LibreAI / Automation / prefect
// automation · PrefectHQ/prefect

prefect

Prefect is a workflow orchestration framework for building resilient data pipelines in Python.

★ 24.0k stars⑂ 2.6k forksApache-2.0updated 2026-10
▦ visual — this project's README ships no embeddable screenshot,
so here's a placeholder. The guide below is complete regardless.
// project facts

Project facts

prefect is an open-source automation project by PrefectHQ (PrefectHQ/prefect on GitHub). It has 23,964 GitHub stars and 2,552 forks, is released under the Apache-2.0 license, and was last updated on GitHub on 2 October 2026.

GitHub stars
23,964
Forks
2,552
License
Apache-2.0
Last updated on GitHub
2 October 2026
Category
Automation
Listing
Full install guide
Official site
Official site
// how it works

How it works

  1. Connect your apps

    Link the services you already use through built-in integrations or generic webhooks and API calls.

  2. Build the flow visually

    Drag triggers and actions onto a canvas: when this happens, do that.

  3. Add logic and AI

    Branch on conditions, loop over items, or pipe steps through language models.

  4. Deploy and monitor

    Turn the workflow on and watch executions in the run history.

// features

Why people love it

Automation-ready

Designed to run unattended: triggers, schedules, and webhooks.

Python ecosystem

Built on Python, so it plugs into the wider data and ML tooling ecosystem.

AI-native steps

Call LLMs mid-workflow for decisions and extraction.

Self-hosted & private

Credentials and execution data stay on your infrastructure.

Hundreds of integrations

Prebuilt connectors plus HTTP, webhooks, and database nodes.

Visual workflow builder

Design automations on a canvas instead of writing glue code.

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// run it

Run it yourself

  1. Step 1 — Clone the repo

    Download the source and move into the project folder.

    git clone https://github.com/PrefectHQ/prefect.git
    cd prefect
  2. Step 2 — Check the README

    Every project documents its own setup; start with install requirements.

    cat README.md | head -60
  3. Step 3 — Run it

    Follow the project's launch command — Docker, pip, npm, or a binary release.

    # see README for the exact launch command
// use cases

What you can build

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// faq

Questions, answered

Who maintains prefect?

It is an open-source project at PrefectHQ/prefect with 2,552 forks. Check the repo's contributors and recent commits to see how active maintenance is.

Is prefect free for commercial use?

Apache 2.0 licensed — commercial use allowed with attribution.

Is it really free?

The core software is open-source and free to self-host; managed clouds exist if you prefer.

What do I need to run it?

Docker and a small VPS or home server cover most of these.

How does it compare to Zapier?

Same idea, but self-hosted with no per-task pricing.

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// alternatives

Alternatives in Automation

The most-starred other Automation projects in the LibreAI catalogue — the realistic shortlist if prefect is not the right fit.

Get prefect

Free and open — grab the source, star the repo, and start creating.