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Comparison · Infra & APIs

Inspektor Gadget vs OpenMQTTGateway

A side-by-side editorial comparison of Inspektor Gadget and OpenMQTTGateway — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.

Inspektor Gadget vs OpenMQTTGateway: at a glance

FeatureInspektor GadgetOpenMQTTGateway
SectorInfra & APIsInfra & APIs
Velocity score2.50.0
Sparks · 30d00
Top themesebpf, kubernetes, opentelemetry, least-privilegeiot gateway, bluetooth le, mqtt, home automation
Last editorial update1h ago3mo ago
WebsiteVisit →Visit →

What is Inspektor Gadget?

Inspektor Gadget v0.58 adds SELinux and rename tracing and fixes stale OTel series

Inspektor Gadget v0.58.0 adds trace_selinux for SELinux AVC decisions and trace_rename for file renames, an opt-in OpenTelemetry snapshot mode that drops series for processes that no longer exist, and IPv6 support in trace_sni. The profiler fork was rebased onto upstream, and trace_fsslower's output format changed in a breaking way. v0.57.0 had already let gadgets run rootless with narrow capabilities.

Read the full Inspektor Gadget trajectory →

What is OpenMQTTGateway?

OpenMQTTGateway spent three years shedding its dependencies, then stopped shipping entirely.

The last release was January 2025, a single bug fix for adaptive scanning restarting the gateway. Before that, the project moved steadily toward standing alone: 1.8.0 embedded an MQTT broker via PicoMQTT so a gateway no longer needs an external server, 1.6.0 added a web interface so it no longer needs a home automation controller to configure, and 1.5.0 brought device trackers for presence detection with over-the-air updates from the controller. Hardware arrived alongside software, with the Theengs Bridge in 1.7.0 and the Theengs Plug in 1.3.0.

Read the full OpenMQTTGateway trajectory →

Inspektor Gadget vs OpenMQTTGateway: editorial side-by-side

I
Inspektor Gadget
INFRA · APIS
2.5

Inspektor Gadget v0.58 adds SELinux and rename tracing and fixes stale OTel series

◆ Current state

Inspektor Gadget v0.58.0 adds trace_selinux for SELinux AVC decisions and trace_rename for file renames, an opt-in OpenTelemetry snapshot mode that drops series for processes that no longer exist, and IPv6 support in trace_sni. The profiler fork was rebased onto upstream, and trace_fsslower's output format changed in a breaking way. v0.57.0 had already let gadgets run rootless with narrow capabilities.

◆ Where it's heading

The project is pairing two tracks: reducing the privileges and trust an eBPF tool needs (rootless runs, multi-tenancy, hardened parsing) and making its output fit standard observability pipelines (OTel metrics and profiles). New gadgets keep widening security-relevant coverage.

◆ Prediction

Expect further OpenTelemetry alignment and more security-focused gadgets; the experimental multi-tenancy from v0.56 has not yet shown a path to stable in the entries.

O
OpenMQTTGateway
INFRA · APIS
0.0

OpenMQTTGateway spent three years shedding its dependencies, then stopped shipping entirely.

◆ Current state

The last release was January 2025, a single bug fix for adaptive scanning restarting the gateway. Before that, the project moved steadily toward standing alone: 1.8.0 embedded an MQTT broker via PicoMQTT so a gateway no longer needs an external server, 1.6.0 added a web interface so it no longer needs a home automation controller to configure, and 1.5.0 brought device trackers for presence detection with over-the-air updates from the controller. Hardware arrived alongside software, with the Theengs Bridge in 1.7.0 and the Theengs Plug in 1.3.0.

◆ Where it's heading

The arc through 1.2 to 1.8 is one of progressive independence — first from a controller for configuration, then from a broker for messaging — turning a bridge component into a self-contained device. Release intervals widened throughout: monthly in early 2023, then annual, then nothing for nineteen months. Whatever the roadmap was, the feed has not recorded activity since.

◆ Prediction

The evidence here does not support a confident prediction about what ships next; the project has published nothing in nineteen months. If it resumes, the unfinished thread is the embedded broker, which shipped in 1.8.0 and received only a scanning bug fix afterward.

Alternatives to Inspektor Gadget and OpenMQTTGateway

Other Infra & APIs products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either Inspektor Gadget or OpenMQTTGateway.

See all Inspektor Gadget alternatives → · See all OpenMQTTGateway alternatives →

Recent activity from Inspektor Gadget and OpenMQTTGateway

Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.

  1. 7h agoInspektor Gadgetv0.58.0: SELinux and rename tracing, OTel snapshot mode
  2. 1mo agoInspektor Gadgetv0.57.0: rootless ig run and reduced-privilege deploys
  3. 1mo agoInspektor Gadgetv0.56.2: bounded owner reference enrichment
  4. 1mo agoInspektor Gadgetv0.56.1 hardens USDT parsing against crafted binaries
  5. 1mo agoInspektor GadgetRelease v0.56.0 ⚡
  6. 2mo agoInspektor GadgetRelease v0.55.1
  7. 1y agoOpenMQTTGatewayAdaptive scanning restart bug fixed
  8. 1y agoOpenMQTTGatewayAn MQTT broker moves inside the gateway ⚡
  9. 2y agoOpenMQTTGatewayTheengs Bridge hardware and Ethernet onboarding
  10. 3y agoOpenMQTTGatewayWeb interface removes the controller dependency
  11. 3y agoOpenMQTTGatewayWorkaround for stuck BLE scans
  12. 3y agoOpenMQTTGatewayPresence detection via automatic device trackers

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Inspektor Gadget and OpenMQTTGateway?

They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. Inspektor Gadget is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 2.5 vs 0.0), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.

Is Inspektor Gadget better than OpenMQTTGateway?

Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Inspektor Gadget is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 2.5 vs 0.0), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other Infra & APIs products to evaluate alongside.

What are the best alternatives to Inspektor Gadget?

Top Inspektor Gadget alternatives in Infra & APIs are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Inspektor Gadget alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/inspektor-gadget for the full list with editorial commentary on each.

What are the best alternatives to OpenMQTTGateway?

Top OpenMQTTGateway alternatives in Infra & APIs are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "OpenMQTTGateway alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/openmqttgateway for the full list with editorial commentary on each.