# Ripple Framework - AI/LLM Documentation

## Overview

Ripple is a TypeScript UI framework that combines the best parts of React, Solid, and Svelte into one elegant package. Created by Dominic Gannaway ([@trueadm](https://github.com/trueadm)), Ripple is designed to be JS/TS-first with its own `.ripple` file extension that fully supports TypeScript.

**Key Characteristics:**
- **Performance**: Fine-grain rendering, with industry-leading performance, bundle-size and memory usage
- **TypeScript-first**: Full TypeScript integration with type checking
- **JSX-like syntax**: Familiar templating with Ripple-specific enhancements
- **Reactive state**: Built-in reactivity with `track` and `@` reactive syntax
- **Component-based**: Clean, reusable components with props and children

## Installation & Setup

```bash
# Create new project from template
npx degit trueadm/ripple/templates/basic my-app
cd my-app
npm i && npm run dev

# Or install in existing project
npm install ripple
npm install --save-dev vite-plugin-ripple  # For Vite integration
```

## Core Syntax & Concepts

### Component Definition

Components are defined using the `component` keyword (not functions that return JSX):

```ripple
component Button(props: { text: string, onClick: () => void }) {
  <button onClick={props.onClick}>
    {props.text}
  </button>
}

// Usage
export component App() {
  <Button text="Click me" onClick={() => console.log("Clicked!")} />
}
```

### ⚠️ Critical: Text Content Must Be in Expressions

**IMPORTANT**: Unlike HTML or JSX, Ripple elements cannot contain raw text content. All text must be wrapped in JavaScript expressions using curly braces `{}`.

```ripple
// ❌ WRONG - Raw text not allowed
<div>Hello World</div>
<p>This will cause a compilation error</p>

// ✅ CORRECT - Text in expressions
<div>{"Hello World"}</div>
<p>{"This works correctly"}</p>

// ✅ CORRECT - Variables and expressions
<div>{greeting}</div>
<p>{`Dynamic content: ${value}`}</p>
```

This is because Ripple needs to distinguish between JavaScript code and literal strings within the template syntax. The parser cannot determine if `Hello` is meant to be a string literal or a JavaScript identifier without explicit expression syntax.

### ⚠️ Critical: Templates Only Inside Component Bodies

**IMPORTANT**: Ripple template syntax (JSX-like elements) can ONLY exist inside `component` function bodies. You cannot create JSX elements in regular functions, assign them to variables, or use them outside components.

```ripple
// ❌ WRONG - Templates outside component
const element = <div>{"Hello"}</div>;  // Compilation error

function regularFunction() {
  return <span>{"Not allowed"}</span>;  // Compilation error
}

const myTemplate = (
  <div>{"Cannot assign JSX"}</div>  // Compilation error
);

// ✅ CORRECT - Templates only inside components
component MyComponent() {
  // Template syntax is valid here
  <div>{"Hello World"}</div>

  // You can have JavaScript code mixed with templates
  const message = "Dynamic content";
  console.log("This JavaScript works");

  <p>{message}</p>
}

// ✅ CORRECT - Helper functions return data, not templates
function getMessage() {
  return "Hello from function";  // Return data, not JSX
}

component App() {
  <div>{getMessage()}</div>  // Use function result in template
}
```

This design enforces clear separation between component templates and regular JavaScript logic, making code more predictable and easier to analyze.

### Template Lexical Scoping

**Unique Feature**: Ripple templates act as lexical scopes, allowing you to declare variables, call functions, and execute JavaScript statements directly within JSX elements - similar to block statements in regular JavaScript.

```ripple
component TemplateScope() {
  <div>
    // Variable declarations inside templates
    const message = "Hello from template scope";
    let count = 42;

    // Function calls and expressions
    console.log("This runs during render");

    // Conditional logic
    const isEven = count % 2 === 0;

    <h1>{message}</h1>
    <p>{"Count is: "}{count}</p>

    if (isEven) {
      <span>{"Count is even"}</span>
    }

    // Nested scopes work too
    <section>
      const sectionData = "Nested scope variable";
      <p>{sectionData}</p>
    </section>

    // You can even put debugger statements
    debugger;
  </div>
}
```

**Key Benefits:**
- **Inline Logic**: Execute JavaScript directly where you need it in the template
- **Local Variables**: Declare variables scoped to specific parts of your template
- **Debugging**: Place `console.log()` or `debugger` statements anywhere in templates
- **Dynamic Computation**: Calculate values inline without helper functions

**Scope Rules:**
- Variables declared in templates are scoped to that template block
- Nested elements create nested scopes
- Variables from outer scopes are accessible in inner scopes
- Template variables don't leak to the component function scope

### Reactive Variables

You use `track` to create a single tracked value. The `track` function creates a `Tracked<V>` object that is not accessible from the outside, and instead you must use `@` to read or write to the tracked value:

```ripple
import { track } from 'ripple';

export component Counter() {
  let count = track(0);
  let double = track(() => @count * 2);  // Derived reactive value

  <div>
    <p>{"Count: "}{@count}</p>
    <p>{"Double: "}{@double}</p>
    <button onClick={() => @count++}>{"Increment"}</button>
  </div>
}
```

Objects can also contain tracked values with `@` to access the reactive object property:
```ripple
let counter = { current: track(0) };
counter.@current++;  // Triggers reactivity
```

Tracked derived values are also `Tracked<V>` objects, except you pass a function to `track` rather than a value:

```ripple
let count = track(0);
let double = track(() => @count * 2);
let quadruple = track(() => @double * 2);

console.log(@quadruple);
```

If you want to use a tracked value inside a reactive context, such as an effect but you don't want that value to be a tracked dependency, you can use `untrack`:

```ripple
let count = track(0);
let double = track(() => @count * 2);
let quadruple = track(() => @double * 2);

effect(() => {
  // This effect will never fire again, as we've untracked the only dependency it has
  console.log(untrack(() => @quadruple));
})
```

> Note: you cannot create `Tracked` objects in module/global scope, they have to be created on access from an active component context.

#### track with get / set

The optional get and set parameters of the `track` function let you customize how a tracked value is read or written, similar to property accessors but expressed as pure functions. The get function receives the current stored value and its return value is exposed when the tracked value is accessed / unboxed with `@`. The set function should return the value that will actually be stored and receives two parameters: the first is the one being assigned and the second with the previous value.  The get and set functions may be useful for tasks such as logging, validating, or transforming values before they are exposed or stored.

```ripple
import { track } from 'ripple';

export component App() {
  let count = track(0,
    (current) => {
      console.log(current);
      return current;
    },
    (next, prev) => {
      console.log(prev);
      if (typeof next === 'string') {
        next = Number(next);
      }

      return next;
    }
  );
}

> Note: If no value is returned from either `get` or `set`, `undefined` is either exposed (for get) or stored (for set). Also, if only supplying the `set`, the `get` parameter must be set to `undefined`.

#### trackSplit Function

The `trackSplit` "splits" a plain object — such as component props — into specified tracked variables and an extra `rest` property containing the remaining unspecified object properties.

```ripple
const [children, count, rest] = trackSplit(props, ['children', 'count']);
```

When working with component props, destructuring is often useful — both for direct use as variables and for collecting remaining properties into a `rest` object (which can be named arbitrarily). If destructuring happens in the component argument, e.g. `component Child({ children, value, ...rest })`, Ripple automatically links variable access to the original props — for example, `value` is compiled to `props.value`, preserving reactivity.

However, destructuring inside the component body, e.g. `const { children, value, ...rest } = props`, for read-only reactive props, does not preserve reactivity (too complicated to implement due to many edge cases). To ensure destructured read-only reactive props remain reactive in this case, use the `trackSplit` function.

> Note: boxed / wrapped Tracked objects are always reactive since they cross function boundaries by reference. Props that were not declared with `track()` are never reactive and always render the same value that was initially passed in.

A full example utilizing various Ripple constructs demonstrates the `split` option usage:

```ripple
import { track, trackSplit } from 'ripple';
import type { PropsWithChildren, Tracked } from 'ripple';

component Child(props: PropsWithChildren<{ count: Tracked<number>, className: string }>) {
  // children, count are always reactive
  // but className is passed in as a read-only reactive value
  const [children, count, className, rest] = trackSplit(props, ['children', 'count', 'class']);

  <button class={@className} {...@rest}><@children /></button>
  <pre>{`Count is: ${@count}`}</pre>
  <button onClick={() => @count++}>{'Increment Count'}</button>
}

export component App() {
    let count = track(0,
    (current) => {
      console.log('getter', current);
      return current;
    },
    (next) => {
      console.log('setter', next);
      return next;
    }
  );
  let className = track('shadow');
  let name = track('Click Me');

  function buttonRef(el) {
    console.log('ref called with', el);
    return () => {
      console.log('cleanup ref for', el);
    };
  }

  <Child
    class={@className}
    onClick={() => { @name === 'Click Me' ? @name = 'Clicked' : @name = 'Click Me'; @className = ''}}
    {count}
    {ref buttonRef}
  >{@name}</Child>;
}
```

With the regular destructuring, such as the one below, the `class` property would lose their reactivity:

```ripple
// ❌ WRONG class / className reactivity would be lost
let { children, count, class: className, ...rest } = props;
```

> Note: Make sure the resulting `rest`, if it's going to be spread onto a dom element, does not contain `Tracked` values. Otherwise, you'd be spreading not the actual values but the boxed ones, which are objects that will appear as `[object Object]` on the dom element.

### Transporting Reactivity

**Critical Concept**: Ripple doesn't constrain reactivity to components only. `Tracked<V>` objects can simply be passed by reference between boundaries to improve expressivity and co-location.

#### Basic Transport Pattern
```ripple
import { effect, track } from 'ripple';

function createDouble(count) {
  const double = track(() => @count * 2);

  effect(() => {
    console.log('Count:', @count)
  });

  return double;
}

export component App() {
  let count = track(0);

  const double = createDouble(count);

  <div>{'Double: ' + @double}</div>
  <button onClick={() => { @count++; }}>{'Increment'}</button>
}
```

#### Dynamic Component Transport Pattern

Ripple has built-in support for dynamic components, a way to render different components based on reactive state. Instead of hardcoding which component to show, you can store a component in a `Tracked` via `track()`, and update it at runtime. When the tracked value changes, Ripple automatically unmounts the previous component and mounts the new one. Dynamic components are written with the `<@Component />` tag, where the @ both unwraps the tracked reference and tells the compiler that the component is dynamic. This makes it straightforward to pass components as props or swap them directly within a component, enabling flexible, state-driven UIs with minimal boilerplate.

```ripple
export component App() {
  let swapMe = track(() => Child1);

  <Child {swapMe} />

  <button onClick={() => @swapMe = @swapMe === Child1 ? Child2 : Child1}>{'Swap Component'}</button>
}

component Child({ swapMe }: {swapMe: Tracked<Component>}) {
  <@swapMe />
}

component Child1(props) {
  <pre>{'I am child 1'}</pre>
}

component Child2(props) {
  <pre>{'I am child 2'}</pre>
}
```

**Transport Rules:**
- Reactive state must be connected to a component
- Cannot be global or created at module/global scope
- Use arrays `[ trackedVar ]` or objects `{ trackedVar }` to transport reactivity
- Functions can accept and return reactive state using these patterns
- This enables composable reactive logic outside of component boundaries

### Control Flow

#### If Statements
```ripple
component Conditional({ isVisible }) {
  <div>
    if (isVisible) {
      <span>{"Visible content"}</span>
    } else {
      <span>{"Hidden state"}</span>
    }
  </div>
}
```

#### For Loops
```ripple
component List({ items }) {
  <ul>
    for (const item of items) {
      <li>{item.text}</li>
    }
  </ul>
}
```

#### For Loops with index
```ripple
component ListView({ title, items }) {
  <h2>{title}</h2>
  <ul>
    for (const item of items; index i) {
      <li>{item.text}{' at index '}{i}</li>
    }
  </ul>
}
```

#### Try-Catch (Error Boundaries)
```ripple
component ErrorBoundary() {
  <div>
    try {
      <ComponentThatMightFail />
    } catch (e) {
      <div>{"Error: "}{e.message}</div>
    }
  </div>
}
```

### Children Components

Use `children` prop for component composition:

```ripple
import type { Component } from 'ripple';

component Card(props: { children: Component }) {
  <div class="card">
    <children />
  </div>
}

// Usage
<Card>
  <p>{"Card content here"}</p>
</Card>
```

### Events

#### Attribute Event Handling

Events follow React-style naming (`onClick`, `onPointerMove`, etc.):

```ripple
component EventExample() {
  let message = track("");

  <div>
    <button onClick={() => @message = "Clicked!"}>{"Click me"}</button>
    <input onInput={(e) => @message = e.target.value} />
    <p>{@message}</p>
  </div>
}
```

For capture phase events, add `Capture` suffix:
- `onClickCapture`
- `onPointerDownCapture`

#### Direct Event Handling

Use function `on` to attach events to window, document or any other element instead of addEventListener.
This method guarantees the proper execution order with respect to attribute-based handlers such as `onClick`, and similarly optimized through event delegation for those events that support it.

```ripple
import { effect, on } from 'ripple';

export component App() {
  effect(() => {
    // on component mount
    const removeListener = on(window, 'resize', () => {
      console.log('Window resized!');
    });

    // return the removeListener when the component unmounts
    return removeListener;
  });
}
```

### Styling

Components support scoped CSS with `<style>` elements:

```ripple
component StyledComponent() {
  <div class="container">
    <h1>{"Styled Content"}</h1>
  </div>

  <style>
    .container {
      background: blue;
      padding: 1rem;
    }
    h1 {
      color: white;
      font-size: 2rem;
    }
  </style>
}
```

#### Dynamic Classes

In Ripple, the `class` attribute can accept more than just a string — it also supports objects and arrays. Truthy values are included as class names, while falsy values are omitted. This behavior is powered by the `clsx` library.

Examples:

```ripple
let includeBaz = track(true);
<div class={{ foo: true, bar: false, baz: @includeBaz }}></div>
// becomes: class="foo baz"

<div class={['foo', {baz: false}, 0 && 'bar', [true && 'bat'] ]}></div>
// becomes: class="foo bat"

let count = track(3);
<div class={['foo', {bar: @count > 2}, @count > 3 && 'bat']}></div>
// becomes: class="foo bar"
```

#### Dynamic Inline Styles

Sometimes you might need to dynamically set inline styles. For this, you can use the `style` attribute, passing either a string or an object to it:

```ripple
let color = track('red');

<div style={`color: ${@color}; font-weight: bold; background-color: gray`}></div>
<div style={{ color: @color, fontWeight: 'bold', 'background-color': 'gray' }}></div>

const style = {
  @color,
  fontWeight: 'bold',
  'background-color': 'gray',
};

// using object spread
<div style={{...style}}></div>

// using object directly
<div style={style}></div>
```
Both examples above will render the same inline styles, however, it's recommended to use the object notation as it's typically more performance optimized.

> Note: When passing an object to the `style` attribute, you can use either camelCase or kebab-case for CSS property names.

### DOM References (Refs)

Use `{ref fn}` syntax to capture DOM element references:

```ripple
export component App() {
  let div = track();

  const divRef = (node) => {
    @div = node;
    console.log("mounted", node);

    return () => {
      @div = undefined;
      console.log("unmounted", node);
    };
  };

  <div {ref divRef}>{"Hello world"}</div>
}
```

Inline refs:
```ripple
<div {ref (node) => console.log(node)}>{"Content"}</div>
```

## Built-in APIs

### Core Functions
```typescript
import {
  mount,           // Mount component to DOM
  track,           // Create reactive state
  untrack,         // Prevent reactivity tracking
  flushSync,       // Synchronous state updates
  effect,          // Side effects
  Context          // Context API
} from 'ripple';
```

### Mount API
```typescript
mount(App, {
  props: { title: 'Hello world!' },
  target: document.getElementById('root')
});
```

### Effects
```ripple
import { effect, track } from 'ripple';

export component App() {
  let count = track(0);

  effect(() => {
    console.log("Count changed:", @count);
  });

  <button onClick={() => @count++}>{"Increment"}</button>
}
```

### After Update tick()

The `tick()` function returns a Promise that resolves after all pending reactive updates have been applied to the DOM. This is useful when you need to ensure that DOM changes are complete before executing subsequent code, similar to Vue's `nextTick()` or Svelte's `tick()`.

```ripple
import { effect, track, tick } from 'ripple';

export component App() {
  let count = track(0);

  effect(() => {
    @count;

    if (@count === 0) {
      console.log('initial run, skipping');
      return;
    }

    tick().then(() => {
      console.log('after the update');
    });
  });

  <button onClick={() => @count++}>{'Increment'}</button>
}
```

### Context

Ripple has the concept of `context` where a value or reactive object can be shared through the component tree –
like in other frameworks. This all happens from the `Context` class that is imported from `ripple`.

Creating contexts may take place anywhere. Contexts can contain anything including tracked values or objects. However, context cannot be read via `get` or written to via `set` inside an event handler or at the module level as it must happen within the context of a component. A good strategy is to assign the contents of a context to a variable via the `.get()` method during the component initialization and use this variable for reading and writing.

When Child components overwrite a context's value via `.set()`, this new value will only be seen by its descendants. Components higher up in the tree will continue to see the original value.

Example with tracked / reactive contents:

```ripple
import { track, Context } from "ripple"

// create context with an empty object
const context  = new Context({});
const context2 = new Context();

export component App() {
  // get reference to the object
  const obj = context.get();
  // set your reactive value
  obj.count = track(0);

  // create another tracked variable
  const count2 = track(0);
  // context2 now contains a trackrf variable
  context2.set(count2);

  <button onClick={() => { obj.@count++; @count2++ }}>
    {'Click Me'}
  </button>

  // context's reactive property count gets updated
  <pre>{'Context: '}{context.get().@count}</pre>
  <pre>{'Context2: '}{@count2}</pre>
}
```

> Note: `@(context2.get())` usage with `@()` wrapping syntax will be enabled in the near future

Passing data between components:

```ripple
import { Context } from 'ripple';

const MyContext = new Context(null);

component Child() {
  // Context is read in the Child component
  const value = MyContext.get();

  // value is "Hello from context!"
  console.log(value);
}

component Parent() {
  const value = MyContext.get();

  // Context is read in the Parent component, but hasn't yet
  // been set, so we fallback to the initial context value.
  // So the value is `null`
  console.log(value);

  // Context is set in the Parent component
  MyContext.set("Hello from context!");

  <Child />
}
```

### Reactive Collections

#### Simple Reactive Array

Just like objects, you can use the `Tracked<V>` objects in any standard JavaScript object, like arrays:

```ripple
let first = track(0);
let second = track(0);
const arr = [first, second];

const total = track(() => arr.reduce((a, b) => a + @b, 0));

console.log(@total);
```

Like shown in the above example, you can compose normal arrays with reactivity and pass them through props or boundaries.

However, if you need the entire array to be fully reactive, including when new elements get added, you should use the reactive array that Ripple provides.

#### Fully Reactive Array

`TrackedArray` class from Ripple extends the standard JS `Array` class, and supports all of its methods and properties. Import it from the `'ripple'` namespace or use the provided syntactic sugar for a quick creation via the bracketed notation. All elements existing or new of the `TrackedArray` are reactive and respond to the various array operations such as push, pop, shift, unshift, etc. Even if you reference a non-existent element, once it added, the original reference will react to the change. You do NOT need to use the unboxing `@` with the elements of the array.

```ripple
import { TrackedArray } from 'ripple';

// using syntactic sugar `#`
const arr = #[1, 2, 3];

// using the new constructor
const arr = new TrackedArray(1, 2, 3);

// using static from method
const arr = TrackedArray.from([1, 2, 3]);

// using static of method
const arr = TrackedArray.of(1, 2, 3);
```

Usage Example:

```ripple
export component App() {
  const items = new #[1, 2, 3];

  <div>
    <p>{"Length: "}{items.length}</p>  // Reactive length
    for (const item of items) {
      <div>{item}</div>
    }
    <button onClick={() => items.push(items.length + 1)}>{"Add"}</button>
  </div>
}
```

#### Reactive Object

`TrackedObject` class extends the standard JS `Object` class, and supports all of its methods and properties. Import it from the `'ripple'` namespace or use the provided syntactic sugar for a quick creation via the curly brace notation.  `TrackedObject` fully supports shallow reactivity and any property on the root level is reactive.  You can even reference non-existent properties and once added the original reference reacts to the change. You do NOT need to use the unboxing `@` with the properties of the `TrackedObject`.

```ripple
import { TrackedObject } from 'ripple';

// using syntactic sugar `#`
const arr = #{a: 1, b: 2, c: 3};

// using the new constructor
const arr = new TrackedObject({a: 1, b: 2, c: 3});
```

Usage Example:

```ripple
export component App() {
  const obj = #{a: 0}

  obj.a = 0;

  <pre>{'obj.a is: '}{obj.a}</pre>
  <pre>{'obj.b is: '}{obj.b}</pre>
  <button onClick={() => { obj.a++; obj.b = obj.b ?? 5; obj.b++; }}>{'Increment'}</button>
}
```

#### Reactive Set

```ripple
import { TrackedSet } from 'ripple';

component SetExample() {
  const mySet = new TrackedSet([1, 2, 3]);

  <div>
    <p>{"Size: "}{mySet.size}</p>  // Reactive size
    <p>{"Has 2: "}{mySet.has(2)}</p>
    <button onClick={() => mySet.add(4)}>{"Add 4"}</button>
  </div>
}
```

#### Reactive Map

The `TrackedMap` extends the standard JS `Map` class, and supports all of its methods and properties.

```ripple
import { TrackedMap, track } from 'ripple';

const map = new TrackedMap([[1,1], [2,2], [3,3], [4,4]]);
```

TrackedMap's reactive methods or properties can be used directly or assigned to reactive variables.

```ripple
import { TrackedMap, track } from 'ripple';

export component App() {
  const map = new TrackedMap([[1,1], [2,2], [3,3], [4,4]]);

  // direct usage
  <p>{"Direct usage: map has an item with key 2: "}{map.has(2)}</p>

  // reactive assignment
  let has = track(() => map.has(2));
  <p>{"Assigned usage: map has an item with key 2: "}{@has}</p>

  <button onClick={() => map.delete(2)}>{"Delete item with key 2"}</button>
  <button onClick={() => map.set(2, 2)}>{"Add key 2 with value 2"}</button>
}
```

#### Reactive Date

The `TrackedDate` extends the standard JS `Date` class, and supports all of its methods and properties.

```ripple
import { TrackedDate } from 'ripple';

const date = new TrackedDate(2026, 0, 1); // January 1, 2026
```

TrackedDate's reactive methods or properties can be used directly or assigned to reactive variables. All getter methods (`getFullYear()`, `getMonth()`, `getDate()`, etc.) and formatting methods (`toISOString()`, `toDateString()`, etc.) are reactive and will update when the date is modified.

```ripple
import { TrackedDate, track } from 'ripple';

export component App() {
  const date = new TrackedDate(2025, 0, 1, 12, 0, 0);

  // direct usage
  <p>{"Direct usage: Current year is "}{date.getFullYear()}</p>
  <p>{"ISO String: "}{date.toISOString()}</p>

  // reactive assignment
  let year = track(() => date.getFullYear());
  let month = track(() => date.getMonth());
  <p>{"Assigned usage: Year "}{@year}{", Month "}{@month}</p>

  <button onClick={() => date.setFullYear(2027)}>{"Change to 2026"}</button>
  <button onClick={() => date.setMonth(11)}>{"Change to December"}</button>
}
```

## Advanced Features

### Untracking Reactivity
```ripple
import { untrack, track, effect } from 'ripple';

let count = track(0);
let double = track(() => @count * 2);
let quadruple = track(() => @double * 2);

effect(() => {
  // This effect will never fire again, as we've untracked the only dependency it has
  console.log(untrack(() => @quadruple));
})
```

### Prop Shortcuts
```ripple
// Object spread
<div {...properties}>{"Content"}</div>

// Shorthand props (when variable name matches prop name)
<div {onClick} {className}>{"Content"}</div>

// Equivalent to:
<div onClick={onClick} className={className}>{"Content"}</div>
```

### Raw HTML

All text nodes are escaped by default in Ripple. To render trusted raw HTML
strings, use the `{html}` directive.

```ripple
export component App() {
	let source = `
<h1>My Blog Post</h1>
<p>Hi! I like JS and Ripple.</p>
`

	<article>
		{html source}
	</article>
}
```

## TypeScript Integration

### Component Types
```typescript
import type { Component } from 'ripple';

interface Props {
  value: string;
  label: string;
  children?: Component;
}

component MyComponent(props: Props) {
  // Component implementation
}
```

### Context Types
```typescript
type Theme = 'light' | 'dark';
const ThemeContext = new Context<Theme>('light');
```

## File Structure

```
src/
  App.ripple          # Main app component
  components/
    Button.ripple     # Reusable components
    Card.ripple
  index.ts           # Entry point with mount()
```

## Development Tools

### VSCode Extension
- **Name**: "Ripple for VS Code"
- **ID**: `ripplejs.ripple-vscode-plugin`
- **Features**: Syntax highlighting, diagnostics, TypeScript integration, IntelliSense

### Vite Plugin
```typescript
// vite.config.js
import { defineConfig } from 'vite';
import ripple from 'vite-plugin-ripple';

export default defineConfig({
  plugins: [ripple()]
});
```

### Prettier Plugin
```javascript
// .prettierrc
{
  "plugins": ["prettier-plugin-ripple"]
}
```

## Key Differences from Other Frameworks

### vs React
- No JSX functions/returns - components use statement-based templates
- Built-in reactivity with `track` and `@` syntax instead of useState/useEffect
- Scoped CSS without CSS-in-JS libraries
- No virtual DOM - fine-grained reactivity

### vs Svelte
- TypeScript-first approach
- JSX-like syntax instead of HTML templates
- `.ripple` extension instead of `.svelte`
- Similar reactivity concepts but different syntax

### vs Solid
- Component definition with `component` keyword
- Built-in collections (TrackedArray, TrackedSet)
- Different templating approach within component bodies

## Best Practices

1. **Reactivity**: Use `track()` to create reactive variables and `@` to access them
2. **Strings**: Wrap string literals in `{"string"}` within templates
3. **Effects**: Use `effect()` for side effects, not direct reactive variable access
4. **Components**: Keep components focused and use TypeScript interfaces for props
5. **Styling**: Use scoped `<style>` elements for component-specific styles
6. **Collections**: Use TrackedArray/TrackedSet for reactive collections instead of regular arrays/sets

## Current Limitations

- **SSR**: Currently SPA-only, SSR is almost ready and hydration coming soon
- **Ecosystem**: Early stage - limited third-party library ecosystem
- **Production Ready**: Currently in early development but has been used in production already

## Resources

- **Website**: https://ripplejs.com
- **GitHub**: https://github.com/trueadm/ripple
- **VSCode Extension**: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ripplejs.ripple-vscode-plugin

---

This documentation is optimized for AI/LLM understanding of the Ripple framework. For the most up-to-date information, visit https://ripplejs.com or the GitHub repository.