Waypoint

Basic Information

• Model: HashiCorp Waypoint (originally an open-source project, now primarily offered as HCP Waypoint).
• Version: The open-source community edition saw releases up to 0.11.4 (August 9, 2023). However, the community edition is no longer actively maintained. The current focus is on HCP Waypoint as a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) offering.
• Release Date: The open-source HashiCorp Waypoint was announced on October 15, 2020. The public beta of HCP Waypoint on the HashiCorp Cloud Platform (HCP) was announced in October 2022.
• Minimum Requirements:
  • Client: Requires the Waypoint CLI, available for Linux, macOS, and Windows.
  • Server (for self-hosted legacy Waypoint): Can run on Docker or Kubernetes. For Nomad, default CPU allocation for server and runner tasks is 200 MHz, and default memory is 600 MB. For Kubernetes, 1Gi of memory is mentioned for the server.
• Supported Operating Systems: Waypoint client runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
• Latest Stable Version: For the archived community edition, 0.11.4 (August 9, 2023) was a recent release. For HCP Waypoint, versions are managed as part of the SaaS offering.
• End of Support Date: The open-source HashiCorp Waypoint Community Edition is no longer actively maintained, implying its end of support. For HCP Waypoint, support is included as part of the HashiCorp Cloud Platform service agreement.
• End of Life Date: The active development of the legacy Waypoint has ended, with the archived source code and repository remaining available on GitHub. HCP Waypoint is the successor.
• Auto-update Expiration Date: Not explicitly specified for HCP Waypoint, as updates are managed by the SaaS provider.
• License Type: The original HashiCorp Waypoint was an open-source project. HCP Waypoint is a commercial Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) offering.
• Deployment Model: The original Waypoint could be self-hosted on a user's infrastructure (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes, Nomad). HCP Waypoint is delivered as a managed service on the HashiCorp Cloud Platform.

Technical Requirements

• RAM: For self-hosted Waypoint server tasks on Nomad, a default of 600 MB is allocated. For Kubernetes, 1Gi of memory is mentioned for the server. Client-side RAM requirements are minimal, typical for CLI applications.
• Processor: For self-hosted Waypoint server tasks on Nomad, a default of 200 MHz CPU is allocated. Client-side processor requirements are minimal, typical for CLI applications.
• Storage: The Waypoint server requires storage for its database, which stores operation history (builds, deploys), metadata about projects/applications, application configuration, server configuration, and the job queue. Host volumes can be used for persistence in Nomad deployments. Application logs are held in a circular buffer in-memory and are not stored in the database.
• Display: Not a primary requirement; Waypoint primarily operates via command-line interface (CLI) and a web-based UI.
• Ports: Specific ports are required for server communication, depending on the deployment platform (e.g., Nomad, Kubernetes).
• Operating System:
  • Client (CLI): Linux, macOS, Windows.
  • Server (for self-hosted legacy Waypoint): Containerization platforms like Docker or Kubernetes, or orchestration platforms like Nomad.

Analysis of Technical Requirements: HashiCorp Waypoint, particularly the legacy self-hosted version, has relatively modest technical requirements for its server component, especially when considering the default allocations for CPU and memory on platforms like Nomad. The client-side CLI is lightweight and compatible with major operating systems. The shift to HCP Waypoint as a SaaS offering significantly abstracts away these underlying infrastructure requirements for users, as HashiCorp manages the operational aspects. For self-hosted deployments, the need for a persistent database for operational data and configurations is a key consideration, with options for host volumes on Nomad. The pluggable architecture means that specific resource needs can vary depending on the builders, deployers, and release mechanisms configured.

Support & Compatibility

• Latest Version: The latest version of the community edition was 0.11.4, released on August 9, 2023, but it is no longer actively maintained. HCP Waypoint is continuously updated as a managed service.
• OS Support: The Waypoint CLI supports Linux, macOS, and Windows.
• End of Support Date: The open-source Waypoint Community Edition is no longer actively maintained. For HCP Waypoint, support is provided through the HashiCorp Cloud Platform.
• Localization: Information on specific localization options is not readily available; English is the primary language for documentation and interfaces.
• Available Drivers/Plugins: Waypoint is highly extensible through a plugin system, supporting a wide array of platforms and services for building, deploying, and releasing applications. These include:
  • Cloud Native Buildpacks
  • Docker
  • Kubernetes
  • HashiCorp Nomad
  • AWS (EC2, ECS)
  • Azure Container Instances
  • Google Cloud Run
  • Netlify
  • And more, with the ability for community and custom plugins.

Analysis of Overall Support & Compatibility Status: The compatibility of HashiCorp Waypoint is a significant strength, offering broad support for various build methods and target deployment platforms through its plugin-based architecture. This extensibility allows it to integrate into diverse cloud-native ecosystems. While the original open-source community edition has reached its end of active maintenance, the transition to HCP Waypoint as a managed service ensures ongoing support and development for users adopting the platform engineering approach. Users of the legacy open-source version should be aware of the lack of active maintenance. The extensive plugin ecosystem means that Waypoint can be adapted to many existing CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure setups.

Security Status

• Security Features:
  • Encrypted Communication: All communications between clients and HCP Waypoint, as well as internal communications with other HashiCorp services (e.g., HCP Terraform), are encrypted using TLS.
  • Encrypted Stored Information: Sensitive data, such as HCP Terraform tokens, Terraform output variables, and sensitive variables used with Actions, are encrypted using Vault Transit before being saved in the database. The entire database and all backups, logs, and snapshots are encrypted at rest.
  • Authentication and Authorization: HCP Waypoint enforces authentication and authorization policies for all actions performed via the UI, API, CLI, or Terraform Provider. Access to specific functionalities can be restricted based on Role-Based Access Control (RBAC).
  • Reliability: The HCP Waypoint service is designed for reliability, spread across multiple availability zones, with database read-only replicas and regular backups to mitigate data loss.
• Known Vulnerabilities: Waypoint 0.11.4 (August 9, 2023) addressed a security vulnerability (CVE-2022-41717) by using Go 1.19.4. HashiCorp maintains a responsible disclosure policy for security issues.
• Blacklist Status: No public information indicates a blacklist status for HashiCorp Waypoint.
• Certifications: While HashiCorp offers certifications for its products like Terraform, there isn't a specific certification for Waypoint itself. HashiCorp products are built with security as a top priority, including internal threat models and security assessments.
• Encryption Support: Supports TLS for data in transit and Vault Transit for sensitive data at rest, along with database encryption at rest.
• Authentication Methods: Enforces authentication, supporting web browser login flows or non-interactive flows via service principals for the HCP CLI. It integrates with HashiCorp Vault for robust secrets management.
• General Recommendations: Users should adhere to HashiCorp's security best practices, utilize RBAC effectively, and ensure proper management of sensitive credentials, ideally through integration with tools like HashiCorp Vault. Regularly updating client-side tools and monitoring for security advisories is also recommended.

Analysis on Overall Security Rating: HashiCorp Waypoint, particularly in its HCP Waypoint SaaS offering, demonstrates a strong commitment to security. It incorporates industry-standard practices such as TLS encryption for data in transit and robust encryption for data at rest, including sensitive configuration and database backups. The implementation of authentication and granular Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) ensures that access to functionalities and data is properly managed and restricted. HashiCorp's proactive approach to addressing known vulnerabilities, as seen with the Go language update, and its responsible disclosure policy, contribute to a positive security posture. Integration with HashiCorp Vault further enhances its ability to manage secrets securely. Overall, HCP Waypoint appears to have a high overall security rating, leveraging HashiCorp's broader security expertise.

Performance & Benchmarks

• Benchmark Scores: Specific, publicly available benchmark scores for HashiCorp Waypoint are not commonly published.
• Real-world Performance Metrics: Waypoint aims to streamline the build, deploy, and release phases of the application lifecycle, reducing the time and effort required for application delivery. It provides a consistent workflow that can accelerate the development process and improve efficiency by standardizing application patterns and managing dependencies. The single waypoint up command is designed to quickly build, deploy, and release applications.
• Power Consumption: Not explicitly measured or published for Waypoint itself, as its consumption depends heavily on the underlying infrastructure where applications are built and deployed.
• Carbon Footprint: Not explicitly measured or published. The carbon footprint would be largely determined by the cloud providers or on-premises infrastructure used for application hosting and CI/CD pipelines.
• Comparison with Similar Assets:
  • CI/CD Tools (e.g., GitLab CI/CD, Azure Pipelines, Octopus Deploy, GoCD, Spinnaker, Jenkins): Waypoint is often seen as complementing, rather than replacing, traditional CI/CD tools. It focuses on abstracting the deployment platform from the developer, handling the "Continuous Deployment" (CD) aspect of the pipeline, while CI/CD tools manage the broader orchestration.
  • PaaS (Platform as a Service) like Heroku: Waypoint offers a lower level of abstraction compared to a full PaaS, providing more control to DevOps teams in building their deployment systems. While Heroku simplifies deployment for individual developers, Waypoint empowers platform engineers to define standardized workflows for application developers.

Analysis of Overall Performance Status: HashiCorp Waypoint's performance is primarily measured by its ability to enhance developer productivity and streamline the application delivery process. It achieves this by providing a unified, consistent workflow for building, deploying, and releasing applications across diverse platforms. While direct benchmark scores for the software itself are not available, its design goal is to reduce the complexity and time involved in getting applications from code to production. This abstraction layer allows developers to focus on application logic rather than infrastructure specifics, leading to faster iteration cycles and more efficient deployments. Its extensibility through plugins further contributes to its adaptability and potential for performance optimization within specific environments.

User Reviews & Feedback

User reviews and feedback for HashiCorp Waypoint highlight both its innovative approach and areas for improvement, particularly concerning its evolution from an open-source project to a managed service.

• Strengths:
  • Consistent Workflow: Users appreciate the unified workflow for building, deploying, and releasing applications across various platforms (Kubernetes, Nomad, EC2, Google Cloud Run, etc.) using a single configuration file and command (waypoint up).
  • Abstraction of Complexity: Waypoint effectively abstracts away the underlying infrastructure complexities from developers, allowing them to focus on application code.
  • Extensibility: The plugin system is a key strength, enabling Waypoint to integrate with virtually any tool or platform.
  • Internal Developer Platform (IDP) Enablement: It is highly valued by platform teams for defining "golden patterns" and repeatable workflows, fostering self-service for application developers.
  • Debugging Tools: Features like integrated logs and waypoint exec provide immediate insights into deployed applications.
  • Web UI: A web-based user interface provides a convenient way to monitor builds, deployments, and releases.
• Weaknesses:
  • Community Edition Maintenance: The announcement that the open-source community edition is no longer actively maintained has been a point of concern for some users who preferred the self-hosted model.
  • Maturity Concerns (Early Versions): In its earlier stages, some users felt Waypoint was "still too early without a lot of features" and had "rough edges."
  • Kubernetes Integration: Early feedback suggested that the Kubernetes plugin was "pointless" without direct support for Helm, YAML, or Kustomize, forcing users into Waypoint's definitions.
  • HCL vs. YAML: Some users expressed a preference for YAML over HashiCorp Configuration Language (HCL) for configuration files.
  • Dynamic URLs: The generation of new URLs for every deployment in development environments was a disliked feature for some, making continuous refreshing difficult.
  • Management Overhead: Concerns were raised about managing "another server and runners" for self-hosted deployments.
• Recommended Use Cases:
  • Organizations looking to establish an Internal Developer Platform (IDP) to standardize application delivery.
  • Platform teams aiming to define and enforce "golden paths" or repeatable workflows for application builds, deployments, and releases.
  • Development teams seeking to simplify their deployment process and abstract away infrastructure details, especially in multi-cloud or hybrid environments.
  • Environments where a consistent "build, deploy, release" workflow is desired across various target platforms (e.g., Kubernetes, Nomad, cloud-specific services).

Summary

HashiCorp Waypoint, initially launched as an open-source project in October 2020, has evolved into a key component of the HashiCorp Cloud Platform (HCP) as HCP Waypoint, a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) offering. Its core purpose is to provide a consistent and simplified workflow for developers to build, deploy, and release applications across any platform with a single command, waypoint up. This abstraction layer allows developers to focus on their application code, while platform teams define and manage underlying infrastructure and deployment patterns.

Strengths: Waypoint's primary strength lies in its ability to standardize application patterns and deliver "golden workflows" through an Internal Developer Platform (IDP) model. Its highly extensible plugin system supports a wide array of build methods and deployment targets, including Docker, Kubernetes, Nomad, AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, ensuring broad compatibility. The tool enhances developer productivity by simplifying the deployment process and offering integrated debugging features like logs and remote execution. Security is a strong focus, with TLS encryption for communications, Vault Transit encryption for sensitive data at rest, and robust authentication and authorization (RBAC) mechanisms.

Weaknesses: The transition from an actively maintained open-source project to a SaaS-centric model means the community edition is no longer supported, which might impact users who preferred self-hosting. Early versions faced criticism regarding maturity, specific Kubernetes integration limitations, and the use of HCL over YAML for configuration. Some users also found the dynamic URL generation for each deployment in development to be inconvenient.

Recommendations: HashiCorp Waypoint is highly recommended for organizations seeking to implement or enhance an Internal Developer Platform, enabling platform teams to codify and share standardized application delivery workflows. It is particularly beneficial for environments with diverse deployment targets where a consistent developer experience is crucial. While the legacy open-source version is archived, adopting HCP Waypoint aligns with HashiCorp's current vision and ensures access to ongoing development, support, and managed services. Users should leverage its integration capabilities with other HashiCorp tools like Terraform and Vault for comprehensive infrastructure and secrets management. For those considering the tool, evaluating the HCP Waypoint offering is essential to capitalize on its managed benefits and latest features.

The information provided is based on publicly available data and may vary depending on specific device configurations. For up-to-date information, please consult official manufacturer resources.