IFTTT
No-code automation platform connecting 900+ services for business and home workflow automation
Beehive
Event-driven automation system connecting services with modular agents
Beehive is a flexible event and agent system that automates tasks by connecting services like Twitter, email, RSS, IRC, and IoT devices through modular plugins called Hives.
Overview
What is Beehive?
Beehive is an event-driven automation platform that lets you create custom agents to perform automated tasks triggered by events across multiple services. Built in Go, it uses a modular architecture where plugins (called Hives) interface with popular services including Twitter, Tumblr, email, IRC, RSS feeds, Jenkins CI, and smart home devices like Hue lighting.
How It Works
Each Hive spawns independent Bees that monitor events or execute actions. You connect these Bees through Chains using a templating language to pass data between services. For example, forward RSS updates to email, repost tweets to Tumblr, trigger CI builds via IRC commands, or automate heating based on temperature sensors.
Deployment & Interface
Beehive includes a web-based admin interface (default port 8181) for visual configuration without editing files. Deploy via Docker, install pre-built binaries for Linux, macOS, Windows, or build from source. The system stores configuration in a single beehive.conf file, making it portable and easy to version control. Perfect for developers, sysadmins, and power users seeking lightweight, self-hosted automation without cloud dependencies.
Highlights
Modular Hive architecture connects Twitter, email, RSS, IRC, Jenkins, IoT devices, and more
Visual web interface for creating event-driven Chains with templating support
Lightweight deployment via Docker, static binaries, or source with single config file
Independent Bee instances allow multiple accounts per service in one system
Pros
- Highly extensible plugin system makes adding new service integrations straightforward
- Template language enables sophisticated data transformation between events and actions
- Self-hosted with no external dependencies or cloud service requirements
- Active community with 6,400+ GitHub stars and comprehensive wiki documentation
Considerations
- Web interface lacks authentication, requiring network-level access controls
- Limited to localhost binding by default; remote access needs manual configuration
- Requires familiarity with Go templating syntax for advanced Chain logic
- Documentation primarily community-driven through wiki rather than formal guides
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Fit guide
Great for
- Developers wanting self-hosted IFTTT-style automation with full control
- Sysadmins integrating CI/CD pipelines with chat, email, and monitoring tools
- Home automation enthusiasts connecting IoT devices with web services
- Privacy-conscious users avoiding cloud-based automation platforms
Not ideal when
- Non-technical users seeking plug-and-play automation without configuration
- Teams requiring built-in authentication and multi-user access controls
- Scenarios demanding enterprise support contracts or SLAs
- Mobile-first workflows without access to self-hosted infrastructure
How teams use it
Social Media Cross-Posting
Automatically repost Twitter updates to Tumblr blog, maintaining presence across platforms without manual duplication
DevOps Notification Pipeline
Trigger Jenkins builds via IRC bot commands and receive build status notifications through email or chat
Smart Home Temperature Control
Monitor temperature sensors and automatically activate heating systems when readings drop below threshold values
Content Monitoring Alerts
Track RSS feeds or stock prices and receive immediate email notifications when specific conditions are met
Tech snapshot
Go99%
Shell1%
Dockerfile1%
Makefile1%
Frequently asked questions
What are Hives, Bees, and Chains in Beehive?
Hives are plugin modules for services like Twitter or email. Bees are independent instances within Hives (e.g., separate email accounts). Chains connect Bee events to Bee actions, creating automated workflows.
Does Beehive require coding knowledge to use?
Basic usage through the web interface requires no coding. Advanced Chains use Go templating syntax to manipulate data between events and actions, which benefits from some technical familiarity.
How do I secure the web interface for remote access?
Beehive binds to localhost by default without authentication. For remote access, use the -bind and -canonicalurl flags, and implement network-level security like VPN, reverse proxy with auth, or firewall rules.
Can I run multiple instances of the same service?
Yes. You can spawn multiple Bees from the same Hive, allowing separate configurations like one email Bee for personal mail and another for work accounts, all running independently.
What deployment options are available?
Beehive offers Docker images, static binaries for Linux (x64/ARM), macOS, Windows, Arch Linux AUR packages, Ansible playbooks, and source builds requiring Go 1.13 or higher.
Project at a glance
Dormant- Stars
- 6,467
- Watchers
- 6,467
- Forks
- 332
LicenseAGPL-3.0
Repo age11 years old
Last commit3 years ago
Self-hostingSupported
Primary languageGo
Last synced yesterday