rudder
Rudder is an open-core infrastructure automation platform for configuration management and security posture across cloud, hybrid, and on-premises environments. The free Rudder Core version runs on Linux with GPL/Apache 2.0 licensing; the paid subscription adds Windows support, additional plugins, and extended maintenance.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | Normation/rudder |
| Owner | Normation |
| Primary language | Scala |
| License | GPL-3.0 — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 692 |
| Forks | 89 |
| Open issues | 41 |
| Latest release | 9.0.2 (2025-12-11) |
| Last updated | 2026-07-07 |
| Source | https://github.com/Normation/rudder |
What rudder is
Scala-based platform with a central server (Web UI, HTTP API, automation engine), optional relay proxies, and lightweight agents deployed on managed systems that enforce state every 5 minutes. Supports 100s to 1000s of systems per deployment, with hierarchical configuration data engine and automated system classification.
Get the rudder source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/Normation/rudder.gitcd rudder# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- Server hardware and database sizing: design for 10k+ managed nodes; typical deployments manage 100s to 1000s. Central server is a single point for policy automation and audit.
- Agent deployment model: lightweight agents run autonomously every 5 minutes by default; network segmentation and firewall rules required for agent-to-server communication.
- Policy authoring workflow: visual policy editor or YAML code both supported; teams should define policy governance, change approval, and rollback procedures upfront.
- Hierarchical data engine integration: leverage classification system for dynamic policy targeting; requires planning for inventory structure and data consistency across environments.
- Audit and compliance reporting: strong inventory and compliance features; plan for log retention, integration with SIEM/compliance tools, and regular compliance audit cycles.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Windows-primary environment — Windows support is a paid subscription feature only; Rudder Core is Linux-only. Teams heavily invested in Windows infrastructure should evaluate subscription costs or alternatives.
- No operational support budget — Community support is limited to GitHub Discussions and chat; professional support and extended version maintenance require a paid subscription. Rudder Core users have only 3 months to upgrade after minor releases.
- Lightweight deployment footprint is critical — Requires a central server with Web UI, database, and automation engine; relay proxies are optional but recommended for scale. Not suitable for minimal-footprint or edge-only deployments.
- Requires pre-existing commercial support agreement — Open-source Rudder Core has no SLA or guaranteed support pathway. Evaluation should include subscription cost-benefit if SLA or extended maintenance is non-negotiable.
License & commercial use
Rudder Core: dual-licensed GPL-3.0 and Apache 2.0 (permissive). Rudder (paid): mixed open-source (GPL-3.0, Apache 2.0) and proprietary plugins. Commercial use of Rudder Core is permitted under GPL-3.0 and Apache 2.0 terms (copyleft and permissive respectively); proprietary paid plugins are closed-source.
Rudder Core can be used commercially under GPL-3.0 (copyleft: derivatives must be GPL-3.0 licensed) and Apache 2.0 (permissive). Paid Rudder subscription includes proprietary plugins under closed-source licenses; requires direct license agreement with Normation. Review license terms carefully if you plan to modify core or redistribute.
DEV.co evaluation signals
Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.
| Signal | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active |
| Documentation | Strong |
| License clarity | Clear |
| Deployment complexity | Moderate |
| DEV.co fit | Good |
| Assessment confidence | High |
Platform is designed for security posture automation (patch management, vulnerability scanning, hardening, compliance). Central server is a critical asset (Web UI, automation engine, audit logs); network segmentation and access control essential. Agent communication security (TLS 1.2+ enforced in installation scripts) should be verified. No exploit details or penetration test data provided. Review Normation's security advisory process and update cadence.
Alternatives to consider
Ansible (+ Tower/AWX)
Agentless Python-based automation; lighter-weight, broader OS support (Windows native). Less specialized for continuous compliance and security posture; stronger community ecosystem.
Puppet / Chef
Established configuration management platforms with strong enterprise support. Puppet free version available; both support multiple OS platforms natively. Larger communities; more third-party integrations.
SaltStack / Foreman
SaltStack: agent-based remote execution with Python; Foreman: Red Hat-backed provisioning and management. Both open-source with strong Linux focus. Foreman integrates closely with Puppet.
Build on rudder with DEV.co software developers
Evaluate Rudder Core for free on Linux, or request a trial for the full platform with Windows and extended support. Contact Normation for pricing and enterprise licensing.
Talk to DEV.coRelated open-source tools
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Related on DEV.co
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rudder FAQ
Can I use Rudder Core in production without paying?
Does Rudder Core support Windows?
How large can a single Rudder server scale?
What is the agent check interval?
Software development & web development with DEV.co
Adopting rudder is usually one piece of a larger software development effort. As a software development agency, DEV.co provides software development services and web development expertise — pairing senior software developers and web developers with your team to design, build, and operate open-source devops software in production.
Ready to automate security compliance across your infrastructure?
Evaluate Rudder Core for free on Linux, or request a trial for the full platform with Windows and extended support. Contact Normation for pricing and enterprise licensing.