@metamask/onboarding

This library does one thing: detects MetaMask installation and redirects users to install it if missing. The API is straightforward with `startOnboarding()` and `stopOnboarding()` methods, plus an `isMetaMaskInstalled()` check. It works reliably for basic use cases, but there's zero instrumentation or logging hooks, making it impossible to track onboarding funnel metrics without wrapping everything yourself.

The real concern is the lack of updates since 2021. While the functionality is simple enough that this might not matter today, the web3 ecosystem moves fast. No timeout configuration exists for the forwarder check, and there's no error handling for edge cases like popup blockers or CSP violations. You'll need to build your own retry logic and state management around it.

Resource-wise it's lightweight with minimal memory footprint, but the redirect behavior opens tabs that you can't control programmatically. No connection pooling concerns since it's purely client-side DOM manipulation. For production use, expect to wrap this in your own observability layer and handle edge cases manually.

The @metamask/onboarding package provides a straightforward API for detecting MetaMask installation and prompting users to install it. The core API is minimal - you instantiate `MetaMaskOnboarding` and call `startOnboarding()`. It works as advertised for basic use cases and the TypeScript types are present, though sparse.

The main concern is that this package hasn't been updated since mid-2021, which is problematic given how rapidly the Web3 ecosystem evolves. The documentation is minimal - essentially just the README with basic examples. Error handling is nearly non-existent; you're left to manually check `MetaMaskOnboarding.isMetaMaskInstalled()` and handle edge cases yourself. The package also uses the legacy `ethereum.isMetaMask` detection which can have false positives with other wallets.

For simple 'Install MetaMask' flows, it reduces boilerplate. However, modern dapps often need multi-wallet support, and this package locks you into MetaMask-only onboarding. The lack of maintenance means no updates for newer MetaMask features or improved detection methods.

The MetaMask Onboarding library does exactly one thing: detects if MetaMask is installed and provides a button to redirect users to install it if not. The API is straightforward with a simple constructor and a few methods like `startOnboarding()` and `stopOnboarding()`. TypeScript definitions are included, which helps with IDE autocomplete for the basic API surface.

However, the package feels frozen in time. Last updated in 2021, it hasn't evolved with modern MetaMask practices or the broader wallet ecosystem. The forwarder link it uses can feel clunky compared to directing users to metamask.io directly. Error handling is minimal - there's little feedback when things go wrong, and the library doesn't handle edge cases like mobile browsers or alternative wallets gracefully.

The documentation is bare-bones but sufficient for the narrow use case. You'll find yourself writing additional logic around it to handle mobile detection, alternative wallet support, and user state management. For a simple 'install MetaMask' flow it works, but modern dApps often need more sophisticated onboarding that considers multiple wallets and connection states.