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Solo IDE vs Bolt.new

And Lovable, v0, and other prompt-to-app tools

They generate apps from prompts. We give you a complete development environment. Here's when to use each.

Different Tools, Different Goals

Prompt-to-App Tools

Bolt, Lovable, v0, and similar

  • •Input a prompt, get a working app
  • •Browser-based, instant results
  • •Great for quick prototypes and simple apps
  • •Limited iteration and customization
  • •What you see is (mostly) what you get

Solo IDE

Agent-first UDE

  • •Full development environment
  • •AI agents that work alongside you
  • •Build anything from simple to complex
  • •Deep iteration and customization
  • •Grow with your project

The question isn't which is “better” — it's which matches your need.

Feature Comparison

Primary use

Bolt/Lovable/v0

Quick app generation

Solo IDE

Full development

Interface

Bolt/Lovable/v0

Browser prompt box

Solo IDE

Desktop UDE

AI model

Bolt/Lovable/v0

Generation-focused

Solo IDE

Agent-first, task-oriented

Iteration

Bolt/Lovable/v0

Limited after generation

Solo IDE

Unlimited, conversational

Code editing

Bolt/Lovable/v0

Basic or none

Solo IDE

Full VSCode editor

Customization

Bolt/Lovable/v0

Limited

Solo IDE

Complete

Backend complexity

Bolt/Lovable/v0

Simple

Solo IDE

Full stack

Database support

Bolt/Lovable/v0

Basic/none

Solo IDE

Full (Postgres, etc.)

Docker

Bolt/Lovable/v0

No

Solo IDE

Yes, one-click

Git integration

Bolt/Lovable/v0

Limited

Solo IDE

Full

Project lifespan

Bolt/Lovable/v0

Prototype/throwaway

Solo IDE

Prototype to production

Export code

Bolt/Lovable/v0

Yes (varying quality)

Solo IDE

Yes (standard code)

Learning curve

Bolt/Lovable/v0

None

Solo IDE

Minimal

When to Use Bolt, Lovable, or v0

  • You need something in 5 minutes
  • It's a one-off landing page or simple form
  • You want to quickly visualize an idea
  • The app is simple enough that you won't need to modify much
  • You're sharing a quick concept with someone
  • You don't need a database or complex backend
  • Disposable prototypes and mockups

These tools are great at what they do.

When to Use Solo IDE

  • You'll iterate on this project over time
  • You need a real backend with databases
  • You want to customize deeply, not just accept what's generated
  • The project will grow in complexity
  • You need Docker, environment variables, real infrastructure
  • You want to deploy and maintain it long-term
  • You want to understand and own the code
  • Multiple components: frontend, backend, database, integrations
  • You're building a product, not just a prototype

Many Projects Start Simple, Then Grow

Common Pattern

  1. 1.Generate quick prototype with Bolt/v0
  2. 2.Show to stakeholders, get excited
  3. 3.Need to add features, hit limitations
  4. 4.Start over in a real environment
  5. 5.Waste time rebuilding

Alternative

  1. 1.Start in Solo IDE
  2. 2.Build prototype fast with agents
  3. 3.Show to stakeholders
  4. 4.Keep iterating in the same environment
  5. 5.Deploy when ready
  6. 6.No rebuild required

If you know it'll grow, start where you can scale.

Combined Workflow

Some people:

  • Use v0 for quick UI component ideas
  • Bring those into Solo IDE for full implementation
  • Use Bolt to sketch concepts
  • Build the real thing in Solo IDE

No conflict in using multiple tools.

What You Get

Prompt-to-App Tools

  • •Quick, working code
  • •Sometimes messy or hard to modify
  • •Framework choices made for you
  • •Limited patterns

Solo IDE

  • •Standard, maintainable code
  • •Your framework choices
  • •Best practices from agents
  • •Code an engineer can continue

If the code matters beyond the demo, Solo IDE gives you better foundations.

Build Beyond Prototypes

When you're ready for a real development environment:

  • Free during beta
  • Agent-first AI that grows with you
  • From prototype to production in one tool
Try Solo IDEWhat is a UDE?

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Join developers building real products, not just prototypes.

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