StackStorm

StackStorm is an event-driven automation platform that connects infrastructure and applications to take actions in response to triggers. It is used by DevOps and SRE teams to codify operations as rules and workflows, enabling repeatable remediation and response.

Key Features

• Event-driven rules engine to map triggers (timers, webhooks, and integration events) to actions or workflows
• Workflow orchestration for multi-step runbooks with branching, context passing, and human escalation
• Large ecosystem of reusable “packs” (integrations, sensors, actions, rules, and workflows)
• ChatOps support to run automations and collaborate from team chat tools
• REST API, CLI, and web UI for managing automation content and executions
• Audit trail of action executions for traceability and operational review

Use Cases

• Automated remediation of common infrastructure and application incidents
• Incident response runbooks that combine diagnostics, fixes, and escalation
• Custom CI/CD and deployment orchestration across heterogeneous toolchains

Limitations and Considerations

• Operating and customizing packs/sensors/actions typically requires Python and operational domain knowledge
• The platform consists of multiple components (e.g., message bus, datastore), which can add deployment and maintenance complexity

StackStorm is well-suited for teams that need flexible, event-driven runbook automation across many existing tools. It helps standardize operational processes while keeping automation content versionable and reusable as code.