Software Alternatives & Startups

Apache Tomcat VS EngFlow

Compare Apache Tomcat VS EngFlow and see what are their differences

Apache Tomcat

An open source software implementation of the Java Servlet and JavaServer Pages technologies

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
EngFlow

Faster builds, visible build results, Bazel improvements: created by the Bazel experts, we deliver solutions that keep engineers in flow.

Rating
0 reviews
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Apache Tomcat seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 18 times since March 2021.

social mentions
18 vs 0
Web And Application Servers popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Apache Tomcat
EngFlow
Website tomcat.apache.org engflow.com
Pricing
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Apache Tomcat 6 features
EngFlow 5 features
  • Open Source
    Apache Tomcat is an open-source software, which means it is freely available for use and modifications. This can significantly reduce the cost of ownership and allows for customization.
  • Community Support
    Being a widely-used open-source server, Tomcat has a large and active community of developers and users who contribute to its documentation, plugins, and forums, providing extensive support.
  • Lightweight
    Tomcat is designed to be a lightweight servlet container, making it faster and less resource-intensive compared to full-blown Java EE application servers.
  • Integration with Popular Frameworks
    Tomcat integrates well with popular Java frameworks such as Spring and Hibernate, making it easier for developers to deploy and manage web applications.
  • Easy to Set Up and Configure
    Tomcat is relatively easy to set up and configure, making it suitable for both development and production environments.
  • Frequent Updates
    Regular updates and patches are released to improve performance, security, and compatibility, ensuring the server is up-to-date with the latest web technologies.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Functionality
    While Tomcat is a powerful servlet container, it lacks some of the advanced features found in full-fledged Java EE application servers, which might be necessary for complex enterprise applications.
  • Resource Management
    Tomcat's default configuration might not be suitable for high traffic web applications, requiring significant tweaking and tuning to handle heavy loads effectively.
  • Documentation Quality
    The documentation, while extensive, can sometimes be hard to navigate and understand, especially for beginners. This can slow down the learning curve.
  • Limited Built-in Tools
    Compared to other full-stack application servers, Tomcat comes with limited built-in tooling for monitoring, load balancing, and clustering, often requiring third-party solutions.
  • Security Concerns
    As with any open-source project, security vulnerabilities may emerge. It requires constant monitoring and timely updates to ensure security.
  • Lack of EJB Support
    Tomcat does not support Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB), limiting its use in scenarios where EJB is a crucial component of the architecture.
  • Fast Build and Test Execution
    EngFlow provides a remote execution and caching platform that dramatically accelerates build and test times by distributing work across clusters of machines and reusing previously computed results, reducing developer wait times significantly.
  • Bazel Compatibility
    EngFlow is built to be fully compatible with Bazel's remote execution API (as well as other build systems that support the Remote Execution API), making it straightforward to integrate into existing Bazel-based workflows without major migration efforts.
  • Scalable Infrastructure
    The platform is designed to scale to support large engineering organizations with thousands of developers, handling massive build workloads efficiently through distributed remote execution clusters, whether on-premises or in the cloud.
  • Build Observability and Analytics
    EngFlow offers detailed build and test result analytics, providing visibility into build performance, cache hit rates, flaky tests, and resource utilization, enabling teams to identify bottlenecks and optimize their CI/CD pipelines.
  • Founded by Bazel Experts
    EngFlow was founded by former Google engineers who worked on Bazel and Google's internal build system (Blaze), lending deep expertise and credibility to the product's design and its ability to address real-world build system challenges at scale.

Possible disadvantages

  • Niche Market Focus
    EngFlow is primarily targeted at organizations already using Bazel or compatible build systems with the Remote Execution API. Teams using other build systems like Gradle, Maven, or CMake without RE API support may find limited applicability.
  • Cost Considerations
    As a commercial enterprise platform, EngFlow can be expensive, particularly for smaller teams or startups. The pricing for managed remote execution infrastructure may be a significant investment compared to self-hosted or open-source alternatives.
  • Complex Setup and Configuration
    Setting up remote execution and caching infrastructure, even with EngFlow's managed platform, can involve significant initial configuration effort including networking, authentication, and tuning build rules for remote compatibility.
  • Limited Public Documentation and Community
    Compared to widely adopted open-source CI/CD tools, EngFlow has a smaller public community and less freely available documentation, which can make troubleshooting and knowledge sharing more challenging without direct vendor support.
  • Vendor Lock-in Risk
    Relying on EngFlow's proprietary platform for critical build infrastructure introduces a degree of vendor dependency. Migrating away to another remote execution backend or self-managed solution could require significant effort and planning.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Apache Tomcat
EngFlow

Overall verdict

  • Apache Tomcat is generally regarded as a reliable and effective solution for serving Java applications. Its widespread use and strong community support make it an excellent choice for developers who require a straightforward and efficient servlet container.

Why this product is good

  • Apache Tomcat is a robust, open-source web server and servlet container used to deploy Java Servlets and JSPs (Java Server Pages). It is developed and maintained by the Apache Software Foundation, which ensures a high level of support and regular updates. Tomcat is known for its lightweight nature, ease of use, and ability to integrate seamlessly with many Java-based applications.

Recommended for

  • Java developers in need of an open-source and lightweight servlet container.
  • Organizations looking to serve Java-based web applications.
  • Development teams that require a flexible and customizable environment with robust community support.

Overall verdict

  • EngFlow is a solid choice for teams needing fast, scalable remote build and test execution, built by former Google engineers who worked on Bazel, offering strong performance and enterprise-grade reliability for Bazel-based development workflows.

Why this product is good

  • Built by the original creators of Bazel's remote execution APIs, ensuring deep expertise and compatibility
  • Provides significant build and test speed improvements through remote execution and caching
  • Scales efficiently for large codebases and distributed teams
  • Offers enterprise-ready security, observability, and support options
  • Simplifies infrastructure management compared to self-hosted remote execution setups
  • Strong integration with Bazel and other build systems supporting the Remote Execution API

Recommended for

  • Engineering teams using Bazel for build and test automation
  • Organizations with large monorepos needing faster CI/CD pipelines
  • Companies scaling engineering teams that require distributed build caching
  • DevOps and platform teams looking to reduce build infrastructure overhead
  • Enterprises requiring secure, compliant remote execution solutions

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Apache Tomcat 3 videos + Add
EngFlow 0 videos + Add

Introducing Apache Tomcat 8.5

More videos

  • - Webinar: Introduction to Apache Tomcat 8
  • - Tcat - The Leading Enterprise Apache Tomcat Application Server

No EngFlow videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Apache Tomcat
EngFlow
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Apache Tomcat and EngFlow. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Apache Tomcat no reviews yet
EngFlow no reviews yet
  • FOSS | Top 15 Web Servers 2021
    www.zentao.pm · Dec 2021

    Java programs are run using Apache Tomcat. To be more precise, it is a Java servlet – a Java software component that expands the functionality of a web server. Apache Tomcat, released under the Apache License version...

  • 4 Open Source Application Servers (Comparison and Review)
    shadow-soft.com · Jul 2017

    Apache Tomcat is an open-source implementation of several Java technologies. It is the result of a collaboration of the finest developers worldwide. You can get involved with the development in a number of ways.

  • Top 5 open source web servers
    opensource.com · Aug 2016

    Apache Tomcat is an open source Java servlet container that functions as a web server. A Java servlet is a Java program that extends the capabilities of a server. Although servlets can respond to any types of...

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We have no reviews of EngFlow yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Apache Tomcat 18 mentions
EngFlow 0 mentions
  • Choosing a dependency
    For most mature organizations, commercial support is a requirement. Commercial dependencies provide such support by nature. For Open Source projects, support ranges from none to companies providing support on projects as part of their... - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • Java News: WildFly 36, Spring Milestones, and Open Liberty Updates
    Versions 11.0.6 and 9.0.104 of Apache Tomcat deliver new features and improvements. The release notes can be found for both versions. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Artifactory: Centralizing Artifact Management for DevOps Success
    Download and Install Tomcat Before downloading, confirm the latest Tomcat build package from the official website. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago

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Tracking EngFlow since Oct 2021.

Alternatives to Apache Tomcat and EngFlow

When comparing Apache Tomcat and EngFlow, you can also consider the following products.