Overview:
Operational is an open-source event tracking tool built for tech products. It enables teams to monitor critical events such as signups, webhooks, and cronjobs, and receive push notifications for them on mobile or via the web app. The project is designed to be self-hosted with minimal third-party dependencies, using a straightforward tech stack of Node.js, MySQL, and Vue.
Core Features:
Push notifications: Receive notifications for critical events directly to a phone or within the web application.
Event monitoring: Track and monitor specific events, such as signups and webhooks.
Webhook action buttons: Trigger external webhooks directly from an event interface.
Event context: Bundle and understand complex events using nested event-in-event contexts.
Progressive Web App (PWA): Fully functional on mobile devices, including push notification support.
Self-hosting options: Supports deployment via Docker, Render, or other VPS setups with video guides.
Use Cases:
Monitoring scheduled tasks: Developers can track the success or failure of cronjobs and receive alerts on their phone.
Observing user onboarding flows: Track signup events to see where new users drop off or complete the process.
Verifying webhook deliveries: Test and monitor incoming webhooks from third-party services to ensure data integrity.
Debugging complex server-side events: Use nested contexts to inspect and diagnose multi-step or dependent event chains.
Why It Matters:
Operational offers a focused alternative to general monitoring platforms by keeping its core simple and self-hostable. The project avoids heavy dependencies (no ClickHouse in the open-source version) and uses a clear monorepo structure, making it easy to understand, modify, or extend. Its PWA and push notification support provide a straightforward way to stay on top of critical product events without a dedicated mobile app.
