head to head · open source
Shelf vs Part-DB-server
Shelf has 3,014 GitHub stars, 367 forks, 181 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Part-DB-server has 1,767 stars, 235 forks, 209 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. Shelf leads on adoption by 71% (3,014 vs 1,767 stars). Shelf is written in TypeScript under AGPL-3.0; Part-DB-server is written in PHP under AGPL-3.0. Shelf has attracted 12% as many forks as stars, Part-DB-server 13%. Shelf was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| Shelf | Part-DB-server | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 3.0K | ★ 1.8K |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | PHP |
| Last push | 2026-09-17 | 2026-09-16 |
| Forks | ⑂ 367 | ⑂ 235 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick Shelf if
- You weight community size — 3.0K stars and counting
- You want the AGPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick Part-DB-server if
- You want the Part-DB-server feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the AGPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches PHP
- You evaluated both and Part-DB-server fits your workflow better
About Shelf
Shelf is a free, open source platform for tracking physical assets, including equipment, devices, tools, vehicles, props, and inventory. It is built for teams that need to know what they have, where it is, and who is using it. The project sits in the IT asset management, equipment management, scheduling, and operations software ecosystem.
read the full Shelf overview →
About Part-DB-server
Part DB is an open source inventory management system for electronic components. It is a PHP and Symfony web application installed on a web server, so users access it through a browser without extra client software. The repository calls this version a complete rewrite of the legacy Part DB project, and it is licensed under AGPL 3.0.
read the full Part-DB-server overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is Shelf or Part-DB-server more popular?
Shelf has 3,014 GitHub stars and Part-DB-server has 1,767. Shelf has the larger community by that measure.
Are Shelf and Part-DB-server free?
Both are open source. Shelf is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Part-DB-server under AGPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between Shelf and Part-DB-server?
Shelf is written in TypeScript and Part-DB-server in PHP. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, Shelf or Part-DB-server?
Choose Shelf if you want the larger community (3,014 stars) or its AGPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose Part-DB-server if its feature set, stack or AGPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.