Open-Source Databases · datalens-tech

datalens

DataLens is an open-source business intelligence and data visualization platform originally developed at Yandex. It provides dashboards, reporting, and SQL-based analytics through a Docker-deployable system with modular services (UI, backend, auth, metadata storage).

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Source: GitHub — github.com/datalens-tech/datalens

1.7k

GitHub stars

114

Forks

PLpgSQL

Primary language

Apache-2.0

License (OSI-approved)

Key facts

Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.

Field	Value
Repository	datalens-tech/datalens
Owner	datalens-tech
Primary language	PLpgSQL
License	Apache-2.0 — OSI-approved
Stars	1.7k
Forks	114
Open issues	50
Latest release	v2.9.0 (2026-02-19)
Last updated	2026-06-14
Source	https://github.com/datalens-tech/datalens

What datalens is

DataLens comprises a Node.js/React UI, Python backend for query generation and data processing, PostgreSQL-backed metadata storage (UnitedStorage), and a separate auth service. It supports multiple data sources, formula calculations, and visualization types (Highcharts-based by default, with D3.js fallback).

Quickstart

Get the datalens source

Clone the repository and explore it locally.

terminalbash

1git clone https://github.com/datalens-tech/datalens.git2cd datalens3# follow the project's README for install & configuration

Need it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.

Best use cases

Self-hosted enterprise BI platform

Organizations needing full control over analytics infrastructure can deploy DataLens on-premises or private cloud with complete data sovereignty and custom authentication integration.

SQL-centric data exploration and dashboarding

Teams comfortable with SQL can rapidly build dashboards and reports without vendor lock-in, leveraging the system's query generation and post-processing capabilities.

Kubernetes-native analytics deployments

DevOps-led organizations can use the provided Helm charts for scalable, declarative deployments in Kubernetes clusters with automated secret management.

Implementation considerations

Docker Compose v2 or legacy v1.29.0+ required; verify version compatibility before deployment.
Production deployments mandate RSA key generation (auth tokens, temporal, UI/backend auth) using provided init.sh script; keys must be securely stored in .env or Kubernetes secrets.
PostgreSQL is core dependency for metadata and user settings; ensure high-availability setup and backup strategy for production use.
Highcharts licensing must be explicitly reviewed if HC=1 is enabled; D3.js fallback available but visualization types are currently limited.
All user settings, connections, and dashboard objects persist in PostgreSQL volumes; design disaster recovery and data migration strategy.

When to avoid it — and what to weigh

Minimal DevOps capability — Setup requires Docker Compose knowledge, Kubernetes familiarity for production, and manual RSA key generation. No managed cloud offering or one-click SaaS deployment.
Strict licensing constraints around proprietary visualizations — Highcharts (enabled via HC=1 flag) is proprietary and requires separate compliance review. Users must either accept Highcharts licensing or rely on limited D3.js alternatives.
Need for extensive pre-built integrations — Data source connectivity and third-party integrations are not enumerated in available documentation. Requires custom connector development or review of separate backend repository.
Low tolerance for immature projects — Project created September 2023 with 1,691 stars and 50 open issues. Smaller community compared to mature BI tools; fewer public case studies or vetted enterprise deployments.

License & commercial use

Apache License 2.0 (Apache-2.0). Permissive OSI-compliant license allowing commercial use, modification, and distribution with attribution and liability disclaimer. Proprietary Highcharts visualization library may impose additional licensing constraints if enabled.

Apache-2.0 permits commercial deployment and modification. However, if Highcharts visualization library is enabled (HC=1), separate commercial licensing from Highcharts must be obtained and verified per their terms. Review Highcharts license at https://github.com/highcharts/highcharts/blob/master/license.txt before production use. No commercial support SLA or vendor indemnification detailed in provided data.

DEV.co evaluation signals

Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.

Signal	Assessment
Maintenance	Active
Documentation	Adequate
License clarity	Needs review
Deployment complexity	High
DEV.co fit	Good
Assessment confidence	High

Security considerations

No security audit, penetration test results, or CVE history provided. Key considerations: (1) Auth service uses RSA keys for token generation—secure key storage and rotation practices required; (2) Default admin credentials (admin/admin) must be immediately changed in any deployment; (3) PostgreSQL is core dependency—network isolation and credential management critical; (4) No details on encryption at rest, in transit, or access control audit logging. Requires threat modeling and security review before production enterprise use.

Alternatives to consider

Metabase

Open-source, single-binary deployment, lower operational overhead, broader community. Requires less infrastructure expertise but less customization than DataLens.

Grafana

Lighter-weight, strong monitoring focus, simpler Kubernetes adoption, larger ecosystem of data source plugins. Better fit for observability-first use cases.

Apache Superset

Python-based OSS BI, easier for Python shops, no proprietary visualization dependencies by default, active Apache community. Comparable feature scope with fewer licensing caveats.

Software development agency

Build on datalens with DEV.co software developers

Our engineers can assess deployment architecture, licensing implications (especially Highcharts), Kubernetes operationalization, and integration with your data sources. Contact us for a technical review and proof-of-concept.

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datalens FAQ

Do I need a license fee to run DataLens?

No license fee for the open-source Apache-2.0 project itself. However, if you enable Highcharts visualization (HC=1), you must obtain a separate Highcharts commercial license depending on your use case.

Can I use DataLens without Docker?

Provided deployment methods require Docker Compose or Kubernetes. Direct binary/source installation is not documented. Source builds from constituent repositories (UI, backend, auth, meta-manager, US) may be possible but unsupported.

What databases does DataLens connect to?

Data source connector types are not enumerated in provided documentation. See the datalens-backend repository for supported databases and connector details.

How do I secure DataLens for enterprise use?

README covers RSA key generation for auth and temporal services. No documented hardening guide, TLS/SSL setup, or OIDC/SAML integration is provided; requires review of datalens-auth service and security best practices.

Software development & web development with DEV.co

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