We built a developer-first open-source Zapier alternative
For the past few months we’ve been building Trigger.dev and can now share our beta with you: https://github.com/triggerdotdev/trigger.dev. Trigger.dev is an open source platform that makes it easy for developers to create event-driven background tasks directly in their code. You write workflows using our SDK, and can view all the runs in our web app. Why we built this: - We found current workflow / automation tools like Zapier and n8n are good for simple tasks, but not for more advanced use cases. - Dropping down into code in these tools is just not a great…
We built a developer-first open-source Zapier alternative launched on February 1, 2023 with 745 votes, #8 of 3,829 launches that month and more than 99% of that year's launches. The site was still online in September 2026, 3 years on.
In plain words
Trigger.dev is an open-source platform that enables developers to build event-driven background tasks directly in code using an SDK, with workflow runs viewable in a web app. Designed for developers who need more complex automation than traditional tools like Zapier, it allows teams to work in their own IDEs, maintain version control, and keep sensitive data private rather than sending it to third parties. The platform handles advanced use cases beyond simple workflow automation.
written from the facts on this page · September 2026
From the sources
Chat agent is a way to build durable AI chat experiences that run on a machine with no timeouts and keep streaming through refreshes and crashes. The machine sleeps when nobody's typing and wakes where it left off, without you managing any state. Keep the AI SDK you already use: streamText on the server, useChat on the client. chat.agent slots in underneath as a transport and the API route between them goes away. Every turn is traced: prompts, tool calls, latency and cost.
Trigger.dev is the open source platform for durable AI agents in TypeScript. Long-running tasks with retries, queues, LLM observability, and elastic scaling.
In the maker’s words, at launch
For the past few months we’ve been building Trigger.dev and can now share our beta with you: https://github.com/triggerdotdev/trigger.dev. Trigger.dev is an open source platform that makes it easy for developers to create event-driven background tasks directly in their code. You write workflows…
Does a similar job
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Workflow Kit by Inngest2024 · inngest.com · ▲457Open source SDK to add Zapier-like workflows to your product
Multi-Step Zaps by Zapier2016 · help.zapier.com · ▲584The easiest way to build powerful workflows with your apps
Context.devJul 2026 · context.dev · ▲814Hello, My name is Yahia, I've been working on scraping products for a long time and maintain a couple of free sites in my spare time (E.g. knifegeek.io) What prompted this is i've rebuilt scraping infra at every company I've started and finally just made it a product. Pass a URL, get clean markdown, html, images, sitemap or pass a domain, get logos, colors, socials, industry data. Goal is to offer a better service than VC funded competitors at a fraction of the cost. Stealth is included and automatic at no additional cost (normally an upcharge by alternatives). Would love your honest thoughts.
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Source: Show HN post ↗ · launch text quoted in part
