What is the main difference between Apache Airflow and Dagu?

Apache Airflow and Dagu are both workflow orchestration tools but differ in their approach, features, and target audience. Compare their GitHub stats, technology stack, and community adoption to make the best choice.

Which is better: Apache Airflow or Dagu?

The choice between Apache Airflow and Dagu depends on your specific needs, technical requirements, and team preferences. Both are quality open source solutions with active communities.

Can I migrate from Apache Airflow to Dagu?

Migration between Apache Airflow and Dagu is possible but requires careful planning. Consider data export/import capabilities, feature parity, and potential workflow changes.

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Apache Airflow vs Dagu

Learn how Apache Airflow and Dagu differ in their key features, development activity, technology stack and community adoption, so you can decide which of these workflow orchestration tools is best for you.

Apache Airflow

Python-based workflow orchestration platform for scheduling, monitoring, and managing data pipelines at any scale.

Visit Apache Airflow Read more

47,279stars+293(+0.6%)

Last 30 days

Last commit
7 hours ago
Repository age
12 years
Version
3.3.2
License
Apache-2.0
Self-hosted
Yes
Repository
apache/airflow

Dagu

Single-binary workflow orchestrator that runs scheduled DAGs locally or over SSH, with retries, human tasks, a built-in Web UI, and file-based state storage.

Visit Dagu Read more

4,445stars+320(+7.8%)

Last 30 days

Last commit
7 hours ago
Repository age
5 years
Version
v2.22.4
License
GPL-3.0
Self-hosted
Yes
Repository
dagucloud/dagu

Detailed Comparison

Both Apache Airflow and Dagu have their unique strengths and serve similar purposes effectively. Consider your specific needs regarding popularity, growth, activity, maturity, licensing and features when making your decision.

Apache Airflow wins

Community & Popularity

Apache Airflow significantly outpaces Dagu in community adoption with 47,279 stars compared to 4,445 stars on GitHub. This 10.6x difference suggests Apache Airflow has a much larger and more active community. In terms of developer contributions, Apache Airflow has 18,151 forks, indicating strong developer engagement.

Dagu wins

Growth Momentum

Dagu is growing faster, adding 320 stars in the last 30 days (+7.8%) against adding 293 stars for Apache Airflow (+0.6%). Dagu is the smaller project of the two, so it is closing the gap rather than extending a lead.

Comparable

Development Activity

Both projects show recent activity, with Apache Airflow last updated 7 hours ago and Dagu 7 hours ago.

Apache Airflow wins

Project Maturity

Apache Airflow has been in development longer, starting 12 years ago, compared to Dagu which began 5 years ago. This 7.1-year head start suggests Apache Airflow may have more mature features and established processes.

Comparable

Licensing

The projects use different licenses: Apache Airflow is licensed under Apache-2.0 while Dagu uses GPL-3.0. Consider the licensing requirements when choosing for your project.

Comparable