From 505d715ca7eb0fdc7081ed5923c41918774ba1e5 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Aditya Sharma Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2026 20:26:17 +0530 Subject: [PATCH] docs: rewrite README with accurate stats, schema docs, and category breakdown --- README.md | 355 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++------------------------ 1 file changed, 199 insertions(+), 156 deletions(-) diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index 851896f..971e525 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -1,191 +1,234 @@ -

- The Alt Stack -

+
-

Awesome Open Source Alternatives - The AltStack Data HQ

+# The AltStack — Data HQ -

- A curated list of 450+ open-source alternatives to popular SaaS products.
- Stop paying for what you can host yourself. Build sovereign infrastructure with AltStack. -

+### The open dataset behind [thealtstack.com](https://thealtstack.com) -

- GitHub stars - License - PRs Welcome -

+**488 open-source tools · 32 categories · 352 AI models · 68 Docker deploy configs** -

- Explore the Directory • - Self-Hosted Configurator • - Self-Hosting Guides • - Request a Tool -

+[![Live Directory](https://img.shields.io/badge/Browse-thealtstack.com-ef4444?style=for-the-badge&logo=vercel&logoColor=white)](https://thealtstack.com) +[![Main Repo](https://img.shields.io/badge/Frontend-aa--humaaan/thealtstack-0ea5e9?style=for-the-badge&logo=github)](https://github.com/aa-humaaan/thealtstack) +[![License: CC BY 4.0](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-CC_BY_4.0-22c55e?style=for-the-badge)](LICENSE) + +
--- -## 🚀 Why Sovereign Infrastructure? +## What is this repo? -Every SaaS you pay for is a piece of your sovereign control you are leasing. The mission of **AltStack** is to provide the data and deployment configurations necessary to replace the "Big Tech" stack with a **Sovereign Stack** you own. +This is the **data layer** for [The AltStack](https://thealtstack.com) — a curated directory of open-source alternatives to popular SaaS products. Everything the website displays comes from the files in this repo: -This repository serves as the **Data HQ** for [The AltStack](https://thealtstack.com). Every tool listed here is vetted for quality, activity, and self-hostability. See [CRITERIA.md](CRITERIA.md) for the full vetting standards. +- The full tool database (`tools.json`) +- Docker Compose deployment configs for 68+ tools +- Blog content and editorial copy +- Category descriptions and SEO metadata +- Curated "Stack" bundles (pre-built tool combos for common use cases) -## 🚀 Quick Start (Mini-Stacks) +If you want to add a tool, fix a description, or contribute a Docker config — this is where you do it. -Get up and running in under 2 minutes. These are "Development Mode" snippets. For production-hardened setups (SSL, Backups, Auth), follow the links to The AltStack Documentation. +--- + +## Repository Structure -### 📦 PocketBase (BaaS) -The fastest way to get a backend with Auth, Database, and Admin UI. -```yaml -# docker-compose.yml -services: - pocketbase: - image: mujo-code/pocketbase:latest - container_name: pocketbase - ports: - - "8090:8080" - volumes: - - ./pb_data:/pb_data - restart: unless-stopped ``` -👉 [Open in Self-Hosted Configurator](https://thealtstack.com/self-hosted/pocketbase) • [Deployment Guide](https://docs.thealtstack.com/deploy/pocketbase) - -### 📊 Plausible Analytics (Privacy-First) -Lightweight, open-source analytics. -```yaml -# docker-compose.yml (Simplified) -services: - plausible: - image: plausible/analytics:latest - ports: - - "8000:8000" - env_file: .env -... +├── data/ +│ ├── tools.json # The master database — 488 tools, every field +│ ├── tools-min.json # Minified version (client-side, faster loads) +│ ├── tools_expanded.json # Expanded version with enriched metadata +│ ├── blog-posts.ts # Blog post content (15 articles) +│ ├── stacks.ts # Curated stack definitions (5 bundles) +│ ├── category_editorial.json # Category descriptions, SEO copy, editorial +│ ├── memory.json # Sentinel pipeline state & run history +│ └── seo.ts # Global SEO configuration +├── docker-deploy/ # 68 Docker Compose configs + install scripts +│ ├── supabase/ +│ │ ├── docker-compose.yml +│ │ └── install.sh +│ ├── n8n/ +│ ├── plausible/ +│ ├── mattermost/ +│ └── ... (68 tools total) +├── deployments/ # Deployment metadata & generated configs +├── docs/ # Documentation site source (Nextra) +├── scraper/ # Python scraper for data enrichment +│ ├── scraper.py +│ └── requirements.txt +├── scripts/ +│ └── fetch-github-metadata.js # GitHub stars/activity enrichment +├── assets/ # Logos and static assets +├── CONTRIBUTING.md # How to contribute +├── CRITERIA.md # Tool vetting standards +├── CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md # Community guidelines +└── LICENSE # CC BY 4.0 ``` -👉 [Open in Self-Hosted Configurator](https://thealtstack.com/self-hosted/plausible) • [Full Self-Hosting Guide](https://docs.thealtstack.com/deploy/plausible) --- -## 🛠️ Browse by Category +## The Data: `tools.json` -- [🏗️ Backend as a Service](#-backend-as-a-service-baas) → [Compare all on thealtstack.com](https://thealtstack.com/best/backend-as-a-service) -- [💬 Communication](#-communication--collaboration) → [Compare all on thealtstack.com](https://thealtstack.com/best/communication) -- [📊 Analytics & BI](#-analytics--bi) → [Compare all on thealtstack.com](https://thealtstack.com/best/analytics) -- [📁 Project Management](#-project-management) → [Compare all on thealtstack.com](https://thealtstack.com/best/project-management) +The core of this repo. Each tool entry looks like this: + +```json +{ + "slug": "plausible", + "name": "Plausible Analytics", + "category": "Analytics", + "is_open_source": true, + "pricing_model": "Free Self-Hosted / Paid Cloud", + "website": "https://plausible.io", + "description": "Lightweight and privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative.", + "alternatives": ["Google Analytics", "Mixpanel"], + "tags": ["analytics", "privacy", "self-hosted"], + "logo_url": "https://...", + "avg_monthly_cost": 0, + "pros": ["Privacy-first", "Lightweight script", "Easy to self-host"], + "cons": ["Fewer advanced features than GA4"] +} +``` + +### Categories (32) + +| Category | Tools | Category | Tools | +|---|---|---|---| +| AI Models | 352 | Productivity | 16 | +| DevOps | 9 | Marketing | 9 | +| Security | 9 | Analytics | 8 | +| Cloud Infrastructure | 5 | Communication | 5 | +| Design | 5 | Backend as a Service | 4 | +| CRM | 4 | Automation | 4 | +| Support | 4 | AI Coding | 3 | +| AI Image Generation | 3 | CAD | 3 | +| ERP | 3 | Project Management | 3 | +| AI Interfaces | 2 | AI Video Generation | 2 | +| AI Tools | 2 | API Development | 2 | +| Creative | 2 | E-commerce | 2 | +| Email | 2 | Financial | 2 | +| HR | 2 | Legal | 2 | +| AI Runners | 4 | Monitoring | 6 | +| Photos | 1 | Uncategorized | 8 | --- -## 📂 The Awesome Alternatives List +## Docker Deploy Configs -### 🏗️ Backend as a Service (BaaS) -*Alternatives to **Firebase** and **AWS Amplify*** -- **[Supabase](https://github.com/supabase/supabase)** - The open source Firebase alternative with a dedicated Postgres database. -- **[Appwrite](https://github.com/appwrite/appwrite)** - A complete backend for Flutter, Web, and Mobile developers. -- **[PocketBase](https://github.com/pocketbase/pocketbase)** - Open source realtime backend in 1 file (Go & SQLite). -- [🔗 **Compare BaaS Alternatives on AltStack**](https://thealtstack.com/best/backend-as-a-service) - -### 💬 Communication & Collaboration -*Alternatives to **Slack**, **Zoom**, and **Microsoft Teams*** -- **[Mattermost](https://github.com/mattermost/mattermost)** - Open source platform for secure collaboration across the SDLC. -- **[Rocket.Chat](https://github.com/RocketChat/Rocket.Chat)** - The Secure CommsOS™ for mission-critical operations. -- **[Jitsi Meet](https://github.com/jitsi/jitsi-meet)** - Fully encrypted, 100% open source video conferencing. -- [🔗 **Explore Communication Stacks on AltStack**](https://thealtstack.com/best/communication) - -### 📊 Analytics & BI -*Alternatives to **Google Analytics**, **Mixpanel**, and **Tableau*** -- **[Plausible](https://github.com/plausible/analytics)** - Simple, lightweight, and privacy-friendly web analytics. -- **[PostHog](https://github.com/PostHog/posthog)** - Product analytics, session recording, and feature flags. -- **[Matomo](https://github.com/matomo-org/matomo)** - The leading open source Google Analytics alternative. -- **[Metabase](https://github.com/metabase/metabase)** - The simplest way to get business intelligence throughout your company. -- **[Apache Superset](https://github.com/apache/superset)** - Modern data exploration and visualization platform. -- [🔗 **Check Analytics on AltStack**](https://thealtstack.com/best/analytics) - -### 📁 Project Management -*Alternatives to **Jira**, **Asana**, and **Monday.com*** -- **[Plane](https://github.com/makeplane/plane)** - Beautiful open-source Jira/Linear alternative. -- **[Taiga](https://github.com/taigaio/taiga-back)** - Agile project management for multi-functional teams. -- **[OpenProject](https://github.com/opf/openproject)** - Powerful classic project management and collaboration. -- [🔗 **Self-host Project Management on AltStack**](https://thealtstack.com/best/project-management) - -### 🎨 Design & Creative -*Alternatives to **Photoshop**, **Figma**, and **Illustrator*** -- **[Penpot](https://github.com/penpot/penpot)** - The open-source design tool for design and code collaboration (Figma alternative). -- **[GIMP](https://github.com/GNOME/gimp)** - Professional-grade photo editing tools (Photoshop alternative). -- **[Krita](https://github.com/KDE/krita)** - Open source digital painting (Illustrator/Corel alternative). -- [🔗 **Design Tools on AltStack**](https://thealtstack.com/best/design) - -### 📝 Productivity & Knowledge -*Alternatives to **Notion**, **Microsoft 365**, and **Google Workspace*** -- **[AppFlowy](https://github.com/AppFlowy-IO/AppFlowy)** - Privacy-focused Notion alternative built in Rust. -- **[AFFiNE](https://github.com/toeverything/AFFiNE)** - Next-gen knowledge base that brings planning and creation together. -- **[ONLYOFFICE](https://github.com/ONLYOFFICE/DocumentServer)** - Highly compatible MS Office online editors. -- [🔗 **Productivity Alternatives on AltStack**](https://thealtstack.com/best/productivity) - -### 🔐 Security & IAM -*Alternatives to **1Password**, **Auth0**, and **Okta*** -- **[Bitwarden](https://github.com/bitwarden/server)** - Open source password manager for individuals and teams. -- **[KeePassXC](https://github.com/keepassxreboot/keepassxc)** - Fully offline, AES-256 password manager. -- **[Keycloak](https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak)** - Open source identity and access management. -- **[Authentik](https://github.com/goauthentik/authentik)** - The overall-best open-source identity provider. -- [🔗 **Security Tools on AltStack**](https://thealtstack.com/best/security) - -### 🛠️ DevOps & Automation -*Alternatives to **Heroku**, **Zapier**, and **Vercel*** -- **[Coolify](https://github.com/coollabsio/coolify)** - Self-hostable PaaS alternative to Heroku & Netlify. -- **[n8n](https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n)** - Workflow automation tool with 400+ integrations. -- **[Activepieces](https://github.com/activepieces/activepieces)** - Open source Zapier alternative. -- [🔗 **DevOps Tools on AltStack**](https://thealtstack.com/best/devops) - -### 💾 Storage & Infrastructure -*Alternatives to **AWS S3**, **Dropbox**, and **Salesforce*** -- **[Garage](https://github.com/deuxfleurs-org/garage)** - An open-source distributed object storage service tailored for self-hosting. -- **[Odoo](https://github.com/odoo/odoo)** - All-in-one ERP suite (Salesforce alternative). -- **[Nextcloud](https://github.com/nextcloud/server)** - Content collaboration platform (Dropbox/Google Drive alternative). -- [🔗 **Infrastructure on AltStack**](https://thealtstack.com/best/cloud-infrastructure) - ---- - -## ⚡ Quick Start: Deploy Your First Alternative - -Most tools in this list can be deployed in minutes using Docker. Here is how to get started with the AltStack approach: - -1. **Clone this repo**: `git clone https://github.com/altstackHQ/altstack-data.git` -2. **Explore `/deployments`**: Find the Docker Compose file for the tool you want. -3. **Go Sovereign**: Visit [docs.thealtstack.com](https://docs.thealtstack.com) for production-hardened guides (SSL, backups, and reverse proxies). - -> [!TIP] -> This repository contains basic community configs. For commercial-grade Sovereign Infrastructure setup, always refer to our [Official Documentation](https://docs.thealtstack.com). +Every config in `docker-deploy/` is a ready-to-use `docker-compose.yml` with an accompanying `install.sh` script. Just clone and run: ```bash -cd deployments/plausible -docker-compose up -d +cd docker-deploy/plausible +chmod +x install.sh +./install.sh +``` + +Or copy the `docker-compose.yml` directly: + +```bash +cd docker-deploy/n8n +docker compose up -d +``` + +Currently covering **68 tools** including: Supabase, Mattermost, Plausible, PostHog, Keycloak, N8N, Immich, Authentik, Metabase, Plane, and many more. + +> **Want to add a config?** See [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md). We test every config before merging. + +--- + +## Curated Stacks + +Pre-built tool bundles for common use cases, defined in `data/stacks.ts`: + +| Stack | What it's for | Monthly savings | +|---|---|---| +| 🚀 **The Bootstrapper** | Full SaaS toolkit for solo founders | ~$310/mo | +| 🎨 **The Designer** | Adobe Creative Cloud replacement | ~$110/mo | +| 🛡️ **The Privacy Stack** | De-Google your life | ~$80/mo | +| 🏢 **The Enterprise** | Full office suite replacement | ~$250/mo | +| 🤖 **The AI Stack** | Self-hosted AI/ML infrastructure | ~$200/mo | + +--- + +## How the Data Stays Fresh + +This repo is kept up-to-date by an automated pipeline (the "Sentinel Engine") that runs nightly via GitHub Actions: + +1. **Discovery** — Scans GitHub trending, Hacker News, and community submissions for new tools +2. **Validation** — Checks existing entries for dead links, archived repos, and stale projects +3. **Enrichment** — Pulls latest GitHub stars, activity metrics, and metadata +4. **Docker generation** — Auto-generates Docker Compose configs for newly added tools +5. **Content** — Generates blog posts, tool reviews, and comparison pages + +The pipeline opens PRs automatically so everything gets reviewed before merging. + +--- + +## Contributing + +We welcome contributions! The most impactful ways to help: + +### Add a new tool +1. Fork this repo +2. Add a new entry to `data/tools.json` following the schema above +3. Make sure it meets our [vetting criteria](CRITERIA.md) +4. Open a PR + +### Add a Docker config +1. Create a new folder in `docker-deploy/` named after the tool's slug +2. Add a `docker-compose.yml` and an `install.sh` +3. Test it locally — it should produce a working deployment +4. Open a PR + +### Fix data +Found a broken link, wrong pricing, or outdated description? Edit `data/tools.json` and open a PR. Small, targeted fixes are the fastest to merge. + +See [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) for the full guide. + +--- + +## Using the Data + +The data in this repo is licensed under [CC BY 4.0](LICENSE). You're free to use it in your own projects — just give attribution. + +### Fetch the raw JSON + +```bash +# Full database +curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/altstackHQ/altstack-data/main/data/tools.json + +# Minified (smaller, for client-side use) +curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/altstackHQ/altstack-data/main/data/tools-min.json +``` + +### Use in JavaScript/TypeScript + +```ts +const response = await fetch( + 'https://raw.githubusercontent.com/altstackHQ/altstack-data/main/data/tools.json' +); +const tools = await response.json(); + +// Filter by category +const analytics = tools.filter(t => t.category === 'Analytics'); + +// Find alternatives to a specific SaaS +const slackAlts = tools.filter(t => + t.alternatives?.includes('Slack') +); ``` --- -## 🗺️ Directory Mapping (The AltStack Bridge) +## Links -We use the data in this repository to power our [Main Website](https://thealtstack.com). Here is how the categories map: - -| UI Directory | Data Source (this repo) | Self-Hosted Guide | -| :--- | :--- | :--- | -| [Backend](https://thealtstack.com/best/backend-as-a-service) | `data/tools.json` | [Deploy Guides](https://docs.thealtstack.com/deploy/supabase) | -| [Analytics](https://thealtstack.com/best/analytics) | `data/tools.json` | [Deploy Guides](https://docs.thealtstack.com/deploy/plausible) | -| [Project Management](https://thealtstack.com/best/project-management) | `data/tools.json` | [Deploy Guides](https://docs.thealtstack.com/deploy/plane) | -| [Communication](https://thealtstack.com/best/communication) | `data/tools.json` | [Deploy Guides](https://docs.thealtstack.com/deploy/mattermost) | -| [Productivity](https://thealtstack.com/best/productivity) | `data/tools.json` | [Deploy Guides](https://docs.thealtstack.com/deploy/appflowy) | +- 🌐 **Website**: [thealtstack.com](https://thealtstack.com) +- 💻 **Frontend repo**: [aa-humaaan/thealtstack](https://github.com/aa-humaaan/thealtstack) +- 🐛 **Report an issue**: [Open an issue](https://github.com/altstackHQ/altstack-data/issues) +- 📬 **Request a tool**: [Open an issue](https://github.com/altstackHQ/altstack-data/issues/new) --- -## 🤝 Contributing +
-We love contributions! If you know of a great open-source tool we missed: -1. Check the [Contribution Guidelines](CONTRIBUTING.md). -2. Open an Issue with the tool details. -3. Submit a PR to update `data/tools.json`. +**Built by [@aa-humaaan](https://github.com/aa-humaaan)** ---- +Stop paying for SaaS you can self-host. -

- Built with ❤️ by the AltStack Team. -

+