head to head · open source
Shelf vs Part-DB-server
Shelf has 3,049 GitHub stars, 384 forks, 181 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Part-DB-server has 1,824 stars, 251 forks, 209 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Shelf leads on adoption by 67% (3,049 vs 1,824 stars). Shelf is written in TypeScript under a custom or non-standard licence; Part-DB-server is written in PHP under AGPL-3.0. Shelf has attracted 13% as many forks as stars, Part-DB-server 14%. 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 | Custom / other | AGPL-3.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | PHP |
| Last push | 2026-11-02 | 2026-11-02 |
| Forks | ⑂ 384 | ⑂ 251 |
| 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 Custom / other 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
Open source asset management infrastructure for everyone. Website · Documentation · Discord · Twitter Shelf is a platform for tracking physical assets — equipment, devices, tools, vehicles, props, inventory. It's built for teams that need to know what they have, where it is, and who's using it. Organizations use Shelf to manage thousands of assets across locations with role based access for their teams. Features QR asset tags — Generate and print QR codes. Scan with any phone to view, check out, or report an asset. Bookings and reservations — Schedule equipment, prevent double bookings, set…
read the full Shelf overview →
About Part-DB-server
Documentation Demo Docker Image Part DB Part DB is an Open Source inventory management system for your electronic components. It is installed on a web server and so can be accessed with any browser without the need to install additional software. The version in this repository is a complete rewrite of the legacy Part DB (Version Features Inventory management of your electronic parts. Each part can be assigned to a category, footprint, manufacturer, and multiple store locations and price information. Parts can be grouped using tags. You can associate various files like datasheets or pictures with the parts. Multi…
read the full Part-DB-server overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is Shelf or Part-DB-server more popular?
Shelf has 3,049 GitHub stars and Part-DB-server has 1,824. Shelf has the larger community by that measure.
Are Shelf and Part-DB-server free?
Both are open source. Shelf has no licence declared in this registry, and Part-DB-server is licensed under AGPL-3.0. Both are free to self-host.
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 (3,049 stars) or its Custom / other licence terms. Choose Part-DB-server if its feature set, stack or AGPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.