Dokuly

Dokuly is an open-source product lifecycle management (PLM) system for engineering and operations teams coordinating product definition with the work around it. It is best for teams comfortable deploying and operating software themselves; it is a poor fit for those seeking a managed service.

Overview

Dokuly brings parts, assemblies, bills of materials, revisions, and releases together with documents, purchasing, inventory, production tracking, requirements, changes, and project work. That connected scope is useful when product updates have consequences across engineering and operations: the system covers more of that path than product records alone. Its free plan carries no software charge, but Dokuly runs as a self-hosted Docker stack using PostgreSQL, Django, and nginx, so the team takes on deployment and operation.

Key features

Product data and documents

Parts, PCBAs, assemblies, multi-level BOMs, alternate parts, revisions, releases, and BOM comparison support teams managing evolving product definitions. Document numbering, revision control, PDF front-page generation, and a built-in viewer extend that control to documents. Browser editing through OnlyOffice keeps document work within the system, though teams need the listed integration for that capability.

Purchasing, inventory, and production

Purchasing covers suppliers, price breaks, purchase orders, and order tracking; it can select the cheapest supplier for BOM orders. That can help teams connect BOM requirements to supplier choices without treating purchasing as a separate process. Configurable stock locations, transaction tracking, production lots, serial numbers, and assembly progress tracking extend the record into inventory and production. Teams wanting only a lightweight BOM tool may find this broader operational scope unnecessary.

Requirements, changes, and projects

Requirements can be related hierarchically, derived from one another, or superseded, with verification tracking. Engineering change orders link affected items in a reviewable record, making the relationship between a proposed change and impacted product data clearer. Projects add access control, time tracking, task management, and Gantt charts for organizing work. These functions make Dokuly more relevant to teams coordinating engineering work than to users seeking a standalone parts catalog.

Integrations and API

Dokuly lists DigiKey API, Nexar API, and OnlyOffice integrations. Its REST API uses project-scoped keys with configurable expiry and includes Swagger and ReDoc documentation. The documentation says keys inherit project-based access permissions; it does not state a security certification. Teams with formal certification requirements should account for that distinction.

Pricing

Dokuly PLM (open source): free. The plan includes open-source PLM in a self-hosted Docker stack. There are no software fees on the stated plan, but the deployment model means teams must be ready to run the stack themselves. The project welcomes contributions, bug reports, and feature requests on GitHub.

Platforms

Dokuly supports API, Linux, macOS, web, Windows, and self-hosted deployment. The platform range is broad, but self-hosting remains central to how the product is delivered.

Who it's for

Dokuly suits engineering and operations teams that want product records, controlled documents, purchasing, inventory, production, and change work in one system and can manage a Docker deployment. It is less suitable for teams that need a managed service or require a stated security certification.

Pros and cons

• Broad product-to-operations coverage: BOMs, purchasing, inventory, production, requirements, changes, and project tools share one PLM system.
• No software charge: the open-source plan costs nothing.
• Operational burden: teams must deploy and operate the Docker stack with PostgreSQL, Django, and nginx.

Alternatives

For another open-source PLM option with a free self-hosted core and unlimited editors and viewers, consider Cascadia PLM. PDXpert PLM is worth considering for Windows or self-hosted use if a paid product with a three-week free evaluation better fits the decision. Choose Oracle Fusion Cloud PLM if its cloud service fits: the stated reviewer plan is $100 a month, with a three-year standard subscription term and a 50-hosted-named-user minimum. Centric PLM is another paid option. Infor Public Sector may be relevant to readers considering a paid product from Infor. NETVIBES is another paid option with a free plan and free trial. Aras Innovator offers a free Community Edition for 50 named users, as well as paid subscription options. If you want a product with CAD/CAM, PCB design, and electromechanical integration, consider Autodesk Fusion; its stated plan is $57 a month billed annually.

Browse Product Lifecycle Management Software or Bill of Materials Software for more options.

Verdict

Choose Dokuly if your engineering and operations team wants a free, open-source system spanning product records through purchasing and production, and has the capacity to self-host it. Its main advantage is that breadth without a software fee; its main reason to look elsewhere is the need to run the stack yourself.