wtf
WTF (Tessera) is a terminal dashboard that displays real-time stats and information from multiple services in a customizable layout. Built in Go, it integrates with tools like GitHub, Google Calendar, DigitalOcean, and dozens of other APIs to give developers at-a-glance access to critical but infrequently-checked data.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | wtfutil/wtf |
| Owner | wtfutil |
| Primary language | Go |
| License | MPL-2.0 — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 17k |
| Forks | 855 |
| Open issues | 64 |
| Latest release | v0.50.0 (2026-06-30) |
| Last updated | 2026-07-04 |
| Source | https://github.com/wtfutil/wtf |
What wtf is
A Go-based terminal user interface (TUI) application built on tcell and tview that renders modular information panels. Configured via YAML, it supports 25+ integrations and custom modules, with the codebase actively maintained and distributed via Homebrew, binary releases, and Docker.
Get the wtf source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/wtfutil/wtf.gitcd wtf# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- YAML configuration required; plan for secrets management (API keys for GitHub, DigitalOcean, etc.) in secure storage, not hardcoded.
- Module availability varies; verify that all third-party services you need have stable, documented integrations before adoption.
- Binary is self-contained but requires terminal emulator with tcell support; test in your target environment (macOS, Linux, Windows/WSL).
- Refresh rates and API rate limits per module should be tuned; excessive polling may violate service quotas.
- Config file schema may change during v1.0 migration (project is currently renaming to Tessera); plan for configuration management versioning.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Non-Terminal Environments — WTF is terminal-only; if your team uses primarily web dashboards or mobile clients, this will not fit the workflow.
- Minimal Go Expertise & Custom Development — Adding custom modules or modifying core behavior requires Go knowledge; teams without Go developers may find customization difficult.
- Highly Complex Multi-Tenant Setup — WTF is designed for personal/team use, not large-scale multi-tenant SaaS deployments.
- Strict Commercial Support Requirements — Project is informally maintained by volunteers with no guarantees; if you need SLA-backed support, this is not suitable.
License & commercial use
Licensed under Mozilla Public License 2.0 (MPL-2.0), a copyleft license that requires source disclosure for modifications but permits private use and commercial redistribution if terms are met.
MPL-2.0 permits commercial use, but any modifications to the WTF codebase must be disclosed under the same license. Using unmodified binaries carries fewer obligations. Requires legal review if proprietary modifications are planned; consult with legal counsel before shipping as part of a commercial product.
DEV.co evaluation signals
Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.
| Signal | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active |
| Documentation | Adequate |
| License clarity | Clear |
| Deployment complexity | Low |
| DEV.co fit | Good |
| Assessment confidence | High |
API credentials (GitHub, DigitalOcean, etc.) must be externalized; storing in plaintext YAML configs is a risk. The application runs locally and does not expose network services by default, reducing attack surface. Dependency supply chain: Go modules used; verify reproducibility if auditing is required. No known CVE data provided; no formal security audit history evident.
Alternatives to consider
Grafana + Prometheus
Heavier-weight; better for team dashboards and long-term metrics storage, but overkill for personal terminal dashboards.
Tmux + Custom Scripts
More control and flexibility but requires manual scripting; no built-in integrations or UI framework.
Glances / htop
System-focused; excellent for local performance monitoring but lacks third-party service integrations that WTF offers.
Build on wtf with DEV.co software developers
WTF is powerful for personal use, but if you need production-grade monitoring, custom integrations, or team-wide dashboards with SLA support, let's discuss a tailored solution.
Talk to DEV.coRelated on DEV.co
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wtf FAQ
Can I use WTF in production monitoring workflows?
Does WTF support Windows?
What happens if an API integration breaks?
Can I extend WTF with custom modules?
Software developers & web developers for hire
DEV.co helps companies turn open-source tools like wtf into production software. Our software development services cover the full lifecycle — architecture, web development, integration, and maintenance — delivered by software developers and web developers who ship. Engage our software development agency to implement or customize it for your open-source devops stack.
Need a Custom Terminal Dashboard or Monitoring Integration?
WTF is powerful for personal use, but if you need production-grade monitoring, custom integrations, or team-wide dashboards with SLA support, let's discuss a tailored solution.