How to Build Your Own Windmill
Replace Windmill with a custom build. Open-source workflow engine for internal tools and automation
Build Difficulty: 5/5
Build a working replacement in a weekend with AI tools
Estimated Timeline
Based on 41 features at Weekend Project difficulty, expect about One weekend with AI-assisted development.
Recommended Tech Stack
Full-stack React framework with API routes and server components
PostgreSQL database, auth, and real-time subscriptions
Utility-first styling for rapid UI development
Key Features to Replicate
Top features across 8 categories. See all 41 features
Development(5 features)
Inline Python, TypeScript, and SQL editor for custom logic within workflows.
Create custom operators and extensions for domain-specific workflow logic.
Execute scripts in Python, TypeScript, Go, PHP, Bash, and other languages.
Reusable script library for sharing common functions across workflows.
Native Git integration for version control of workflows and scripts.
Integration(4 features)
Built-in support for connecting to PostgreSQL, MySQL, and other databases.
Execute GraphQL queries and mutations from workflows.
Import and use OpenAPI schemas to auto-generate API integrations.
Trigger workflows via HTTP webhooks from external systems.
Security(4 features)
Complete audit trails of all workflow executions and modifications.
Role-based access control for managing user permissions and team collaboration.
Single sign-on support for SAML and OAuth authentication.
Verify webhook authenticity with HMAC-SHA256 signatures.
Workflow Design(4 features)
Conditional branching and control flow within workflows based on data.
Support for looping over arrays and bulk processing in workflows.
Drag-and-drop interface for designing complex workflows without coding.
Pre-built workflow templates for common business processes and integrations.
API Management(3 features)
Auto-generate interactive API documentation from workflows and scripts.
Control API rate limiting and request throttling per user or resource.
Automatically generate REST APIs from workflows and scripts.
Monitoring(3 features)
Filter workflow executions and logs by status, date, user, and other criteria.
View detailed execution history with inputs, outputs, and timing information.
Real-time monitoring and visualization of workflow executions and performance metrics.
Analytics(2 features)
Analyze workflow performance metrics including execution time and resource usage.
Track workflow usage patterns, success rates, and business metrics.
Configuration(2 features)
Define and manage shared resources for database connections, API keys, and credentials.
Centralized management of variables, secrets, and environment-specific configurations.
Cost Calculator
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Total Cost Comparison
DIY hosting estimate based on Vercel + Supabase free/pro tiers (~$20/mo). Build time estimated from 41 features at very easy complexity.