clp
CLP is an open-source log management tool that compresses logs while keeping them searchable without decompression. It handles both JSON and unstructured text logs, offers real-time compression via language-specific libraries, and includes a web UI for search and analytics.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | y-scope/clp |
| Owner | y-scope |
| Primary language | C++ |
| License | Apache-2.0 — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 1.1k |
| Forks | 91 |
| Open issues | 444 |
| Latest release | v0.12.0 (2026-04-22) |
| Last updated | 2026-07-07 |
| Source | https://github.com/y-scope/clp |
What clp is
C++ implementation providing index-less log compression with search capabilities across JSON and unstructured formats. Includes logging libraries for Python and Java (Log4j1/2, Logback), IR-based compression intermediate representation, custom pushdown-automata log parser, and Python/Go analysis libraries.
Get the clp source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/y-scope/clp.gitcd clp# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- C++ core requires compilation; prebuilt containers and release packages available to reduce build complexity. Evaluate build toolchain compatibility with your CI/CD.
- Real-time compression libraries exist for Python and Java (Log4j1/2, Logback) but not Go, Node.js, or .NET. Multi-language logging environments will require custom IR integration or post-hoc compression.
- IR intermediate representation offers higher compression than archive format but trades memory buffering. Tuning compression strategy (IR vs. archives) depends on latency vs. ratio trade-offs.
- Open issues count (444) and active development (latest release April 2026, last push July 2026) suggest ongoing feature work; stability acceptable for new deployments but review release notes for breaking changes.
- Web UI and analytics included but integration with existing monitoring/alerting stacks (Datadog, New Relic, Prometheus) not explicitly documented. Plan custom API integration if needed.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Need sub-second search latency at scale — Index-less design means search performance depends on scanning compressed archives. Traditional index-based tools (Elasticsearch, Splunk) provide faster query response on large datasets.
- Windows-only deployment — No explicit Windows support mentioned. Primary deployment targets appear to be Linux and containerized environments.
- Require built-in authentication and multi-tenancy — No details provided on RBAC, SSO, or tenant isolation. Self-hosted option requires external security orchestration.
- Need managed SaaS offering — CLP is self-hosted only. No commercial managed service is mentioned; you must operate infrastructure yourself.
License & commercial use
Apache License 2.0 (Apache-2.0). Permissive OSI-approved license allowing commercial use, modification, and distribution with attribution and liability limitations.
Apache-2.0 is a permissive license compatible with commercial use. You may use CLP in proprietary products, charge customers, and modify source code. Retain license headers and provide copies of license. No vendor lock-in or royalty obligations. Review your legal team's interpretation if bundling with closed-source components.
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 | Moderate |
| DEV.co fit | Good |
| Assessment confidence | High |
Threat model and security audit status unknown. Self-hosted deployment requires securing web UI (HTTPS, authentication), database/storage backend, and network access. No mention of encryption at rest, in-transit encryption (TLS), or secrets management in provided data. Recommend review of source code and deployment hardening guides before handling sensitive logs.
Alternatives to consider
Elasticsearch
Index-based search with faster query latency. Higher storage cost and operational complexity. Supports JSON and text logs; widely adopted.
Splunk
Enterprise log management with rich analytics, alerting, and SIEM integration. Significantly higher licensing cost. Index-heavy; better latency than CLP.
Datadog Log Management
Managed SaaS with no infrastructure burden, integrated APM/monitoring, and strong support. Higher per-GB cost. Good fit if operational simplicity outweighs spend.
Build on clp with DEV.co software developers
Evaluate CLP's compression and index-less search for your log volume. Download a release package, test with sample logs, or join the community on Discord for guidance.
Talk to DEV.coRelated on DEV.co
Explore the category and the services that help you build with it.
clp FAQ
How much compression ratio can I expect?
Can I search logs without decompressing them?
Do I have to use CLP's logging libraries?
Is there a managed/SaaS version?
Custom software development services
From first prototype to production, DEV.co delivers software development services around tools like clp. Our software development agency staffs experienced software developers and web developers for custom software development, web development, integrations, and ongoing support across open-source observability and beyond.
Ready to reduce log storage costs?
Evaluate CLP's compression and index-less search for your log volume. Download a release package, test with sample logs, or join the community on Discord for guidance.