Rikta is an open-source TypeScript backend framework designed to solve 'module hell' in NestJS through zero-config autowiring. Built on Fastify, it delivers 32% better performance than NestJS by eliminating verbose module configuration. The framework uses automatic dependency injection with decorators (@Injectable, @Autowired) and decorator-based routing, removing the need for manual imports/exports arrays.

Key features include Zod validation integration for type-safe runtime validation, lifecycle hooks, and an event bus for decoupled service communication. Rikta supports singleton and transient provider scopes, automatically resolves circular dependencies with clear error messages, and uses reflect-metadata for type inference. The architecture is modular with npm workspaces, keeping the core lightweight while offering optional packages for CLI scaffolding, Swagger documentation, and TypeORM integration.

Performance gains stem from Fastify's optimized HTTP handling, reduced DI abstraction layers, and no runtime module resolution overhead.