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Apache Storm

storm.apache.org

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Spec score 8.0 #8 of 25 in Streaming Analytics Software

What it is

Apache Storm is a distributed system for computing over unbounded data streams in real time. It uses spouts, bolts, and topologies to assemble multi-stage computations, supporting realtime analytics, online machine learning, continuous computation, distributed RPC, and ETL. The project describes Storm as scalable and fault-tolerant, with guaranteed data processing, and reports a benchmark above one million tuples per second per node. Integrations include Apache Kafka, HDFS, JDBC databases, JMS, and Redis. Developers can work in local mode in-process or submit topologies to a remote cluster. Storm supports stateful processing and lists JavaScript, Python, Ruby, and C# among supported languages. It is free under Apache License, Version 2.0; source and binary distributions are available, along with Maven Central and an official Docker image. The current release is 3.1.0. Security options include Kerberos/SASL authentication, SimpleACLAuthorizer authorization, and TLS for Thrift RPC and worker messaging; authentication and authorization options are disabled by default.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Apache Storm is a distributed realtime computation system for reliably processing unbounded data streams.Read 1 Oct 2026 · storm.apache.org
Deployment
Storm provides local mode for in-process development and remote mode for submitting topologies to a cluster.Read 1 Oct 2026 · storm.apache.org
Integrations
Out-of-the-box integrations include Apache Kafka, HDFS, JDBC databases, JMS, and Redis.Read 1 Oct 2026 · storm.apache.org
Security
Storm supports pluggable Kerberos/SASL authentication and SimpleACLAuthorizer authorization, both disabled by default.Read 1 Oct 2026 · storm.apache.org
Support
Users can get help through the user mailing list at [email protected].Read 1 Oct 2026 · storm.apache.org
License
Apache Storm is licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0.Read 1 Oct 2026 · storm.apache.org
Current release
The current Apache Storm release is 3.1.0, with source and binary distributions available.Read 1 Oct 2026 · storm.apache.org
Distribution
Apache Storm is available through Maven Central and as an official Docker image on Docker Hub.Read 1 Oct 2026 · storm.apache.org
Encryption
Storm supports TLS for Thrift RPC and Netty worker-to-worker messaging through mutual TLS.Read 1 Oct 2026 · storm.apache.org
Performance
The project says a benchmark processed over one million tuples per second per node.Read 1 Oct 2026 · storm.apache.org
Programming model
Storm uses spouts, bolts, and topologies to build arbitrarily complex multi-stage stream computations.Read 1 Oct 2026 · storm.apache.org
Release integrity
Storm publishes OpenPGP signatures and SHA-512 checksums for every release file.Read 1 Oct 2026 · storm.apache.org
Reliability
Storm is designed to be scalable, fault-tolerant, and to guarantee data processing.Read 1 Oct 2026 · storm.apache.org
Use cases
Storm supports realtime analytics, online machine learning, continuous computation, distributed RPC, and ETL.Read 1 Oct 2026 · storm.apache.org

Plans and prices

Apache Storm Free Free and open source · Apache License 2.0 Read 1 Oct 2026 · storm.apache.org

Every Apache Storm plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free under Apache License 2.0
  • Supports stateful stream processing
  • Offers local development and remote cluster modes
  • Integrates with Kafka, HDFS, JDBC, JMS, and Redis

Limits

  • Authentication and authorization are disabled by default
  • Deployment model is self-hosted

Who it suits

Apache Storm suits developers and operators building distributed stream computations, including analytics, ETL, and online machine-learning workloads. Teams deploying it should account for the fact that its authentication and authorization options are disabled by default.

Verdict

Storm provides a distributed programming model for continuous stream computation, with local development and cluster deployment options. Its security settings need deliberate attention because authentication and authorization start disabled.

Where Specifiction places it

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