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Apache Zeppelin

zeppelin.apache.org

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Spec score 9.0 #3 of 25 in Notebook Software

What it is

Apache Zeppelin is a web-based notebook for interactive data analytics and collaborative documents. Its pluggable interpreters support work in SQL, Scala, Python, R, and other languages, with backends including Apache Spark and Flink. Use it to ingest and explore data, analyze results, and create visualizations. Built-in charts can display output from any language backend; pivot charts support drag-and-drop aggregation. The Spark integration can provide SparkContext and SQLContext automatically, load dependencies at runtime, and show job progress or cancel jobs. Its SQL interpreter connects to JDBC sources such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Redshift, and Apache Hive. Collaborators can share notebook URLs and receive changes in real time. The project documents single-user and multi-user deployments, including LDAP support. Zeppelin is open source under the Apache License 2.0 and costs nothing. It runs on Linux, macOS, self-hosted, and web environments. Anonymous access is enabled by default, so its documentation recommends configuring authentication or limiting use to a secured, trusted environment.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Apache Zeppelin is a web-based notebook for interactive data analytics and collaborative documents.Read 8 Oct 2026 · zeppelin.apache.org
Product
Apache Zeppelin is a web-based notebook for interactive data analytics and collaborative documents using SQL, Scala, Python, R, and other languages.Read 7 Oct 2026 · zeppelin.apache.org
Deployment
The project documents single-user and multi-user deployments, including multi-user support with LDAP.Read 7 Oct 2026 · zeppelin.apache.org
Integrations
The site describes JDBC connections to sources including PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Redshift, and Apache Hive.Read 8 Oct 2026 · zeppelin.apache.org
Support
The project directs users to its users mailing list for usage questions and help, and also provides a JIRA issue tracker.Read 8 Oct 2026 · zeppelin.apache.org
License
Apache Zeppelin is open-source software licensed under Apache License 2.0.Read 8 Oct 2026 · zeppelin.apache.org
Founded
2013Read 28 Sep 2026 · zeppelin.apache.org
Access control
The security documentation describes configuring LDAP or Active Directory realms, roles, groups, and permissions.Read 8 Oct 2026 · zeppelin.apache.org
Authentication
Zeppelin allows anonymous access by default, and its documentation recommends configuring Apache Shiro authentication or deploying only in a secured, trusted environment.Read 8 Oct 2026 · zeppelin.apache.org
Collaboration
Notebook URLs can be shared with collaborators, with changes broadcast in real time; results can also be displayed in an embeddable page.Read 8 Oct 2026 · zeppelin.apache.org
Container
The download page provides a Docker command for launching Zeppelin version 0.12.1.Read 7 Oct 2026 · zeppelin.apache.org
Data sources
The SQL interpreter can connect to JDBC data sources including PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Redshift, and Apache Hive.Read 7 Oct 2026 · zeppelin.apache.org
Deployment and download
The download page offers binary packages, source, and an official Docker image; it describes single-user and multi-user deployments, including multi-user support with LDAP.Read 8 Oct 2026 · zeppelin.apache.org
Download
The download page lists version 0.12.1 packages with all interpreters, a Spark-focused net-install package, and source code.Read 7 Oct 2026 · zeppelin.apache.org
Interpreters
Zeppelin supports interpreters including Apache Spark, Apache Flink, Python, R, JDBC, Markdown, and Shell.Read 7 Oct 2026 · zeppelin.apache.org
Languages and backends
Its pluggable interpreter architecture supports languages and processing backends including Spark, Flink, Python, R, JDBC, Markdown, and Shell.Read 8 Oct 2026 · zeppelin.apache.org
Open source
Apache Zeppelin is described as 100% open source software under the Apache License, Version 2.0.Read 7 Oct 2026 · zeppelin.apache.org
Package limit
The net-install binary includes only the Spark interpreter by default; other interpreters must be installed using its net-install script.Read 8 Oct 2026 · zeppelin.apache.org
Security options
The security documentation describes LDAP and Active Directory realms, Knox SSO, Kerberos-based SPNEGO authentication, and secure session cookies.Read 7 Oct 2026 · zeppelin.apache.org
Security updates
Release 0.12.1 includes fixes for JWT validation, path traversal hardening, and a WebSocket memory leak.Read 8 Oct 2026 · zeppelin.apache.org
Spark features
The Spark integration provides automatic SparkContext and SQLContext injection, runtime dependency loading, and job cancellation and progress display.Read 8 Oct 2026 · zeppelin.apache.org
Spark integration
Its built-in Spark integration provides automatic SparkContext and SQLContext injection, runtime dependency loading, and job cancellation and progress display.Read 7 Oct 2026 · zeppelin.apache.org
Use cases
The notebook supports data ingestion, data discovery, data analytics, visualization, and collaboration.Read 8 Oct 2026 · zeppelin.apache.org
Visualization
Built-in charts can visualize output from any language backend, and pivot charts support drag-and-drop aggregation.Read 8 Oct 2026 · zeppelin.apache.org
Visualizations
Zeppelin includes basic charts and pivot charts, and can visualize output from any language backend.Read 7 Oct 2026 · zeppelin.apache.org

Plans and prices

Apache Zeppelin Free Apache License 2.0 · self-hosted software Read 8 Oct 2026 · zeppelin.apache.org

Every Apache Zeppelin plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Interpreters cover Spark, Flink, Python, R, JDBC, and more.
  • Spark integration can show progress and cancel jobs.
  • Charts can visualize output from any language backend.
  • Notebook changes are broadcast in real time.
  • Open source under Apache License 2.0.

Limits

  • Anonymous access is enabled by default.
  • Net-install includes only the Spark interpreter by default.

Who it suits

Zeppelin suits people who need an interactive notebook for analytics across multiple languages and data backends. Its real-time shared documents and documented multi-user deployment may also suit collaborative teams.

Verdict

Apache Zeppelin combines multilingual analytics notebooks, visualizations, and live collaboration. Operators should account for its default anonymous access and configure authentication or a trusted environment.

Where Specifiction places it

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