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Rivet

What it is

Rivet is an open-source visual AI programming environment and TypeScript library. It allows developers to build, test, and debug complex multi-agent AI systems using a node-based editor.

What problem it solves

It provides a powerful visual interface for designing AI logic, making it easier to manage complex flows, debug issues, and collaborate on agentic behaviors compared to pure code-based approaches.

Where it fits in the stack

Framework / Visual Orchestrator.

Typical use cases

  • Agent Design: Crafting intricate logic for autonomous or semi-autonomous AI agents.
  • Debugging AI Flows: Using the visual editor to step through and inspect the state of an AI pipeline.
  • Prompt Engineering: Designing and testing prompts within a structured workflow.

Strengths

  • Developer-Centric: Built by developers for developers, with a focus on powerful features and extensibility.
  • Real-time Debugging: Excellent tools for inspecting the execution of nodes and identifying bottlenecks.
  • TypeScript First: Offers a robust TypeScript library for integrating Rivet graphs into applications.

Limitations

  • Learning Curve: The visual editor and its various node types can take some time to master.
  • Ecosystem Maturity: While powerful, its ecosystem of pre-built components is still growing.

When to use it

  • When building sophisticated AI agents that require complex logic and state management.
  • When you value high-quality visual debugging and inspection tools.

When not to use it

  • For trivial AI tasks where a simple API call is sufficient.
  • If you are not comfortable with node-based visual programming.

Getting started

Installation

To use Rivet in your project: 

npm install @ironclad/rivet-node

Running a Graph

You can load and run a .rivet-project file in your Node.js application:

import { runGraph, loadProject, NodeId } from '@ironclad/rivet-node';

async function runRivetGraph() {
  const project = await loadProject('path/to/project.rivet-project');

  const results = await runGraph(project, {
    graph: 'Main Graph' as NodeId,
    inputs: {
      userInput: { type: 'string', value: 'Hello Rivet!' }
    },
    // Required if using OpenAI nodes
    openAiKey: process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY,
  });

  console.log(results.output.value);
}

runRivetGraph();

Licensing and cost

  • Open Source: Yes (MIT License)
  • Cost: Free
  • Self-hostable: Yes (Visual Editor)

Sources / References

Contribution Metadata

  • Last reviewed: 2026-05-07
  • Confidence: high