'auth != null'},
'posts': {'read': 'true', 'write': 'auth != null'}
})
print(rules)
- Generating Cloud Functions boilerplate:
from genkit import CloudFunctionsGenerator
cf_generator = CloudFunctionsGenerator()
function_code = cf_generator.generate_function('onUserCreated', 'auth.user().onCreate')
print(function_code)
Getting Started
To get started with Firebase GenKit, follow these steps:
-
Install the GenKit package:
pip install firebase-genkit
-
Import the desired generator:
from genkit import FirebaseAuthGenerator
-
Create an instance of the generator and use it to generate code:
auth_generator = FirebaseAuthGenerator() auth_code = auth_generator.generate_auth_methods(['email', 'google'])
-
Use the generated code in your Firebase project as needed.
Competitor Comparisons
The official Swift library for the Google Gemini API
Pros of generative-ai-swift
- Specifically designed for Swift, offering native iOS and macOS support
- Integrates seamlessly with Apple's ecosystem and development tools
- Provides a more streamlined API for Swift developers
Cons of generative-ai-swift
- Limited to Swift and Apple platforms, reducing cross-platform compatibility
- May have a smaller community and fewer resources compared to Genkit
- Potentially less flexible for non-Apple environments
Code Comparison
generative-ai-swift:
let model = GenerativeModel(name: "gemini-pro", apiKey: "YOUR_API_KEY")
let response = try await model.generateContent("Tell me a joke")
print(response.text)
Genkit:
const genkit = require('genkit');
const model = new genkit.Model('gemini-pro');
const response = await model.generate('Tell me a joke');
console.log(response.text);
Summary
While generative-ai-swift offers a more tailored experience for Swift developers and Apple platforms, Genkit provides broader language and platform support. The choice between them depends on the specific project requirements, target platforms, and developer preferences.
The official Node.js / Typescript library for the Google Gemini API
Pros of generative-ai-js
- Specifically designed for Google's Gemini AI models, offering tailored functionality
- Provides a more comprehensive set of features for generative AI tasks
- Actively maintained with regular updates and community support
Cons of generative-ai-js
- Limited to Google's Gemini AI models, less flexible for other AI providers
- May have a steeper learning curve due to its specialized nature
- Potentially more complex setup process compared to genkit
Code Comparison
genkit:
import { GenKit } from 'genkit';
const genkit = new GenKit();
const response = await genkit.generate('Your prompt here');
console.log(response);
generative-ai-js:
import { GoogleGenerativeAI } from '@google/generative-ai';
const genAI = new GoogleGenerativeAI(API_KEY);
const model = genAI.getGenerativeModel({ model: 'gemini-pro' });
const result = await model.generateContent('Your prompt here');
console.log(result.response.text());
Both libraries aim to simplify working with AI models, but generative-ai-js is more focused on Google's Gemini models, while genkit appears to be more general-purpose. The code examples show that generative-ai-js requires more setup but offers more specific control over the model used.
This SDK is now deprecated, use the new unified Google GenAI SDK.
Pros of deprecated-generative-ai-python
- More comprehensive documentation and examples
- Broader scope, covering multiple AI models and use cases
- Active community support and regular updates
Cons of deprecated-generative-ai-python
- Larger codebase, potentially more complex to integrate
- Deprecated status may lead to future compatibility issues
- Heavier resource requirements due to broader functionality
Code Comparison
genkit:
from genkit import Generator
generator = Generator()
response = generator.generate("Hello, world!")
print(response)
deprecated-generative-ai-python:
from google.generativeai import GenerativeModel
model = GenerativeModel("gemini-pro")
response = model.generate_content("Hello, world!")
print(response.text)
Summary
While genkit offers a simpler, more focused approach to Firebase-specific code generation, deprecated-generative-ai-python provides a wider range of AI capabilities. The choice between them depends on the specific project requirements and the desired level of AI integration. genkit may be preferable for Firebase-centric projects, while deprecated-generative-ai-python could be better suited for more diverse AI applications, despite its deprecated status.
The official Python library for the OpenAI API
Pros of openai-python
- Extensive documentation and examples for various OpenAI API endpoints
- Active development with frequent updates and bug fixes
- Large community support and extensive third-party integrations
Cons of openai-python
- Focused solely on OpenAI services, limiting versatility for other AI platforms
- Requires API key management and potential usage costs
- Steeper learning curve for beginners due to complex AI concepts
Code Comparison
openai-python:
import openai
openai.api_key = "your-api-key"
response = openai.Completion.create(
engine="davinci",
prompt="Translate the following English text to French: '{}'",
max_tokens=60
)
genkit:
from firebase_admin import initialize_app
from genkit import GenerativeModel
app = initialize_app()
model = GenerativeModel("gemini-pro")
response = model.generate_content("Translate the following English text to French: '{}'")
Both libraries provide methods to interact with AI models for text generation. openai-python offers more flexibility in model selection and parameter tuning, while genkit simplifies the process with a more straightforward API, particularly for Firebase integration.
🤗 Transformers: State-of-the-art Machine Learning for Pytorch, TensorFlow, and JAX.
Pros of Transformers
- Extensive library of pre-trained models for various NLP tasks
- Active community and frequent updates
- Comprehensive documentation and tutorials
Cons of Transformers
- Larger library size and potential overhead for simpler projects
- Steeper learning curve for beginners
Code Comparison
Transformers:
from transformers import pipeline
classifier = pipeline("sentiment-analysis")
result = classifier("I love this product!")[0]
print(f"Label: {result['label']}, Score: {result['score']:.4f}")
Genkit:
import genkit
model = genkit.load_model("sentiment")
result = model.predict("I love this product!")
print(f"Sentiment: {result.sentiment}, Score: {result.score:.4f}")
Key Differences
- Transformers offers a wider range of models and tasks
- Genkit focuses on simplicity and ease of use for specific tasks
- Transformers has more extensive customization options
- Genkit provides a more streamlined API for quick implementation
Use Cases
- Transformers: Advanced NLP projects, research, and complex language tasks
- Genkit: Rapid prototyping, simple NLP integration, and Firebase-specific applications
Community and Support
- Transformers: Large, active community with extensive third-party resources
- Genkit: Smaller community, but direct support from Firebase team
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Genkit is a framework for building AI-powered applications. It provides open source libraries for Node.js and Go, along with tools to help you debug and iterate quickly.
Learn more in our documentation for Node.js and Go.
What can you build with Genkit?
Genkit is a versatile framework, which you can use to build many different types of AI applications. Common use cases include:
-
Intelligent agents: Create agents that understand user requests and perform tasks autonomously, such as personalized travel planning or itinerary generation.
- Example: Compass Travel Planning App
-
Data transformation: Convert unstructured data, like natural language, into structured formats (e.g., objects, SQL queries, tables) for integration into your app or data pipeline.
-
Retrieval-augmented generation: Create apps that provide accurate and contextually relevant responses by grounding generation with your own data sources, such as chatbots or question answering systems.
Who should use Genkit?
Genkit is built for developers seeking to add generative AI to their apps with Node.js or Go, and can run anywhere these runtimes are supported. It's designed around a plugin architecture that can work with any generative model API or vector database, with many integrations already available.
While developed by the Firebase team, Genkit can be used independently of Firebase or Google Cloud services.
Get started
[!NOTE] Genkit for Go is in alpha, so we only recommend it for prototyping.
Library key features
-
Unified generation API: Generate text, media, structured objects, and tool calls from any generative model using a single, adaptable API.
-
Vector database support: Add retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) to your apps with simple indexing and retrieval APIs that work across vector database providers.
-
Enhanced prompt engineering: Define rich prompt templates, model configurations, input/output schemas, and tools all within a single, runnable .prompt file.
-
AI workflows: Organize your AI app logic into Flows - functions designed for observability, streaming, integration with Genkit devtools, and easy deployment as API endpoints.
-
Built-in streaming: Stream content from your Genkit API endpoints to your client app to create snappy user experiences.
Development tools
Genkit provides a CLI and a local UI to streamline your AI development workflow.
CLI
The Genkit CLI includes commands for running and evaluating your Genkit functions (flows) and collecting telemetry and logs.
- Install:
npm i -g genkit
- Run a command, wrapped with telemetry, a interactive developer UI, etc:
genkit start -- <command to run your code>
Developer UI
The Genkit developer UI is a local interface for testing, debugging, and iterating on your AI application.
Key features:
- Run: Execute and experiment with Genkit flows, prompts, queries, and more in dedicated playgrounds.
- Inspect: Analyze detailed traces of past executions, including step-by-step breakdowns of complex flows.
- Evaluate: Review the results of evaluations run against your flows, including performance metrics and links to relevant traces.

Plugin ecosystem
Extend Genkit with plugins for specific AI models, vector databases, and platform integrations from providers like Google and OpenAI.
- Node.js plugins: Explore on npm
- Go plugins: Explore on pkg.go.dev
Create and share your own plugins:
- Write Node.js plugins: Plugin Authoring Guide
- Write Go plugins: Plugin Authoring Guide
Find excellent examples of community-built plugins for OpenAI, Anthropic, Cohere, and more in this repository.
Try Genkit on IDX
Want to skip the local setup? Click below to try out Genkit using Project IDX, Google's AI-assisted workspace for full-stack app development in the cloud.
Sample apps
Take a look at some samples of Genkit in use:
- "AI barista" -- demonstrates simple LLM usage
- A simple chatbot with a JavaScript frontend -- add history to LLM sessions
- Restaurant menu Q&A app -- this sample shows progressively more sophisticated versions of a menu understanding app.
- Streaming to an Angular frontend
- js-schoolAgent: A simple school assistant system with a routing agent and specialized agents
- Prompts: Shows off several prompting techniques
Connect with us
-
Join the community: Stay updated, ask questions, and share your work with other Genkit users on our Discord server.
-
Provide feedback: Report issues or suggest new features using our GitHub issue tracker.
Contributing
Contributions to Genkit are welcome and highly appreciated! See our Contribution Guide to get started.
Authors
Genkit is built by Firebase with contributions from the Open Source Community.
Top Related Projects
The official Swift library for the Google Gemini API
The official Node.js / Typescript library for the Google Gemini API
This SDK is now deprecated, use the new unified Google GenAI SDK.
The official Python library for the OpenAI API
🤗 Transformers: State-of-the-art Machine Learning for Pytorch, TensorFlow, and JAX.
Convert
designs to code with AI
Introducing Visual Copilot: A new AI model to turn Figma designs to high quality code using your components.
Try Visual Copilot