7.6 KiB
The AltStack — Data HQ
The open dataset behind thealtstack.com
488 open-source tools · 32 categories · 352 AI models · 68 Docker deploy configs
What is this repo?
This is the data layer for The AltStack — a curated directory of open-source alternatives to popular SaaS products. Everything the website displays comes from the files in this repo:
- 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)
If you want to add a tool, fix a description, or contribute a Docker config — this is where you do it.
Repository Structure
├── 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
The Data: tools.json
The core of this repo. Each tool entry looks like this:
{
"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 |
| 2 | Financial | 2 | |
| HR | 2 | Legal | 2 |
| AI Runners | 4 | Monitoring | 6 |
| Photos | 1 | Uncategorized | 8 |
Docker Deploy Configs
Every config in docker-deploy/ is a ready-to-use docker-compose.yml with an accompanying install.sh script. Just clone and run:
cd docker-deploy/plausible
chmod +x install.sh
./install.sh
Or copy the docker-compose.yml directly:
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. 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:
- Discovery — Scans GitHub trending, Hacker News, and community submissions for new tools
- Validation — Checks existing entries for dead links, archived repos, and stale projects
- Enrichment — Pulls latest GitHub stars, activity metrics, and metadata
- Docker generation — Auto-generates Docker Compose configs for newly added tools
- 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
- Fork this repo
- Add a new entry to
data/tools.jsonfollowing the schema above - Make sure it meets our vetting criteria
- Open a PR
Add a Docker config
- Create a new folder in
docker-deploy/named after the tool's slug - Add a
docker-compose.ymland aninstall.sh - Test it locally — it should produce a working deployment
- 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 for the full guide.
Using the Data
The data in this repo is licensed under CC BY 4.0. You're free to use it in your own projects — just give attribution.
Fetch the raw JSON
# 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
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')
);
Links
- 🌐 Website: thealtstack.com
- 🐛 Report an issue: Open an issue
- 📬 Request a tool: Open an issue
Built by @altstackHQ
Stop paying for SaaS you can self-host.