Web3Decision Guide
Foundry vs Hardhat
Hardhat is JavaScript-based with a large ecosystem. Foundry is Rust-based with faster tests. Both are production-ready.
Quick Verdict
Choose Foundry if...
- You want the fastest test execution
- You prefer writing tests in Solidity
- You value fuzzing and invariant testing
- You're comfortable with command-line tools
- Performance is a priority
Choose Hardhat if...
- Your team knows JavaScript/TypeScript
- You need extensive plugin ecosystem
- You want more IDE integration
- You're doing complex deployment scripts
- You prefer mature, established tooling
Side-by-Side Comparison
Feature
Foundry
Hardhat
Language
Rust (tests in Solidity)
JavaScript/TypeScript
Test Speed
Very fast
Moderate
Test Language
Solidity
JavaScript/TypeScript
Fuzzing
Built-in, excellent
Plugin required
Ecosystem
Growing
Large, mature
IDE Support
Good
Excellent
Documentation
Good
Excellent
Deployment
Scripts or Forge
Flexible scripting
Debugging
Trace-based
Console.log, traces
Learning Curve
Moderate
Lower for JS devs
Decision Checklist
Ask yourself these questions to guide your decision:
1Does your team prefer JavaScript or Solidity for tests?
2How important is test execution speed?
3Do you need fuzzing and property-based testing?
4What IDE/editor does your team use?
5Do you need specific Hardhat plugins?
6How complex are your deployment scripts?
7Is the team comfortable with command-line tools?
8What is your team's Web3 experience level?
Tradeoffs & Gotchas
Foundry tests are in Solidity, not JavaScript
Hardhat has slower test execution
Foundry has smaller plugin ecosystem
Hardhat has more tutorials and examples
Foundry fuzzing is more powerful out of the box
Hardhat deployment scripting is more flexible
Foundry is newer with less community content
Hardhat integrates better with frontend tooling
Our Recommendation
Pick Foundry for test-heavy smart contract projects
Pick Hardhat if team is JavaScript-focused
Pick Foundry for security-critical contracts needing fuzzing
Pick Hardhat for projects needing many integrations
Pick Foundry for performance-sensitive CI/CD
Pick Hardhat for teams new to smart contract development
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use both together?
Yes. Some teams use Foundry for testing and Hardhat for deployment scripts. They can coexist in one project.
Which is better for audits?
Foundry's fuzzing capabilities make it popular for security-focused development. Auditors appreciate comprehensive test suites in either.
Is Foundry production-ready?
Yes. Major protocols like Uniswap and Paradigm use Foundry in production.
Which has better debugging?
Hardhat's console.log in Solidity is convenient. Foundry's traces are powerful but have a learning curve.
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