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Dev tools · February 6, 2024

Franz – A desktop client for Apache Kafka

This is the source code to Franz, a native desktop client for Apache Kafka I've been working on for the past ~three years or so. Around 2021, I started using Kafka at a startup and I didn't like any of the clients that were available at the time, so I decided to build my own in my spare time[1]. I wanted a solid native experience on the Mac that wasn't web based and didn't require any Docker containers to run. A few months ago, I decided to make the code source-available[2] in part because I like the idea of my users being able to see the code they're running and in part because I want to…

Franz – A desktop client for Apache Kafka launched on February 6, 2024 with 45 votes, #923 of 3,962 launches that month and more than 90% of that year's launches. The site was still online in September 2026, 2 years on.

Visit github.com ↗Alternativestop 23% of February 2024

In plain words

Franz is a native desktop client for Apache Kafka that runs on Mac without requiring web browsers or Docker containers. Built over three years by a developer frustrated with existing options, it combines a Racket backend with a Swift and Cocoa frontend that communicate through pipes. The application is source-available, allowing users to inspect the code and demonstrating that serious applications can be built with Racket. It is designed for developers and engineers working with Kafka who prefer a native desktop experience.

written from the facts on this page · September 2026

From the sources

A desktop client for Apache Kafka. Contribute to Bogdanp/Franz development by creating an account on GitHub.

In the maker’s words, at launch

This is the source code to Franz, a native desktop client for Apache Kafka I've been working on for the past ~three years or so. Around 2021, I started using Kafka at a startup and I didn't like any of the clients that were available at the time, so I decided to build my own in my spare time[1]. I wanted a solid…

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