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Doorstop
What it is
Doorstop is an open-source tool for managing textual requirements alongside source code in version control. It stores requirements and other linkable items as YAML files in directories that make up documents, and it can validate traceability through a document tree. Doorstop can publish document hierarchies and trace matrices as plain text, HTML, LaTeX, or Markdown; templates can customize publishing output. Requirements can be imported and exported in YAML, CSV, TSV, or Excel formats. The project requires Python 3.10 or later and Git or another version control system, and it can be added to a Poetry project. Doorstop runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows and can operate as a standalone web server or a WSGI application. An experimental desktop GUI is described for basic editing. Doorstop is free at no cost and licensed under LGPLv3. It lists baseline support and version history, but not approval workflows.
For and against
For
- Validates traceability across document trees.
- Publishes in four listed formats.
- Imports and exports YAML, CSV, TSV, and Excel.
- Baseline support and version history are listed.
Against
- Approval workflows are not included.
- Python 3.10 or later is required.
- LaTeX/PDF publishing requires a LaTeX distribution.
The verdict
Doorstop combines requirements traceability with version-control-based storage and several publishing formats. Its requirements include Python and version control, and it does not list approval workflows.
Who it suits
Doorstop suits teams that manage requirements in version control and need traceability across documents. It fits users comfortable with Python and a version control system.
Plans and prices
Open-source Doorstop
LGPLv3 · Python 3.10+ · version-control system required · self-hosted
Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Doorstop
Open source · requires Python and a version control system
Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- Academic description
- The 2014 Doorstop paper presents it as a lightweight developer-oriented alternative to centralized database requirements tools, using text files in version control.scirp.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Assets
- Images, attachments and other files placed in an assets directory can be copied into published output and referenced from requirements.doorstop.readthedocs.io · read 15 Oct 2026
- Command-line interface
- The project exposes a stateless `doorstop` CLI for creating documents, adding and linking items, validating trees, publishing and interchange.docs.rtems.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Dependencies
- The package declares Python 3.10 through 3.14 support and depends on PyYAML, Markdown, Bottle, Requests, frontmatter, PlantUML Markdown and openpyxl among others.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Desktop client
- The project describes an experimental desktop GUI for basic editing tasks and notes macOS may require python-tk.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- GUI
- An experimental `doorstop-gui` desktop interface supports basic editing, and macOS may require python-tk.doorstop.readthedocs.io · read 15 Oct 2026
- Import and export
- Documents can be exchanged in YAML, CSV, TSV and XLSX formats, including Excel round trips.doorstop.readthedocs.io · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent feature listing
- AlternativeTo lists command-line use, scripting, Git support, filtering and requirements management as Doorstop features.alternativeto.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent price assessment
- OpenRegulatory describes Doorstop as free with no minimum commitment.openregulatory.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent review availability
- AlternativeTo shows no reviews, three likes and zero comments for Doorstop.alternativeto.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent shortlist limitation
- ONES says teams must define their own document conventions, review practices, permissions and change-governance rules.ones.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent shortlist view
- ONES describes Doorstop as transparent, portable and suitable for Git-based traceability and automation, while lacking native backlog, sprint, roadmap and release planning.ones.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent technical assessment
- RTEMS describes Doorstop as a Python, YAML-based, Git-oriented tool with a CLI, predefined attributes, a primitive GUI and item fingerprints.docs.rtems.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Doorstop requires Python and Git or another version control system, and can be added to a Poetry project.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Intended use
- The project describes itself as requirements management using version control and includes requirements, test cases, and certification among its repository topics.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Interchange
- Requirements can be exported and imported using YAML, CSV, TSV, or Excel files.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- License
- Doorstop is distributed under the GNU Lesser General Public License version 3.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: cloud and editor
- OpenRegulatory reports no cloud-hosted option and no built-in text editor, requiring users to supply their own editor.openregulatory.com · read 15 Oct 2026
