Why Choose Forge Over Tower/AWX?

1. Dramatically Simpler Setup

Tower/AWX requires a complex Kubernetes deployment with multiple pods, persistent volumes, and external databases. Forge is a single binary that runs anywhere - download and run, or use Docker for containerized deployments. Setup takes minutes, not hours or days.

2. Lower Resource Requirements

AWX typically requires 4GB+ RAM and multiple CPU cores just for the control plane. Forge can run comfortably on 512MB RAM, making it perfect for edge deployments, small teams, or cost-conscious organizations.

3. No Vendor Lock-in

Ansible Tower is expensive (per-node licensing) and ties you to Red Hat's ecosystem. Forge is MIT licensed - use it however you want, forever, for free.

4. Multi-Tool Support

While Tower/AWX only runs Ansible, Forge supports Ansible, Terraform, OpenTofu, Bash scripts, and more. One tool for all your automation needs.

5. Modern Architecture

Forge is built with modern Go, providing excellent performance and low memory footprint. AWX uses Python and Django, which are heavier and slower.

6. Compliance Built-in

Forge includes native OpenSCAP and SCC compliance scanning - no additional configuration or tools needed.

Why Choose Forge Over Rundeck?

1. No Java Required

Rundeck requires Java Runtime Environment (JRE), which adds complexity, memory overhead, and longer startup times. Forge is a single, self-contained binary with no dependencies.

2. Native Ansible & Terraform Support

Forge has first-class support for Ansible playbooks and Terraform modules built-in. Rundeck requires plugins and additional configuration for proper IaC support.

3. Modern Technology Stack

Forge uses Go (backend) and Vue.js (frontend) for a responsive, modern experience. Rundeck's Java/Grails stack feels dated and is heavier on resources.

4. Better Performance

Go's compiled nature and efficient memory management means Forge starts instantly and uses far less RAM than Rundeck's JVM-based architecture.

5. Simpler Configuration

Rundeck's XML-based job definitions and complex plugin system can be overwhelming. Forge uses straightforward YAML/JSON configurations that are easier to version control and understand.

Why Choose Forge Over GitLab CI?

1. Purpose-Built for Operations

GitLab CI is designed for application CI/CD pipelines. Forge is specifically built for infrastructure automation, configuration management, and operational tasks. It includes features like inventory management, credential vaults, and ad-hoc command execution that GitLab CI doesn't offer.

2. Much Simpler Setup

GitLab requires PostgreSQL, Redis, Gitaly, and often several GB of dependencies. Forge is a single binary - download and run, or deploy with Docker. Perfect for teams that need automation without the overhead of a full GitLab installation.

3. Native Ansible & Terraform Support

While you can run Ansible/Terraform in GitLab CI jobs, it's not the same as native support. Forge understands Ansible inventories, playbooks, roles, and Terraform modules natively, providing better visibility and control.

4. No Git Repository Required

GitLab CI requires everything to be in Git repositories with .gitlab-ci.yml files. Forge can work with Git, but also supports local playbooks, on-the-fly execution, and other workflows.

5. Lower Resource Requirements

GitLab is notoriously resource-hungry, often requiring 4GB+ RAM. Forge runs comfortably in 512MB, making it suitable for smaller environments and edge deployments.

6. Better for Operations Teams

If you're primarily doing infrastructure automation, server configuration, and operational tasks (not application CI/CD), Forge provides a more focused and efficient solution.

Why Choose Forge Over Jenkins?

1. Escape Plugin Hell

Jenkins requires dozens of plugins for basic functionality, leading to version conflicts, security vulnerabilities, and maintenance nightmares. Forge has everything built-in - no plugins needed for Ansible, Terraform, or remote execution.

2. Modern, Secure Design

Jenkins has a long history of security issues due to its age and plugin ecosystem. Forge is built with modern security practices from the ground up, including secure defaults, rate limiting, and comprehensive audit logging.

3. No Java Required

Jenkins requires Java and has the typical JVM overhead (slow startup, high memory usage). Forge is a single Go binary that starts instantly and uses minimal resources.

4. Better User Experience

Jenkins' UI hasn't changed much in a decade and feels outdated. Forge has a modern Vue.js interface with responsive design and better usability.

5. Configuration as Code (Done Right)

While Jenkins added "Configuration as Code" later via plugins, Forge is built around this concept. Templates, inventories, and projects are all version-controlled YAML/JSON.

6. Purpose-Built for IaC

Jenkins is a general-purpose automation server that can do everything (but nothing exceptionally well). Forge is laser-focused on infrastructure automation with native support for Ansible and Terraform.

Why Choose Forge Over Spacelift?

1. Own Your Infrastructure

Spacelift is SaaS-only, meaning your infrastructure state and secrets live in someone else's cloud. Forge runs on-premises, giving you complete control over your data, compliance, and security.

2. Complete Control

Spacelift is a SaaS platform where your infrastructure state lives in their cloud. Forge is MIT licensed and runs on your infrastructure, whether you're managing 10 servers or 10,000.

3. Works in Air-Gapped Environments

Many regulated industries (finance, defense, healthcare) require air-gapped networks. Spacelift cannot work in these environments. Forge works anywhere - no internet required.

4. Multi-Tool Support

Spacelift focuses solely on Terraform/Terragrunt. Forge supports Terraform, Ansible, Bash scripts, OpenTofu, and more. One tool for all your automation needs.

5. No Vendor Lock-in

Once you build workflows in Spacelift, you're locked in. Forge uses standard Ansible playbooks, Terraform modules, and Git repositories that work with any tool.

6. Data Sovereignty & Compliance

For organizations with strict data residency requirements, Spacelift's cloud-only model is a non-starter. Forge keeps everything under your control.

Detailed Comparison

1. Compliance Capabilities

Forge: Comprehensive Compliance Suite

Digital Data Forge provides a complete compliance platform with advanced features:

• Built-in STIG Viewer: View and analyze Security Technical Implementation Guides directly in the platform
• Compliance Dashboard: Real-time reporting with Project, Task, and User-level compliance metrics
• OOTB Templates: Pre-built automated compliance for DoD STIGs, CIS Benchmarks, and HIPAA
• IaC Compliance: Review, edit, and align Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Ansible) with compliance frameworks
• Framework Integration: Native integration with OpenSCAP and other compliance frameworks
• DISA STIGs: Complete support for all RHEL/CentOS/Ubuntu/Windows STIGs
• CIS Benchmarks: Full support for industry-standard CIS configurations
• HIPAA Compliance: Automated HIPAA compliance scanning and reporting
• Remediation: Ansible's extensive module library for automated remediation
• Secret Management: Native integrations with HashiCorp Vault, Ansible Vault, Azure Key Vault, AWS Secrets Manager, GCP Secret Manager
• Reporting: Comprehensive reports, HTML dashboards, CSV exports, audit trails
• Flexibility: Not limited to compliance - full automation platform

SteelCloud ConfigOS: Purpose-Built STIG Hardening

ConfigOS is specifically designed for DISA STIG compliance with automated remediation:

• STIG Focus: Deep STIG expertise and automated remediation
• Windows Support: Strong Windows STIG support
• Fast Scanning: Optimized for rapid compliance checks
• Automated Fixes: One-click STIG remediation (within scope)
• Reporting: DoD/Federal compliance reporting
• Limitation: Only does compliance - no general automation

2. Automation & Flexibility

Forge: Universal Automation Platform

Forge is not just a compliance tool - it's a complete automation platform:

• Ansible: Full native Ansible playbook support
• Terraform/OpenTofu: Infrastructure as Code management
• Bash Scripts: Run any shell scripts
• PowerShell: Windows automation support
• Custom Tasks: Create any workflow you need
• Scheduling: Cron-based task scheduling
• Inventory Management: Dynamic inventory support
• Secret Management: Vault integration for credentials

SteelCloud ConfigOS: Compliance Only

ConfigOS is focused solely on compliance scanning and hardening:

• Purpose-Built: STIG hardening only
• Limited Scope: Cannot be used for general automation
• No IaC Support: Doesn't support Terraform or other IaC tools
• No Ansible: No Ansible integration

🎯 Key Insight: One Tool vs. Multiple Tools

With Forge, you get compliance scanning AND general automation in one platform. With ConfigOS, you need ConfigOS for compliance, then Ansible/Terraform/etc for automation - managing multiple tools, licenses, and integrations.

3. Use Cases & Best Fit

✅ Choose Forge If You Need:

• Built-in STIG Viewer: Direct access to Security Technical Implementation Guides in the UI
• Compliance Dashboard: Real-time Project, Task, and User-level compliance reporting
• IaC Compliance: Review, edit, and align Infrastructure as Code with compliance frameworks
• OOTB Compliance: Pre-built templates for DoD STIGs, CIS Benchmarks, and HIPAA
• Multi-Framework: Integration with OpenSCAP and other compliance frameworks
• Secret Management: Native integrations with Vault, Azure, AWS, GCP secret managers
• Flexibility: Compliance + general automation in one tool
• MIT Licensed: Full source code access for auditing/customization
• Multi-Tool Support: Ansible, Terraform, Bash, PowerShell in one platform
• No Vendor Lock-in: Standard tools and formats
• Cloud & On-Prem: Works anywhere, including air-gapped
• Commercial Support: Community and commercial support options

⚠️ Choose ConfigOS If You Need:

• Windows STIG Expertise: Deep Windows STIG hardening (though Forge can do this too with Ansible)
• Vendor Support: Prefer established vendor support contract
• DoD/Federal Pedigree: Vendor with established DoD presence
• Compliance Only: Only need compliance, not general automation