How do I get started with self-hosting?

You can deploy Windmill in minutes using Docker Compose, Kubernetes, or cloud services like AWS Fargate. The documentation provides step-by-step guides for various deployment methods.

What programming languages are supported?

Windmill supports Python, TypeScript, Go, PHP, Bash, SQL (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, BigQuery, Snowflake, ClickHouse), C#, Rust, Ruby, R, and any custom Docker image.

How does Windmill handle dependency management for scripts?

Windmill automatically generates lockfiles by analyzing script imports and dependencies. For Python, it uses pip freeze; for TypeScript/JavaScript, it uses npm/pnpm/yarn; for Go, it uses go.sum. This ensures consistent execution across environments.

What's the difference between workers and native subworkers?

Workers are standalone processes that execute one job at a time. Native subworkers run within a main worker and are optimized for database queries and data processing tasks, executing 8 at a time for higher throughput.

How does Windmill's permission system work?

Windmill uses path-based ACLs with built-in roles (viewer, operator, developer, admin, superadmin). Permissions are inherited through folders and can be overridden at any level, supporting both workspace-level and instance-level groups.

Can I use Windmill for AI agent workflows?

Yes, Windmill provides AI sandboxes, MCP support, and built-in tools for running AI agents with proper isolation and monitoring. It supports orchestration of LLM calls, tool use, and multi-agent systems.

Directory/Automation/Workflow Orchestration/Windmill

Windmill

Windmill is an open-source, self-hostable workflow engine and developer platform for building internal software. It supports full-code flexibility with languages like TypeScript, Python, and Go, alongside low-code builders for workflows and apps. Designed for engineering teams, it enables the creation of scripts, flows, data pipelines, and custom UIs with enterprise-grade security and observability.

Automation

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Added on

Sep 17, 2026

Open-sourceWorkflow engineMulti-languageSelf-hostableCloud platformApp builderTriggersWorkers

Product information

Everything worth knowing about Windmill

The complete picture — from everyday features to the technical detail builders and IT folks dig for.

Core features

What it actually does

Multi-language Scripts

Write and execute scripts in Python, TypeScript, Go, PHP, Bash, SQL, and 20+ other languages with auto-generated UIs.

Workflow Orchestration

Build and run flows (DAGs) for complex dependencies using low-code or YAML-based editors.

App Builders

Create custom UIs with low-code drag-and-drop or full-code React/Svelte app editors.

Triggers and Schedules

Automate with webhooks, cron jobs, and event-based triggers from databases, queues, and cloud services.

Auto-generated UIs

Automatically generate user interfaces for scripts and flows based on their parameters.

Technical capabilities

Worker Fleet Execution

Autonomous worker processes for scalable, low-latency job execution across CPU and memory resources.

Local Development CLI

Develop locally using CLI with Git integration for version control and deployment workflows.

Must watch videos

0:58

Tutorial0:58

Introducing AI Agent Steps

Integrate AI into your workflows https://www.windmill.dev/blog/ai-agents

2:23

Tutorial2:23

Windmill.dev in 2 minutes

https://www.windmill.dev/ 20 Minute Demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOvzHJ2BHl8&t=231s 00:00 Script Editor 00:47 Trigger & Monitor the Script 01:17 Flow Editor 02:03 App Editor

Why We Switched from n8n: The Power of Windmill.dev (Free, Local)

57:39

Tutorial57:39

Why We Switched from n8n: The Power of Windmill.dev (Free, Local)

In this video, we break down why we moved our entire automation stack from n8n to Windmill. If you've ever felt limited by no-code tools and need more flexibility for your AI and data-heavy workflows, this is for you. We explore Windmill's code-first approach, demonstrating how its core features unlock a new level of power. We cover the game-changing AI (MCP) tool for generating scripts, the CLI for seamless development, and how Windmill's architecture around reusable scripts and centralized resources fundamentally changes how you build and maintain automations. This is a practical deep dive into the architectural differences that make Windmill a superior choice for complex, scalable, and reusable workflows. 00:00 Introduction and Demo Setup 00:19 Creating and Running a Simple Script 01:48 Understanding Windmill's Power and Flexibility 02:19 Comparing Automation Tools 03:12 Windmill Basics and Workflow Transformation 06:45 Creating Scripts, Flows, and Apps in Windmill 09:29 Using MCP Tool and CLI 15:53 The Power of Resources in Windmill 20:53 Integrating Scripts and Flows 25:18 Setting Up MCP and Final Thoughts 28:09 Exploring Micro Scripts and Flows 28:57 Managing Prompts and Resources 31:24 Real-World Examples of Windmill 36:18 Using Windmill for YouTube Comments 41:22 Creating High-Quality Images with Windmill 43:22 Integrating Natural Language for Diagram Creation 49:37 Comparing Windmill with Other Tools 55:11 Final Thoughts and Future Videos #Windmill #n8n #automation #workflowautomation

Who uses it

Real use cases, no hype

Internal Tool Development

Build custom internal tools, dashboards, and admin panels for teams using scripts and low-code app builders.

Workflow Orchestration

Create and manage complex multi-step workflows across services with dependencies and error handling.

Data Pipeline Management

Design and run ETL processes, data transformations, and materialization pipelines with scheduling and monitoring.

Scheduled Tasks & Cron Jobs

Automate recurring tasks like backups, reports, and maintenance scripts with reliable scheduling.

API & Backend Automation

Create API endpoints from scripts, handle webhooks, and automate integrations with third-party services.

AI Workflow Integration

Orchestrate AI model calls, data processing pipelines, and agent workflows with built-in AI sandbox support.

DevOps & Infrastructure Automation

Automate deployment, infrastructure provisioning, and environment management using code-first approaches.

What's great

Open-source with self-hosting option
Multi-language script support (Python, TypeScript, Go, Bash, SQL, etc.)
Unified platform for scripts, flows, apps, and data pipelines
Fastest job orchestrator with benchmarks

Technical strengths

Built-in RBAC with granular permissions
Native dependency management and lockfile generation
Supports native subworkers and agent workers for scaling

Where it falls short

Free tier limited to 10 users with SSO
Advanced features (email triggers, Kafka, SAML) require Enterprise
Self-hosting requires Docker/Kubernetes setup

Technical limitations

Workspace variable/resource limit of 50 in free tier
Free version limited to 4 user groups
Lacks built-in support for Oracle DB and MS SQL runtimes
No built-in Kafka or SQS triggers in free tier

For technical folks

The deep-dive specs

FAQ

Includes technical Q&A

Windmill is a code-first platform that combines workflow orchestration, internal tool building, and data pipeline management in one open-source package. It supports multiple languages natively and emphasizes developer control with Git-based deployment.