I remember there was an internal developer platform called Port that was often compared to Backstage. I recently tried to find it while looking for open-source options, but I noticed that getport.io now redirects to port.io, which seems to be a closed SaaS platform. Did it really change, or am I just misremembering?
4 Answers
From my experience, I don’t recall Port ever being open source. I partnered with them a couple of years back, and it didn’t appear to be OSS to me.
It seems Port took the classic route of a VC-backed startup where they initially used an open-source model for marketing and then shifted to a SaaS-only offering once they gained enough traction. The open-source version is supposedly still available on GitHub if you search for it, but they've pretty much moved away from fostering a community since they found paying customers.
Port and Backstage are the two major internal developer platforms. Port is designed to be ready to use right out of the box, while Backstage is open-source. You’ll find Port used in smaller companies that don’t have the resources to manage a Backstage setup.
Port is more opinionated straight away, making it easier to use initially, but it lacks flexibility later on. Backstage requires a lot of configuration but offers more flexibility. I've seen a few Backstage projects fizzle out before really getting off the ground, so having a solid initial product can be a big advantage.
Yeah, I don't remember it being open-source either.