StackStorm

Self-Hosted

Open-source event-driven automation platform for IT operations and DevOps

Overview

StackStorm is an open-source event-driven automation platform designed for IT ops, DevOps, and SRE teams. It orchestrates workflows, responds to real-time events (e.g., monitoring alerts, API calls), and integrates with 100+ tools like Ansible, Chef, Slack, Prometheus, and Nagios. Users create reusable rules (Actions, Workflows, Triggers) to automate incident response, config management, and routine tasks. Deployable via Docker, Kubernetes, or bare metal, it supports self-hosting with scalable components, allowing customization via Python/YAML to extend functionality for specific operational needs.

Self-Hosting Resources

Find Official Image on Docker Hub View Source & Docs

Below is a reference structure for docker-compose.yml. ⚠️ Do NOT run blindly. Replace placeholders with official values.

docker-compose.template.yml TEMPLATE


version: '3'
services:
  stackstorm:
    image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
    container_name: stackstorm
    ports:
      - "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Features

Event-driven workflow automation for real-time operational tasks
Seamless integration with 100+ tools (Ansible, Slack, Prometheus)
Customizable triggers/actions via YAML/Python
Scalable self-hosted deployment options (Docker, Kubernetes)

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is StackStorm hard to install?

StackStorm offers Docker Compose, Kubernetes, and bare-metal deployment options. Docker-based setup is beginner-friendly with pre-built images, but advanced configurations (clustering, enterprise tool integrations) require familiarity with DevOps tools and server admin.

? Is it a good alternative to ServiceNow Orchestration?

Yes—StackStorm is a cost-effective open-source alternative for teams preferring self-hosting and customization. It matches core orchestration capabilities but offers more flexibility to extend via code, though ServiceNow has a polished enterprise UI and built-in ITIL compliance.

? Is it completely free?

The core StackStorm platform is open-source (Apache 2.0 license) and free to use. Paid enterprise editions (like StackStorm Enterprise) add premium support, advanced security, and enterprise integrations, but the self-hosted core remains free.

Top Alternatives

PagerDuty Automation Actions Search Google

ServiceNow Orchestration Search Google

Microsoft Azure Automation Search Google

Tool Info

Pricing Open Source

Category Automation

Platform Self-Hosted

Pros

⊕ Privacy-focused (self-hosted data control)
⊕ Extensible with custom scripts and plugins
⊕ Reduces manual toil for IT and DevOps teams

Cons

⊖ Steep learning curve for complex workflow design
⊖ Requires server maintenance and DevOps expertise
⊖ Limited graphical UI for non-technical users