---
title: Recommendations
description: How StealThis recommendation topics work — compare tools, platforms, books, and learning resources by need.
---

**Recommendations** are topic pages that group several **alternatives** for the same need — for example, "Payment Processors" compares Stripe, Paddle, and Lemon Squeezy in one place.

> **Mental model:** one library card = one **topic**. Each topic lists multiple **options** (tools, books, platforms, courses). You compare them on the topic page — you do not browse one card per tool.

## Where to find them

Open the [library](https://stealthis.dev/library) and scroll to the **Recommendations** section. Topics are grouped into six themes:

| Theme | Library anchor | What it covers |
|-------|----------------|----------------|
| AI | [library#rec-ai](https://stealthis.dev/library#rec-ai) | Models, agents, app builders, vector DBs |
| Software | [library#rec-software](https://stealthis.dev/library#rec-software) | Docs, CMS, charts, testing, API layer, mobile, maps, 3D, i18n |
| Infra | [library#rec-infra](https://stealthis.dev/library#rec-infra) | Hosting, auth, payments, databases, monitoring, CI/CD |
| Design | [library#rec-design](https://stealthis.dev/library#rec-design) | UI libraries, fonts, prototyping, accessibility |
| Learning | [library#rec-learning](https://stealthis.dev/library#rec-learning) | Courses, roadmaps, internships, interview prep |
| Business | [library#rec-business](https://stealthis.dev/library#rec-business) | CRM, invoicing, legal tools, business books |

Click a theme chip to jump to that group, then open any card to see the full topic page at `stealthis.dev/r/<slug>`.

## How to use a topic page

Each recommendation page includes:

- **Alternatives list** — each option with description, pros/cons, and a **Best for** line
- **Visit / Demo links** — external URLs when available
- **Comparison table** — same attributes across all options (columns vary by topic)
- **Highlighted pick** — options marked with ★ when one is a strong default for most people

Use **Best for** and the comparison table to narrow down — then follow the external link to sign up or learn more.

## Search tips

Library search indexes **alternative names** inside topics. Searching "Stripe" surfaces the Payment Processors topic; searching "roadmap" finds Developer Roadmaps.

## Recommendations vs collections

| | Recommendations | Collections |
|---|-----------------|-------------|
| Purpose | Compare external tools and resources | Copy-paste UI snippets and demos |
| Has code snippets | No | Yes |
| Open in Lab | No | Often |
| URL pattern | `/r/<slug>` | `/library?collection=<id>` |

See [Collections](/collections/) and [Choose Your Path](/choose-your-path/) for goal-based navigation.

## MCP and code integration

Recommendations are **not** included in the [MCP server](/mcp-server/) catalog. They are reference pages for humans choosing between services — not copy-paste code bundles.

## Contributing

To add or edit recommendation topics, see the full authoring spec in the repo: [ROADMAP_RECOMMENDATION.md](https://github.com/Foodhy/stealthis/blob/main/ROADMAP_RECOMMENDATION.md).

For the general resource schema (including `type: recommendation`), see [Resource Format](/resource-format/).