Observed arrival · 2026-10-20
What AI models reach for when starting an app
Agent Stack Picks counts the tools AI models name when asked to set up a new app across 24 categories and four contexts.
○Open
⊠Login
$Paid
†Ads
✦Pretty
●Pro
◎Niche
◉Human
⚑Risk
ƒJS
- For
- Developers comparing AI-suggested app tools
- Worth noticing
- The project says the index measures model picks, not tool quality, security, price, or market share.
Field notes
Each run asks for a tool choice without a repository, existing code, or tools, so the results reflect unconstrained model answers rather than recommendations tested against a project. The issue reports differences between contexts: in 17 of 24 categories, the most named tool differed between Next.js and FastAPI. The site links to its prompts and data and labels the data CC BY 4.0.
Observed signals
Read the marks
Editorial observations of this landing page, not a rating.
○OpenPublic substance visible
✦PrettyNotable craft visible
●ProPolished or operationally mature
◎NicheUnusually specific use
ƒJavaScriptBrowser-side code central
One card from the complete issue