Show HN: Kan.bn – An open-source alterative to Trello
226 comments
·June 2, 2025henryball
mbreese
I think one thing that might help the discussion would be if you could explain a bit more about what you didn't like or thought was missing from other alternatives. IMO, there's nothing wrong with building an alternative because you wanted to, but if there is some feature that you're specifically trying to do support, it would be helpful to mention it here.
tiffanyh
Feedback (since you asked) ...
Using the kanban for your roadmap, https://kan.bn/kan/roadmap two things I noticed:
1. When I click a card, no data is present. It's just an empty card that says "Activity".
2. After you click a few cards, it hijacks your browser Back button.
andruby
Really cool you built this!
Can you elaborate a bit on what you were missing or didn’t like from the other existing open source Trello clones?
I’m curious what potentially different choices/trade-offs you made.
cellularmitosis
Nice project. Some of the workflows could be more keyboard friendly. I started an issue: https://github.com/kanbn/kan/issues/3
AntiqueFig
Shouldn't this be a "Show HN:" post?
henryball
You're right - I thought I had posted it to show HN but obviously not...
jpc0
I would love to see webhook support add to this.
For many users this isn’t an issue but for use it’s a must have feature.
Will stick to trello for the time being.
xet7
WeKan https://wekan.github.io has:
1) Per-board webhooks at board right sidebar / Board Settings / Webhooks
2) Global Webhooks at Admin Panel
See right menu of https://github.com/wekan/wekan/wiki , scroll down to webhooks part of menu.
It's possible to send board change events like move card as webhooks, for example to some chat:
https://github.com/wekan/wekan/wiki/Outgoing-Webhook-to-Disc...
Or to NodeRED:
https://github.com/wekan/wekan/issues/2017
or to to some PHP webhook receiver like this, that can use Python code to call WeKan API:
https://github.com/wekan/webhook/blob/main/public/index.php#...
smartbit
WeKan doesn’t seem to have an App for iOS https://wekan.team/app/
henryball
This is a cool idea - I've added it to the roadmap!
caseysoftware
Congrats, strong start.
What are you doing (plan to do) that is more interesting/compelling/useful than anyone else?
Also, what have you learned so far? What surprised you?
progx
Sorry, but I can't see what is better or other than every existing kanban-tool. I tried it, but you have only drag & drop lists with items and labels, that is all.
SwiftyBug
Im curious about the choice of Next.js for an open source project as Next.js is notoriously painful to deploy to anything other than Vercel.
hxtk
This isn’t something I’ve found with NextJS, but I also haven’t tried a lot of other, similar frameworks because I’m mostly a backend and SRE person who just learned NextJS so I could throw together pretty UIs to demo my backend ideas, so maybe I’m missing things that are well known among front-end specialists.
My experience is that a basic deployment is very easy—it’s like a ten line Dockerfile to build a distroless nodejs container of the standalone build and if you deploy it, it just works.
Then, as performance demands grow, there’s increasingly more complexity in the efforts that must be taken to squeeze additional performance out of it. An easy win is to host the static resources more efficiently with a static file server or better yet a CDN.
A more complex performance optimization is to implement caching.
At some point you start thinking about how to separate the middleware execution from the app so that it can be hosted in more regions or at the edge.
Vercel provides all of those optimizations for free in terms of operational complexity, and charges a lot for it monetarily, but it’s not all that surprising to me that when I host an application it takes some effort to get performance and feature parity with a dedicated hosting provider for that service, just like how I am not surprised that RDS is a little more complicated, more performant, and more reliable than renting the equivalent EC2 and installing Postgres from the package manager.
Caveat: as a backend dev, I’ve never written anything that relied entirely on NextJS as the server side, so I’m approaching this with a certain amount of baseline complexity already assumed. I’ve not touched NextJS static sites or incremental static regeneration.
Do other frontend frameworks make it much easier to incorporate those performance optimizations? My impression is that it’s not all that hard to deploy NextJS, it’s just hard to manage the complexity of optimizing it to the extent that Vercel’s hosting does.
danabramov
Next.js is not difficult to deploy on a long-lived server. It’s just a normal Node app.
What’s more painful is deployment to other serverless providers because historically they’ve had to reverse-engineer a few details for more advanced features. This is being fixed now in https://github.com/vercel/next.js/discussions/77740 but that work is ongoing.
herrkanin
The difficulty to deploy Next.js is greatly exaggerated in my opinion. It's mostly if you care about some of the more advanced features, like image optimization and hosting static assets on a different origin it can become difficult, but these are features no Next.js alternative generally provide anyway.
diggan
> hosting static assets on a different origin it can become difficult
What's the alternative? Hosting the static assets on the same place as the backend? Usually adding the CORS headers is enough to solve that (on the backend side), the frontend is still just HTML,CSS and JS running from nginx.
Is it common to do a different type of deployment with Next.js? It's a pretty basic deployment scenario (having the frontend on a different origin than the backend it communicates with), so not sure why that'd be so difficult with Next.js compared to basically anything else.
lmm
It's the opposite, it's extremely easy to do that with Next.js - pretty much free - but only if you're deploying to Vercel. If you want to host somewhere else then you have to do that semi-manually the same way you would with any other framework.
freedomben
Same. I've deployed a half dozen or so Next.js apps and it's no more difficult than any other node app unless you're using some of the more advanced features. In fact, if you only need something static and can do SSG then it's far easier than other node apps because all you need is nginx.
mstade
Even with the optimizations it's not that difficult in my experience. Not terribly well documented (not worst-in-class either) but not that hard and mostly just works once you have a pipeline up and running. We set ours up about two years ago now and have had to make minor modifications maybe three times since then.
RitzyMage
Deploying next is difficult, but IMO that's because deploying anything substantial is difficult. I've had my share of nasty deployment debugging that took days and none of it was due to next. (the biggest offenders I've seen are (1) random open source software no one on my team is an expert on, (2) docker / kubernetes, (3) databases, and (4) integration hell)
kashnote
It’s as easy as deploying any other app that can be Dockerized. Deploying to something like Fargate isn’t _super_ trivial but can be done in <2 hours
TiredOfLife
It's what v0 and similar tools choose as default.
yc942
Maybe it's difficult to deploy to your platform of choice. Deploying to AWS amplify or deploying using sst is matter of minutes or hour.
I have deployed several next.js projects within an hour (not hours) that were created by different teams. The hour includes settings up DNS, CI/CD using github and deploying to AWS Amplify.
Edit: Why are you down voting it? Is this unbelievable? I have deployed 5/6 next.js projects and none of them are on vercel.
AnonC
Suggestion to the OP: please consider adding a family plan at a lower monthly price point.
On this topic, I really love Kanban boards, but a hosted version (or self-hosted) is not as appealing to me as a native app with some sync.
Years ago, I used to use a closed source but free desktop app on Windows (now long discontinued though) and found that it worked very well for me to track my work.
Apple’s Reminders app has Lists that can be further divided into Sections and then viewed and used (kinda) like a Kanban board, but the UX is not great. The macOS apps, especially, are an abomination with Catalyst.
I’m still looking for a native app that has a simple sync using iCloud or Dropbox. Plus no subscriptions (a one time price per version may be ok). The usage would be for one or two users.
rubymamis
You can check my FOSS note-taking app: https://www.notes-foss.com. It is a native Qt C++ app.
It has a feature that converts your Markdown tasks into a Kanban: https://www.notes-foss.com/videos/kanban.mp4
It doesn't have a built-in sync, but people have told me they managed to sync the DB using Dropbox and other such services.
It has a one time payment option to unlock the Kanban feature, but you can also compile it yourself and get all the Pro features for free (all instructions are on GitHub[1]).
sen
I use the KanBan plugin for Obsidian and have quite liked it. It’s basic but it does the job and lets you sync however you want (it’s just a folder with markdown files).
remram
> Kanban reimagined
"reimagined" is a weird tagline given that your list of features is the same as Trello's (and Taiga's, etc). Don't get me wrong, I love opensource alternatives, but you did not "reimagine" to make the same thing.
wood_spirit
This will sound crazy but I wish there was an open source “everything” app. If this could grow into a slack alternative (where channels can host a kanban board) with http bot api and built in charting and dashboards and python notebook snippets etc etc so we can get things in one place… that would be great!!
xet7
a) Nextcloud
b) AFFiNE https://github.com/toeverything/AFFiNE but check some part of server license, what is allowed: https://github.com/toeverything/AFFiNE/blob/canary/packages/...
c) Frappe:
d) Odoo https://www.odoo.com
e) Sandstorm https://sandstorm.org , although WeKan is old version, I try to update it sometime
f) WeKan with webhooks https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44165008 with RocketChat Community Edition https://github.com/wekan/wekan/wiki/RocketChat with Jypyter: https://jupyter.org
crabmusket
One day when I have free time I really want to build an "everything app" suite on top of Sandstorm. Kind of like your supermarket's "home brand" meant to be no-frills, functional and cheap.
The way Sandstorm takes auth and hosting off your hands feels like it would make this more tractable. Business model remains an issue though, as it does for much open source work (and of course, all businesses! it's rough out there).
Having played around with Sandstorm, it's just so freeing to create one sqlite file per document (or board, or whatever) and just not worry about what happens if 10,000 users turn up. Wekan, which does run admirably well on Sandstorm, pulls an entire Mongodb instance into each grain. That makes sense if you want to host an entire SaaS on one database. But not in the Sandstorm world.
xet7
> Wekan, which does run admirably well on Sandstorm, pulls an entire Mongodb instance into each grain.
There is only MongoDB raw database files at each WeKan grain, similar to SQLite. MongoDB 3 server version is same for every grain.
In progress is adding SQLite support to WeKan.
Using Caddy 2 at front, I host Sandstorm, many WeKan Snap and RocketChat at same server. Sandstorm has many websites, etc software in use. At Sandstorm, only those grains are running and use RAM where is logged in user, this is much more efficient that Docker or Snap where container is running all the time.
https://github.com/wekan/wekan/blob/main/docs/Platforms/FOSS...
https://github.com/wekan/wekan/wiki/Sandstorm
https://github.com/wekan/wekan/wiki/Caddy-Webserver-Config
There is also development towards next version of Sandstorm, that is Tempest:
- https://sandstorm.org/news/2023-10-23-sandstorm-tempest-and-...
bezbac
https://anytype.io is not open source, but source available, and even calls itself the "Everything App".
sakesun
Huly.io describe themselves exactly as "Everything App"
null
mdtrooper
Some years ago, I used Kanboard (it written in php): https://kanboard.org/ . It was ugly but useful (and easy to install because I remember that it didn't need any data base).
rsolva
I threw it on a shared host and was up and running in notime. The UI is dated, but it is very functional.
kiney
I still use it. Love the simplicity.
subpixel
Trello pricing just got a lot more reasonable, but there is one feature that might get me thinking of moving: conditional logic in automations.
Be advised that Trello is now $5/mo. It's gonna be hard to compete here.
xet7
WeKan https://wekan.github.io has IFTTT Rules like Trello Butler:
https://github.com/wekan/wekan/wiki/IFTTT
And webhooks:
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44165008
WeKan has these, that Trello does not have: Swimlanes, all code Open Source, On-Premise hosting, etc
croes
You can’t trust US companies anymore, they easily can become a weapon in a trade war.
robinhood
Beware of European companies too if there is a WWIII. Beware of Asian companies because China is not far away.
What a weird comment.
bigfudge
I don’t think it’s weird to worry about this sort of stuff, although I think trello would be quite far down the list. I’d worry about the impact of Ms being weaponised first.
croes
We are already on the brink of a full-blown trade war.
It was already bad thanks to the CloudAct, but now it got worse. The previous adminstration at least tried to value the rights of EU citizens. The US now have the same trust level as China. Congratulations. At least China's support for Russia is more hidden.
And the US already showed what happens if you don't comply to US wishes
https://www.lbc.co.uk/world-news/british-icc-chief-prosecuto...
Show me any other country that did this to their allies.
antithesizer
You can't trust companies. Indeed, you never could.
lmm
WTF? Atlassian is famously Australian (although they have a terrible security law that should make people nervous).
croes
The American-Australian so they fall under der CloudAct
kjs3
Indeed...we are the only country that uses trade to influence others. You got us.
croes
Who said use of trade? The threat are sanctions to ban the use of the software, like they cancelled the ICC investigators bank account on behalf of the US.
https://www.lbc.co.uk/world-news/british-icc-chief-prosecuto...
You're the only western country that enforces their sanctions on third party countries.
For instance a german customer can't pay a german merchant via PayPal if he buys Cuban cigars, despite it's done by PayPal Europe S.a.r.l. et Cie s.c.a.
And don't forget the things with Greenland.
jjtheblunt
What's an example of a US company being weaponized in a trade war?
kfkdjajgjic
There are plenty, but most obvious nvidia which cannot even ship gpus to greenland currently.
croes
I wrote "can become".
We are just one executive order away.
Just look what they try with Harvard. The EU is an easier target. Just ban M365 for EU use.
Think of this at a larger scale
https://www.lbc.co.uk/world-news/british-icc-chief-prosecuto...
singiamtel
The project seems nice, but how good is that domain name
henryball
I'm so glad it's getting some recognition!
submeta
I absolutely love Trello. Visually super appealing, very fast interface with shortcuts, and an API that allows me to do all sorts of automations (although it offers automations out of the box).
Will check out your solution.
OsrsNeedsf2P
> very fast interface with shortcuts
Trello has either had some serious performance improvements since I last used it, or you have very few cards and no media. It used to take seconds for actions to process.
rodolphoarruda
> "I couldn’t find an ... alternative ... that I liked so I built my own."
Congrats! That's a brave move. I've been using Kanboard for years. Good luck with your project!
henryball
Cheers! Kanboard is a great project, but I found the UI/UX a bit lacking (just personal preference)
rodolphoarruda
I agree. UI/UX lacks some basic data like the project start date, which is kind of odd for a PM app.
ramoz
Thank you to those who referenced kanboard in this thread. I got it running and it is sweet:
$ docker pull kanboard/kanboard:latest
$ docker run -d --name kanboard -p 8080:80 -e PLUGIN_INSTALLER=true kanboard/kanboard:latest
(admin/admin)
anonymous344
biggest problems with trello, having using it 14 years or so - if user deletes card/list/board it's gone forever for whole group - i want to share board with secret link(no login) but this user cannot have rights to open any card, maybe just comment. Not available at all in trello
xet7
WeKan https://wekan.github.io has CommentOnly role, that can be set by BoardAdmin by clicking at board right sidebar board member avatar, or with API:
Hey HN,
I couldn’t find an open-source alternative to Trello that I liked so I built my own.
It’s fast, free and fully-customisable. You can self host it, or use the cloud version if you don’t want to manage your own infra.
Repo -> https://github.com/kanbn/kan
Cloud -> https://kan.bn
Roadmap -> https://kan.bn/kan/roadmap
I’d love feedback, bug reports, or any feature suggestions!