---
category: Development
technologies:
  - Velo (JavaScript)
  - Wix Studio
  - Wix Blocks
  - Wix Headless (SDK)
  - Wix CLI
supported_languages:
  - JavaScript (ES2024+)
  - TypeScript (Headless/Local)
  - CSS (Wix Studio)
ide_integrations:
  - Wix IDE (Browser-based VS Code)
  - Desktop VS Code (via GitHub/Wix CLI)
  - Cursor / AI Editors (via Wix Skills)
backend_features:
  - .jsw Web Modules
  - HTTP Functions
  - Job Scheduler
  - Data Hooks
---

# Coding in Wix (2026 Guide)

Wix provides a tiered development experience ranging from low-code visual scripting to full-stack headless applications.

## 🛠️ Development Environments

### 1. Wix Studio (The Standard)
The flagship environment for professional designers and developers.
- **Dev Mode:** Enables the built-in IDE and Velo engine.
- **GitHub Sync:** Best-practice workflow. Sync your site to a repo to use **Local VS Code**.
- **Wix IDE:** A full VS Code experience running in your browser, no setup required.

### 2. Wix Blocks
A dedicated builder for creating **reusable widgets and apps**.
- Define properties, methods, and events for your components.
- Install your "blocks" across multiple sites or the Wix App Market.

### 3. Wix Headless
For total control over the frontend (React, Next.js, Astro, etc.).
- **Wix SDK:** High-level JS/TS library to access Wix business logic (Auth, Cart, CMS).
- **CLI-First:** Use `npm create @wix/new` to scaffold projects.

## 💻 Technical Capabilities

### Full-Stack JavaScript (Velo)
- **Frontend:** Manipulate UI elements using the `$w` API (e.g., `$w('#button').onClick(...)`).
- **Backend:** Write server-side code in `.js` or `.jsw` files.
- **Secrets Manager:** Securely store API keys and credentials.
- **npm Integration:** Install any public npm package for use in your backend logic.

### Data & Automation
- **CMS / Data Collections:** Query and modify structured data using `wix-data`.
- **Hooks:** Run code automatically before/after database operations.
- **HTTP Functions:** Create your own REST API endpoints on Wix (`site.com/_functions/myApi`).
- **Scheduled Jobs:** Run background tasks at specific intervals.

## 🤖 AI-Assisted Coding (2026)
- **Wix Aria:** AI agent that can write component logic and troubleshoot errors within the IDE.
- **Wix Skills:** Context-aware instructions you can feed into AI editors like **Cursor** to make them experts in your specific Wix project.
- **MCP Server Support:** Allows AI tools to directly interface with your Wix site's data schema and backend functions.

## 🚀 Getting Started locally
1. **Install the CLI:** `npm install -g @wix/cli`
2. **Login:** `wix login`
3. **Pull Project:** `wix pull` (Requires GitHub integration enabled in Wix Studio)