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Steampipe

steampipe.io

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Spec score 7.3 #16 of 29 in Security Configuration Management Software

What it is

Steampipe provides open-source, zero-ETL tools for querying live data from APIs and services. Its CLI presents connected resources as relational tables, includes a PostgreSQL database and accepts SQL queries over dynamic information. Plugins implement the interface for each cloud service, file or other resource, so the relevant plugin is required. Steampipe can join live cloud configuration data with internal or external datasets for compliance, security, operations and cost work. Other distributions include PostgreSQL Foreign Data Wrappers, SQLite extensions that translate queries into API calls and standalone export CLIs that extract information without a database. Turbot Pipes offers hosted database instances, shared dashboards and snapshots. The plugin hub lists 157 plugins across public cloud, SaaS, security and software development categories. Installers are available for macOS, Linux and Windows, with API and self-hosted use also listed. Steampipe was founded in 2021; Turbot describes itself as founded in 2014 and bootstrapped. AWS access uses default credentials from a credential file or environment variables.

Spec sheet

What it does
Steampipe provides zero-ETL tools for querying APIs and services directly with SQL.Read 3 Oct 2026 · steampipe.io
Support
The maker directs users to documentation, the Steampipe Hub, and its Slack community.Read 3 Oct 2026 · steampipe.io
Founded
2021Read 28 Sep 2026 · steampipe.io
Company
Turbot says it was founded in 2014 and is bootstrapped.Read 3 Oct 2026 · turbot.com
Maker
Turbot says it was founded in 2014 and is 100% bootstrapped.Read 2 Oct 2026 · turbot.com
Credentials
The AWS tutorial says Steampipe uses default AWS credentials from the user's credential file or environment variables out of the box.Read 3 Oct 2026 · steampipe.io
Data joins
Steampipe can join live cloud configuration data with internal or external datasets.Read 2 Oct 2026 · steampipe.io
Export
Steampipe Export CLIs are standalone binaries for extracting information from cloud services and APIs without a database.Read 2 Oct 2026 · steampipe.io
Hosted option
Turbot Pipes provides hosted Steampipe database instances, shared dashboards, and snapshots.Read 2 Oct 2026 · steampipe.io
Live data
Steampipe queries live cloud configuration data and can join it with internal or external data sets.Read 3 Oct 2026 · steampipe.io
Open source
Steampipe is described as an open-source zero-ETL engine, and its GitHub repository identifies its license as Apache 2.0.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com
Other distributions
Steampipe is also available as PostgreSQL FDWs, SQLite extensions, and standalone export CLIs.Read 3 Oct 2026 · steampipe.io
Plugin library
The Steampipe Hub lists 157 plugins across categories including public cloud, SaaS, security, and software development.Read 3 Oct 2026 · hub.steampipe.io
Plugins
Plugins implement interfaces to cloud services, files, and other resources, and the Hub lists 158 plugins.Read 2 Oct 2026 · hub.steampipe.io
PostgreSQL
Steampipe is available as PostgreSQL Foreign Data Wrappers that can be installed in supported PostgreSQL versions.Read 2 Oct 2026 · steampipe.io
Query engine
The Steampipe CLI exposes APIs and services as a relational database and includes its own PostgreSQL database.Read 3 Oct 2026 · steampipe.io
Security maintenance
The changelog lists dependency upgrades to remediate security vulnerabilities in Steampipe CLI releases.Read 3 Oct 2026 · steampipe.io
Security reports
Turbot says SOC 2 reports are available on request under NDA and that its annual SOC examinations take place each April.Read 2 Oct 2026 · turbot.com
Setup requirement
Steampipe requires a plugin to implement the interface for each cloud service, file, or other resource being queried.Read 3 Oct 2026 · steampipe.io
SQL queries
The Steampipe CLI exposes APIs and services as a relational database for SQL queries over dynamic data.Read 2 Oct 2026 · steampipe.io
SQLite
Steampipe SQLite Extensions provide virtual tables that translate queries into API calls.Read 2 Oct 2026 · steampipe.io
Supported platforms
The downloads page provides installers for macOS, Linux, and Windows.Read 3 Oct 2026 · steampipe.io
Use cases
The maker highlights compliance, security, operations, and cost questions as Steampipe use cases.Read 3 Oct 2026 · steampipe.io

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Queries live API data with SQL
  • Joins cloud data with other datasets
  • Multiple deployment and export formats
  • Plugin hub spans many service categories
  • Free and open source

Limits

  • A plugin is required for each resource
  • Hosted Turbot Pipes is a separate option
  • Live queries depend on service credentials

Who it suits

It suits teams querying cloud and service data with SQL for compliance, security, operations or cost analysis. Users can choose local CLI, database extensions, export tools or hosted Turbot Pipes.

Verdict

Steampipe turns API and cloud-service data into SQL-queryable tables without an ETL pipeline. Select the distribution and plugins that match your services and credential setup.

Where Specifiction places it

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