| Website | dagger.io |
| Category | CI/CD / DevOps |
| License | Apache 2.0 (open source) |
| Pricing | Free (open source), Cloud from $25/mo |
Overview
Dagger lets you write CI/CD pipelines as code in Go, Python, or TypeScript. Run locally, test locally, push to any CI. Replaces YAML-based CI configs.
Pros
- Write pipelines in real languages (Go, Python, TS)
- Run and debug locally before pushing
- Works with any CI provider
- Containerized — every step runs in a container
- Strong caching system
- Active community
Cons
- Learning curve if coming from YAML CI
- Requires Docker/container runtime
- Young ecosystem, fewer plugins than Jenkins/GitHub Actions
- Debugging container issues can be complex
- Cloud pricing adds up for large teams
Verdict
Dagger solves the biggest problem with CI/CD: YAML configs that can't be tested locally and break in production. Writing pipelines in Go, Python, or TypeScript means you get type checking, IDE support, and the ability to run your entire pipeline on your laptop before pushing. If you've fought YAML-based CI enough times, Dagger is the answer.