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redpanda-data/redpanda

A Kafka API-compatible streaming data platform written in C++ that runs without ZooKeeper or the JVM.

Open-source alternative to:Confluent Platform

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What is it?

Redpanda is a streaming data platform compatible with the Apache Kafka API, so existing Kafka clients and ecosystem tools can work with it. It is built to run without ZooKeeper or a Java Virtual Machine, which removes those dependencies from a deployment.

The project ships the Redpanda broker along with rpk, a command-line tool for managing and interacting with clusters. It is distributed as Debian/Ubuntu and Fedora/RedHat/Amazon Linux packages, a macOS Homebrew formula that runs through Docker, standalone rpk binaries for Linux, macOS and Windows, and Docker images. Tiered storage and a connector ecosystem are also part of the platform.

The codebase is primarily C++ and uses Bazel as its build system. Building from source requires installing the system dependencies with a provided script and then running a Bazel build.

Key features

  • 01Kafka API compatible, so existing Kafka clients can connect.
  • 02Runs without ZooKeeper or a JVM.
  • 03Includes rpk, a command-line tool for managing clusters.
  • 04Supports configurable tiered storage.
  • 05Offers prebuilt packages for Debian, Ubuntu, RedHat, Fedora, Amazon Linux and macOS, plus Docker images.

Use cases

  • Replacing a Kafka deployment to reduce operational dependencies on ZooKeeper and the JVM.
  • Running event-driven microservices that need a Kafka-compatible message backbone.
  • Deploying streaming pipelines on Kubernetes or in containers.
  • Local development and testing of Kafka-based applications using Docker.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Install Redpanda on macOS with Homebrew and start the container (requires Docker)

    brew install redpanda-data/tap/redpanda && rpk container start
  2. 2

    On Debian/Ubuntu, run the official repository setup script from the README

  3. 3

    Install the redpanda package with apt

    sudo apt-get install redpanda

Things to know

  • No license is listed in the project metadata, so usage terms are unclear.
  • On macOS, Docker is required to run Redpanda.
  • Building from source uses Bazel and requires installing system dependencies first.

In collections

Streaming toolsMicroservice frameworks & service infrastructure

Topics

#streaming#kafka#message-queue#event-driven#cpp#kubernetes#stream-processing#containers#go#microservices

FAQ

What is redpanda?
A Kafka API-compatible streaming data platform written in C++ that runs without ZooKeeper or the JVM. Redpanda is a streaming data platform compatible with the Apache Kafka API, so existing Kafka clients and ecosystem tools can work with it. It is built to run without ZooKeeper or a Java Virtual Machine, which removes those dependencies from a deployment.
Is redpanda free to use? What license does it have?
redpanda has no declared license. Its code is public, but without a license you have no explicit permission to reuse it; ask the author before relying on it.
Is redpanda still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to redpanda was on Oct 8, 2026.
What can I use redpanda for?
Replacing a Kafka deployment to reduce operational dependencies on ZooKeeper and the JVM. Running event-driven microservices that need a Kafka-compatible message backbone. Deploying streaming pipelines on Kubernetes or in containers. Local development and testing of Kafka-based applications using Docker.
How do I install redpanda?
Install Redpanda on macOS with Homebrew and start the container (requires Docker): brew install redpanda-data/tap/redpanda && rpk container start On Debian/Ubuntu, run the official repository setup script from the README Install the redpanda package with apt: sudo apt-get install redpanda
Where can I get redpanda?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/redpanda-data/redpanda

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