From cardano-dev-skills
Recommends Cardano developer tools, SDKs, and smart contract languages based on project requirements and language preferences.
How this skill is triggered — by the user, by Claude, or both
Slash command
/cardano-dev-skills:suggest-toolingThis skill is limited to the following tools:
The summary Claude sees in its skill listing — used to decide when to auto-load this skill
<!-- Documentation lookup path: ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/../../docs/sources/ -->
Help the developer choose the right tools, SDKs, and libraries for their Cardano project based on their requirements and preferred programming language.
setup-devnet skill)query-chain skill)connect-wallet skill)Ask the developer (if not already clear):
Search the bundled documentation for relevant content:
${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/../../docs/sources/mesh-sdk/ - Mesh SDK docs${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/../../docs/sources/evolution-sdk/ - Evolution SDK docs${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/../../docs/sources/aiken/ - Aiken language docs${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/../../docs/sources/ogmios/ - Ogmios WebSocket bridge docs${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/../../docs/sources/blockfrost-openapi/ - Blockfrost API docsReference the ecosystem map for the full landscape:
File: skills/integration/suggest-tooling/references/ecosystem-map.md
| Language | Best for | Language base | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aiken | Most new projects, performance-critical validators | Own syntax (Rust-like) | Production |
| Plutus (PlutusTx) | Haskell teams, complex on-chain logic | Haskell | Production |
| OpShin | Python developers writing validators | Python | Production |
| Plu-ts | TypeScript developers wanting on-chain code in TS | TypeScript | Production |
| Scalus | Scala/JVM teams | Scala | Production |
| Helios | Simple validators, quick prototyping | Own syntax (JS-like) | Production |
Default recommendation: Aiken. Best tooling, fastest compilation, growing community, excellent documentation. Unless the team has a strong reason to use another language.
| SDK | Language | Best for | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mesh SDK | TypeScript/JS | Full-stack dApp development, beginners | Production |
| Evolution SDK | TypeScript/JS | IntersectMBO's canonical Lucid-lineage successor. Type-safe, Effect-based composable tx building (Client.make(...).withBlockfrost(...).newTx().payToAddress(...).build()) | Production |
| PyCardano | Python | Python backends, scripting, data science | Production |
| Cardano CLI | Shell | DevOps, scripting, node operators | Production |
| cardano-js-sdk | TypeScript | Lace wallet ecosystem, full node interaction | Production |
| Blaze | TypeScript | Lightweight, modular tx building | Production |
| Cardano Java Client Lib | Java/Kotlin | JVM backends, Android | Production |
| Pallas | Rust | High-performance, custom node interaction | Production |
Default recommendation by language:
| Tool | Purpose | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Blockfrost | Chain data API | Hosted |
| Koios | Chain data API | Hosted (community) |
| Ogmios | Node WebSocket bridge | Self-hosted |
| Kupo | UTxO indexer | Self-hosted |
| DB-Sync | Full chain PostgreSQL | Self-hosted |
| Oura | Event pipeline | Self-hosted |
| Yaci DevKit | Local devnet | Self-hosted |
Default recommendation: Blockfrost for getting started (easy, hosted). Ogmios + Kupo for production self-hosted.
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Aiken built-in tests | Unit and property tests for Aiken validators |
| Yaci DevKit | Local devnet for integration tests |
| Preview testnet | Public testnet with frequent hard forks |
| Preprod testnet | Public testnet mirroring mainnet |
| tx-village | Transaction-level testing framework |
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Mesh SDK | React hooks and components for wallet connection |
| CIP-30 direct | Vanilla JS wallet connection |
| CIP-95 | Governance extensions for wallets |
| WalletConnect | Mobile wallet connection |
Based on the project requirements, recommend a concrete stack. Example stacks:
Based on the project type, flag relevant CIPs:
| Project type | Relevant CIPs |
|---|---|
| Any dApp | CIP-30 (wallet bridge), CIP-57 (blueprints) |
| Token/NFT | CIP-25 (NFT metadata), CIP-68 (rich FTs/NFTs) |
| Governance | CIP-1694 (governance), CIP-95 (wallet governance) |
| Multi-sig | CIP-1854 (multi-sig wallets) |
| Metadata | CIP-20 (tx metadata), CIP-25 (NFT metadata) |
| DEX | CIP-35 (on-chain message signing) |
For each recommendation, briefly note:
skills/integration/suggest-tooling/references/ecosystem-map.md -- Full ecosystem map with all toolsnpx claudepluginhub cardano-foundation/cardano-dev-skills --plugin cardano-dev-skillsProvides behavioral guidelines to reduce common LLM coding mistakes, focusing on simplicity, surgical changes, assumption surfacing, and verifiable success criteria.
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