Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Pure Data VS Stackato

Compare Pure Data VS Stackato and see what are their differences

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Pure Data logo Pure Data

Pd (aka Pure Data) is a real-time graphical programming environment for audio, video, and graphical...

Stackato logo Stackato

Enterprise ready private PaaS based on the Cloud Foundry open-source project and Docker.
  • Pure Data Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-01-18
  • Stackato Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30

Pure Data features and specs

  • Open Source
    Pure Data (Pd) is open source, which means it is freely available for anyone to use, modify, and distribute. This encourages a vast community of users and contributors, fostering innovation and collaborative development.
  • Cross-Platform
    Pd runs on multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, Linux, and even mobile platforms. This makes it highly accessible and versatile for users across different environments.
  • Visual Programming
    The visual programming environment of Pd allows users to build programs graphically, making it easier for those who may not be familiar with text-based coding.
  • Extensible
    Pd supports a variety of externals and libraries, allowing users to extend its functionality. This enables it to be used for a wide range of applications from audio and visual arts to scientific research.
  • Active Community
    Pd has an active and supportive community, which makes it easier for new users to find help, tutorials, and additional resources.
  • Real-Time Processing
    Pure Data is capable of real-time audio and visual processing, making it suitable for live performances and interactive installations.

Possible disadvantages of Pure Data

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Despite its visual nature, Pd can be challenging for beginners to learn, especially those without a background in programming or signal processing.
  • Limited Documentation
    While there are many community-driven resources, the official documentation can sometimes be sparse or outdated, making it difficult for users to find reliable information.
  • Performance Issues
    For very complex projects, Pd may experience performance bottlenecks. This can be a limitation for users looking for high efficiency in audio and visual computations.
  • User Interface
    The user interface of Pd can feel dated and less polished compared to modern software development environments. This may deter some users who are used to more contemporary interfaces.
  • Compatibility
    While Pd is highly extensible, certain externals and libraries may not be compatible with all operating systems or may require manual compilation, complicating the setup process.

Stackato features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Stackato provides an easy and user-friendly interface for deploying applications on the cloud, making it accessible for beginners and professionals alike.
  • Multi-language Support
    The platform supports a range of programming languages, providing flexibility for developers working in different language ecosystems.
  • Scalability
    Stackato enables seamless scaling of applications, allowing businesses to handle increased workloads without performance degradation.
  • Enterprise-grade Security
    Stackato offers robust security features to protect applications and data, which is crucial for enterprise users.
  • Private Cloud Deployment
    It allows deployment on private clouds, offering more control over the application environment compared to public cloud solutions.

Possible disadvantages of Stackato

  • Cost
    As a commercial product, Stackato can be expensive, which might not be suitable for small businesses or startups with limited budgets.
  • Complexity for Advanced Features
    While basic features are easy to use, utilizing more advanced functionalities may require a steeper learning curve.
  • Limited Community Support
    Stackato may have less community support compared to larger open-source platforms, limiting peer resources and community-driven innovation.
  • Vendor Lock-in Risk
    Using a commercial product like Stackato can lead to vendor lock-in, making it tricky to switch platforms without significant rework.
  • Potential for Obsolescence
    Given market dynamics, there's always a risk that smaller platforms may not keep pace with rapid technological advancements.

Analysis of Pure Data

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Pure Data (Pd) is considered a good tool for those interested in multimedia processing and audio-visual programming. Its strengths lie in its open-source status, active community support, and the ability to handle a wide range of projects from small scale to complex installations.

Why this product is good

  • Pure Data (Pd) is a graphical programming environment for audio, video, and graphical processing. It is highly versatile and allows users to create complex sound and media processing algorithms without needing to write traditional code. Its open-source nature encourages customization and community collaboration, making it a favored choice among artists, researchers, and developers who appreciate its modular and flexible design.

Recommended for

  • Musicians and sound artists looking to create interactive audio applications.
  • Multimedia artists wanting to combine audio with video or other graphical elements.
  • Researchers exploring sound synthesis, digital signal processing, or interactive media installations.
  • Developers interested in creating custom audio-visual applications through a visual programming interface.

Analysis of Stackato

Overall verdict

  • Stackato was a solid enterprise-grade Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) built on Cloud Foundry and Docker, designed to help organizations deploy and manage applications across private, public, and hybrid clouds. However, it's important to note that Stackato was discontinued by HPE (which acquired it from ActiveState) around 2017, so it is no longer an actively supported product.

Why this product is good

  • Built on open standards like Cloud Foundry and Docker, reducing vendor lock-in concerns
  • Supported multiple programming languages and frameworks, offering polyglot flexibility
  • Enabled deployment across private, public, and hybrid cloud environments
  • Provided enterprise-grade security, scaling, and management features
  • Simplified application deployment and lifecycle management for development teams

Recommended for

  • Enterprises that previously sought a private or hybrid PaaS solution (though now discontinued)
  • Development teams wanting Cloud Foundry-based application deployment
  • Organizations exploring container-based and multi-cloud strategies (should now consider modern alternatives like Cloud Foundry, OpenShift, or Kubernetes)

Pure Data videos

Introduction to Pure Data

More videos:

  • Review - Pure Data Guitar Pedal
  • Tutorial - How to Design Sound Art Installations with Pure Data (Part 1)

Stackato videos

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

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Pure Data and Stackato)
3D
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Music Generation
100 100%
0% 0
Containers As A Service
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Pure Data seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 41 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Pure Data mentions (41)

  • Past Tense: A DragonRuby Sound Installation Built on libpd
    The whole thing is three runtimes glued together. DragonRuby GTK (mRuby) handles the game side: scenes, UI, sprite rendering, the per-tick game loop, the XP and tier-progression system. Pure Data, embedded via libpd, handles every audio sample: spectral analysis across four frequency bands, burst recording, the synthesis and effects chain, the feedback routing. A small custom C extension bridges the two via... - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • loopmaster โ€“ Livecoding Music IDE
    I'm just going to mention Pure Data here, because I'm always surprised when people don't know about it. https://puredata.info/ I use it in my art and music practice to interfaced with hardware like a GameTrak controller, and to control drone motors for bowing/drumming physical things for computer controlled electroacoustic music. I also use it at a university lab for the development of assistive musical... - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Ask HN: What Are You Working On? (Nov 2025
    I'm getting back in to audio programming, starting off with Pd[1] and reading Miller Puckette's book[2]. I'm planning on writing some low-level C libraries afterwards, using The Audio Programming[3] book as a guide [1] https://puredata.info. - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • Python Notebooks for Fundamentals of Music Processing
    My most recommended method for beginners has always been PD (https://puredata.info/) combined with The Theory and Technique of Electronic Music: (https://msp.ucsd.edu/techniques/latest/book.pdf) and this book (https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262014410/designing-sound/). Eli's tutorials on SuperCollider are also very helpful: https://www.youtube.com/@elifieldsteel Of course, my project Glicol can also be helpful for... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • AI can now master your music
    For node based workflows, check out Max or Pure Data. https://cycling74.com/products/max https://puredata.info/. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
View more

Stackato mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Stackato yet. Tracking of Stackato recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Pure Data and Stackato, you can also consider the following products

SuperCollider - A real time audio synthesis engine, and an object-oriented programming language specialised for...

Kubernetes - Kubernetes is an open source orchestration system for Docker containers

VCV Rack - A cross-platform modular synthesizer.

Rancher - Open Source Platform for Running a Private Container Service

MadMapper - The Mapping Software

Mesosphere DCOS - Mesosphere DCOS organizes your entire infrastructure as if it was a single computer.