explaingit

alibaba/weex

Analysis updated 2026-06-21

★ 18,527C++Audience · developerComplexity · 4/5LicenseSetup · hard

TLDR

Weex lets you write a mobile app UI once in a shared codebase and have it run natively on Android, iOS, and in a browser, no web views needed.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((weex))
    What it does
      Single codebase UI
      Native rendering
      No web views
    Platforms
      Android 4.1 plus
      iOS 9.0 plus
      WebKit browser
    Tech
      C++ core
      Android SDK
      iOS package
    Audience
      Mobile developers
      Cross-platform teams
    License
      Apache 2.0
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Code map

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filefunction / class

What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Build an Android and iOS app from a single shared UI codebase without writing platform-specific code

USE CASE 2

Add a web-compatible version of an existing mobile app without rewriting the UI

USE CASE 3

Embed Weex's C++ rendering core into a custom mobile application

What is it built with?

C++Android SDKiOSWebKit

How does it compare?

alibaba/weextencent/mmkvfacebook/hhvm
Stars18,52718,57818,626
LanguageC++C++C++
Setup difficultyhardeasyhard
Complexity4/52/54/5
Audiencedeveloperdeveloperdeveloper

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · hard Time to first run · 1day+

Requires separate build steps for the C++ core, Android SDK, and iOS packages, each with its own toolchain.

Use freely for any purpose, including commercial use, as long as you keep the Apache 2.0 copyright and license notices.

In plain English

Weex is a framework for building mobile applications that run on Android, iOS, and the web from a single shared codebase. The idea is that a developer writes the UI once and Weex renders it natively on each platform, rather than showing a web view inside the app. The readme is minimal. It notes support for Android 4.1 and above, iOS 9.0 and above, and WebKit 534.30 and above. It links to a separate document for build instructions and points to the Apache 2.0 license. The project was originally developed by Alibaba and incubated under the Apache Software Foundation. The repository itself contains primarily the C++ core and Android SDK, with iOS and web packages linked externally.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Using the Weex framework, generate a simple product listing screen in Weex component syntax that renders natively on Android and iOS
Prompt 2
Show me how to set up the Weex Android SDK in a new Android Studio project so I can load a Weex bundle
Prompt 3
How do I compile the Weex C++ core for Android arm64 and link it into my existing Android app?

Frequently asked questions

What is weex?

Weex lets you write a mobile app UI once in a shared codebase and have it run natively on Android, iOS, and in a browser, no web views needed.

What language is weex written in?

Mainly C++. The stack also includes C++, Android SDK, iOS.

What license does weex use?

Use freely for any purpose, including commercial use, as long as you keep the Apache 2.0 copyright and license notices.

How hard is weex to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated hard, with roughly 1day+ to a first successful run.

Who is weex for?

Mainly developer.

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