# Getting Started

## What is PlayCanvas?

PlayCanvas is a ✨ **web graphics creation platform** ✨

PlayCanvas is a collection of open-source products that you can use to build interactive, graphical web applications:

🦾 [**PlayCanvas Engine**](https://developer.playcanvas.com/user-manual/engine.md) - Open source JavaScript run-time that powers all PlayCanvas applications  
🛠️ [**PlayCanvas Editor**](https://developer.playcanvas.com/user-manual/editor.md) - Real-time collaborative visual editing environment for building PlayCanvas applications  
⚛️ [**PlayCanvas React**](https://developer.playcanvas.com/user-manual/react.md) - Open source React-based declarative interface that wraps the PlayCanvas Engine  
🧩 [**PlayCanvas Web Components**](https://developer.playcanvas.com/user-manual/web-components.md) - Open source Web Components-based declarative interface that wraps the PlayCanvas Engine

## Start a Code Project

Use [`create-playcanvas`](https://developer.playcanvas.com/user-manual/getting-started/start-with-create-playcanvas.md) to scaffold a Vite and TypeScript project for the Engine, React, or Web Components from one of 12 runnable starters. New projects include [PlayCanvas Skills](https://developer.playcanvas.com/user-manual/getting-started/use-playcanvas-skills.md), which give compatible AI coding agents PlayCanvas-specific development and verification workflows.

## Which Product is Right For You?

Every developer is different, so picking the right entry point to PlayCanvas will depend on your background and skills. Let us help you choose:

### 🦾 [**PlayCanvas Engine**](https://developer.playcanvas.com/user-manual/engine.md) - *Full control development*

**Best for:** Experienced programmers, performance-critical applications, custom workflows  
**Choose if you:** Want maximum control, have specific architectural needs, or are building complex systems

### 🛠️ [**PlayCanvas Editor**](https://developer.playcanvas.com/user-manual/editor.md) - *Visual-first development*

**Best for:** Beginners, teams, rapid prototyping, visual learners  
**Choose if you:** Want drag-and-drop scene building, real-time collaboration, or prefer visual tools over code

### ⚛️ [**PlayCanvas React**](https://developer.playcanvas.com/user-manual/react.md) - *React developers*

**Best for:** React developers, component-based thinkers, existing React projects  
**Choose if you:** Already use React, want declarative 3D scenes, or need to integrate 3D into React apps

### 🧩 [**PlayCanvas Web Components**](https://developer.playcanvas.com/user-manual/web-components.md) - *Standards-based development*

**Best for:** Vanilla JS developers, framework-agnostic projects, web standards enthusiasts  
**Choose if you:** Prefer native web technologies, want framework independence, or like custom HTML elements

### 😕 Still Confused?

Consult this simple questionnaire:

**New to 3D development?** → Start with the [**PlayCanvas Editor**](https://developer.playcanvas.com/user-manual/editor.md)  
**React developer?** → Use [**PlayCanvas React**](https://developer.playcanvas.com/user-manual/react.md)  
**Prefer vanilla HTML and JavaScript?** → Try [**PlayCanvas Web Components**](https://developer.playcanvas.com/user-manual/web-components.md)  
**A coder that needs maximum control?** → Go with the [**PlayCanvas Engine**](https://developer.playcanvas.com/user-manual/engine.md)  
**Working in a team?** → The [**PlayCanvas Editor**](https://developer.playcanvas.com/user-manual/editor.md) offers the best collaboration  
**Coming from Unity or Unreal?** → The [**PlayCanvas Editor**](https://developer.playcanvas.com/user-manual/editor.md) provides a similar end-user experience  
**Integrating into existing app or site?** → Choose [**React**](https://developer.playcanvas.com/user-manual/react.md) or [**Web Components**](https://developer.playcanvas.com/user-manual/web-components.md) based on your existing stack

And if you still have questions, come and chat to us on [Discord](https://discord.gg/RSaMRzg).