New SolidTV now runs on Apple TV

The fastest TV app framework

Build once.
Ship to every TV.*

SolidTV is the open-source framework for crafting stunning TV apps with SolidJS and WebGL. Ship the same code to Samsung, LG, Android TV, Fire TV and now Apple TV, with 50% higher FPS than LightningJS and no layout jitter.

Need a hand? Commercial support & services from SolidTV's creator.

* Every TV except Roku, which only runs apps written in its own BrightScript language.

▶ Open the live demo and drive it with your arrow keys

Used by companies worldwide

Angel Studios Bell Fibe TV Watch Brasil CHEK News

Why SolidTV

SolidTV is unmatched in speed and features

SolidJS is an established framework with 10,000+ members in its community. It is the top rated in performance across all front-end frameworks, and SolidTV brings it to TV app development. SolidTV is:

Small

~12kb Minified + Gzipped

Fast

Direct template to node creation

Ready

Fully loaded with all the features

Write JSX. Render WebGL.

If your team knows React or SolidJS, they already know SolidTV. Components compile straight to renderer nodes, so there is no virtual DOM and no DOM at all between your code and the GPU.

  • ✓ Remote-control focus and navigation handled by Row and Column
  • ✓ Focus states and transitions declared in a style object
  • ✓ Fine-grained updates: only the node that changed is touched
import { For } from 'solid-js';
import { Row } from '@solidtv/solid/primitives';

const posterStyle = {
  width: 240,
  height: 360,
  borderRadius: 16,
  scale: 1,
  transition: { scale: true },
  $focus: { scale: 1.1 },
};

const Rail = (props) => (
  <Row gap={24} autofocus>
    <For each={props.movies}>
      {(movie) => (
        <view src={movie.poster} style={posterStyle} />
      )}
    </For>
  </Row>
);

Reactivity

Fine-grained reactivity lets you do more with less

Simple Flex Layout

Layout complexity is reduced with a simple flex layout

Mouse Support (LG Magic Remote)

useMouse primitive makes setting up mouse support easy

Typescript

Full Typescript support for developer productivity

Solid Primitives

Dozens of components builtin @solidtv/solid/primitives

Global State Management

SolidJS offers reactive signals and stores built in

Internationalization

Support for multi-lingual with i18n primitive

Accessibility

Support for color shifts, announcer and magnification

Router, Focus Management, Dynamic Components, Portal, Styles, Fragments, Suspense and more...

Supported Platforms

Runs everywhere your viewers watch

The framework performs well on the majority of Smart TVs, set-top-boxes, and really any other device that runs a modern web browser (Chrome 38+). Apple TV has no browser, so SolidTV runs there natively through NativeScript, from the same source code. In terms of TV apps, you should roughly be able to support these types of devices:

Samsung Tizen logo Samsung Tizen
LG WebOS logo LG WebOS
Android TV logo Android TV
Sony, Philips, Panasonic, TCL
Amazon Fire TV logo Amazon Fire TV
New Apple TV logo Apple TV
via NativeScript
Panasonic logo Panasonic
Select Set-Top-Boxes

* The one exception is Roku. Its platform only runs apps written in BrightScript, Roku's own language, so no web-based or JavaScript framework can target it.

New · Apple TV

Your TV app on Apple TV, without a Swift rewrite

Apple TV has no browser, which is why web-based TV frameworks stop at its door. SolidTV now runs on tvOS through NativeScript, with no WebView in between. Your app's web entry point is imported unchanged.

Building it yourself? Read the Apple TV deployment guide.

  • 1 Same source code. The src/ you ship to Tizen, WebOS and Android TV is the one that runs on tvOS.
  • 2 60 fps on real hardware. Measured on a physical Apple TV HD with the WebGL2 renderer.
  • 3 Feels native. Siri Remote presses, the Menu button and suspend and resume are wired up for you.

Insights & Articles

Technical Deep Dives

Read how we are pushing the boundaries of TV app performance.

Who's behind SolidTV

Portrait of Chris Lorenzo, creator of SolidTV

Built and supported by Chris Lorenzo

SolidTV is created and maintained by Chris Lorenzo, a Distinguished Engineer who has spent years shipping TV apps at scale. On Comcast's Lightning team he pioneered the SolidJS integration for Lightning 3 and drove the component library that powers 100+ applications. Today he helps TV teams around the world ship fast, accessible apps on low-powered devices. When you ask for help with SolidTV, this is who answers.

  • ✓ Former Distinguished Engineer, Comcast Lightning team (2018–2024)
  • ✓ Led a SolidJS + Lightning integration for a next-generation set-top box
  • ✓ Designed Lightning onboarding and training for developers
  • ✓ Built Voice Guidance and accessibility components for TV
  • ✓ Co-Chair, W3C Media & Entertainment Group
  • ✓ Conference speaker, including talks for Google and The Lead Developer

Support & Services

Expert help from the creator of SolidTV

Shipping a TV app is hard, and you shouldn't have to do it alone. Whether your app is built with SolidTV, LightningJS, Blits, or React and Vue on Tizen and WebOS, you get direct access to the engineer who wrote the framework and the renderer: to find performance bottlenecks, fix them, and keep your app fast on every device.

Ongoing · For teams in production

Commercial Support

A support plan for teams that depend on SolidTV. Know exactly who to call when something breaks the week before launch.

  • ✓ Priority answers to your team's questions
  • ✓ A private support channel
  • ✓ Priority bug fixes in the framework and renderer
  • ✓ Upgrade and migration guidance for new releases
Ask About Support Plans
Fixed scope · Agreed up front

Packages

Defined deliverables with the scope and price agreed before any work starts.

  • Performance Audit We profile your app on real devices and deliver a written report of prioritized fixes. For any web-based TV app, not just SolidTV.
  • Migration Assessment A plan and estimate for moving from Lightning 2, Lightning 3, Blits or React to SolidTV.
  • Apple TV Port Bring your existing SolidTV app to tvOS with NativeScript.
Scope a Package
Hands-on · Flexible

Custom Development & Training

Extra senior hands for the parts of your app where performance matters most.

  • ✓ Custom components and features built for performance
  • ✓ Architecture review for new or existing apps
  • ✓ Memory optimization and rendering pipeline tuning
  • ✓ Team training and workshops
Start a Conversation
1

Free 30-minute consultation. Tell us about your app, your target devices and what's going wrong.

2

A clear proposal. Scope, deliverables and price, agreed before any work starts.

3

Direct access. You work with Chris, not an account manager.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Which TV platforms does SolidTV support?

SolidTV runs on any device with a modern web browser (Chrome 38+), including Samsung Tizen, LG WebOS, Android TV (Sony, Philips, Panasonic, TCL), Amazon Fire TV, Panasonic, and select set-top-boxes. Apple TV (tvOS) is supported through NativeScript. The one exception is Roku, which only runs apps written in its own BrightScript language.

How does SolidTV run on Apple TV?

Through NativeScript, without a browser or WebView. NativeScript is the runtime, its canvas plugin provides the WebGL surface, and the @solidtv/nativescript package connects the renderer, the Siri Remote and the app lifecycle. Your app's web entry point is imported unchanged. Read how it works, or follow the deployment guide.

How does SolidTV compare to LightningJS?

SolidTV delivers roughly 50% higher FPS than LightningJS on equivalent hardware, eliminates layout jitter via Atomic First Paint, and is approximately 12kb minified + gzipped. See the full comparison.

Is SolidTV open source?

Yes. SolidTV is released under the Apache 2.0 license and developed in the open on GitHub. The SolidTV Renderer and the NativeScript host are published on npm under the same license.

Do you offer commercial support for SolidTV?

Yes. Support plans give your team priority answers, a private support channel, priority bug fixes and upgrade guidance. We also offer fixed-scope performance audits, migration assessments, Apple TV ports, custom development and team training. See support & services.

Can you help if our TV app isn't built with SolidTV?

Yes. Performance audits and consulting cover any web-based TV app, including LightningJS, Blits, React and Vue apps running on Tizen, WebOS, Android TV and Fire TV.

Who is behind SolidTV?

SolidTV is created and maintained by Chris Lorenzo, a former Distinguished Engineer on Comcast's Lightning team who has spent years shipping TV apps at scale. More about Chris.

Contact Us

Let's talk about your TV app

Tell us what you're building and where it hurts. The first 30-minute consultation is free, and you'll hear back from Chris directly.