Caretta vs Kindling
Caretta
github.comKindling
kindlingwriter.comSide by side
| Figure | Caretta | Kindling |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · eBPF Observability Tools | 8.3 (#7) | 7.7 (#17) |
| License | The repository provides Caretta under the Apache License, Version 2.0. | Kindling is open source under the MIT license, and its source code is public. |
| Support | The project directs users to its Slack channel or to create a GitHub issue for help. | The maker links to GitHub Issues and Discord for questions and contributions. |
Plans
In their own words
Caretta
Caretta is a free, self-hosted Kubernetes tool from groundcover that creates a visual map of services and their network interactions. It uses eBPF for collection and is designed for Linux systems with kernel 4.16 or later and CO-RE support. The project describes a minimal footprint and says no cluster modifications are required. Installation is documented through a Helm chart, with a recommendation to use a new, unique namespace. The chart includes Grafana with a predefined Caretta dashboard and VictoriaMetrics for collecting and publishing metrics that Prometheus-compatible dashboards can consume. Both bundled services are enabled by default, as is a five-second metrics polling interval, while Helm values can disable either component. Persistent storage for VictoriaMetrics starts disabled but can be enabled. Grafana’s default setup enables anonymous mode and includes administrator credentials in the README. Caretta is self-hosted, Apache-2.0 licensed, and support is directed through Slack or repository issues.
Kindling
Kindling is a free desktop writing app for fiction writers who plan their stories while drafting. Its writing view can show scene beats as expandable prompts, or switch to a full-page prose editor. Tagged characters and locations appear in a reference panel with descriptions, notes, and custom fields. Projects import from Plottr, Scrivener, yWriter, Obsidian Longform, novelWriter, and Markdown, then export to DOCX, EPUB, HTML, plain text, Markdown, Scrivener, Longform, and novelWriter. Editorial review uses a .kindling-review file containing tracked suggestions and threaded comments; feedback can be imported and changes accepted or rejected. Screenplay projects add slugline entry, page-count estimates, and one-page or five-page DOCX treatments. Data stays in local SQLite files, with no account, analytics, telemetry, or usage tracking required. Writing and review work offline. Kindling is open source under MIT, does not use AI to analyze writing, and runs on Windows 10+, macOS 12+, and x86_64 Linux.