Which OpenAPI Codegen Should You Choose? openapi-typescript vs hey-api vs Orval vs Kubb
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Comprehensive comparison of OpenAPI codegen tools, very actionable
For large OpenAPI schemas (75k lines, 1200 operations), codegen tool choice impacts generation speed, file count, and maintainability. openapi-typescript excels for types-only, while @hey-api/openapi-ts offers operationId-based SDK with result-style errors and interceptors. Orval generates ecosystem artifacts (TanStack Query, Zod, MSW), and Kubb produces one file per operation via plugin architecture—with hey-api being the most practical for real-world scale.
- Evaluate codegen tools with a representative large schema: measure generation speed, output file count, and error handling pattern before committing to one.
As a platform engineer optimizing developer experience, selecting the right OpenAPI codegen affects linting, IDE indexing, and team maintenance overhead—especially at enterprise-scale schemas.