Anvil App Server vs Windows

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted developer tools & git options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

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FeatureAnvil App ServerWindows
CategoryDeveloper Tools & GitDeveloper Tools & Git
LicenseAGPL-3.0free
LanguageTypeScriptShell
Setup difficultyMediumEasy
Min. RAM1,024 MB512 MB
Deploymentsource, bare-metaldocker, one-click
GitHub stars★ 1,023★ 52,787
First released20202023
ReplacesAnvil Cloud, Retool

Why pick each one

Choose Anvil App Server if…

  • Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
  • Active community (1k GitHub stars)
  • Written in TypeScript
Anvil App Server details

Choose Windows if…

  • Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
  • First-class Docker support for quick deployment
  • One-click install on common self-host platforms
  • Mature project with 52.8k GitHub stars
Windows details

Frequently asked questions

Is Anvil App Server or Windows better?

Windows is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Anvil App Server if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are Anvil App Server and Windows free and open-source?

Yes. Anvil App Server is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Windows under free. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Anvil App Server and Windows with Docker?

Anvil App Server: check the project docs for container support. Windows: yes.

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