Freedom251 › Artifact repository software
NORA

What NORA is
NORA, or No-nonsense Open Registry for Artifacts, is a self-hosted, open-source artifact registry built with Rust. It supports 13 registry formats, including Docker, Maven, npm, PyPI, Cargo, Go, and Raw. It can proxy upstream registries and cache artifacts locally; its curation layer offers allowlists, blocklists, CVE blocking, and integrity verification. Curation can be turned off, used for auditing, or set to enforce rules by blocking matching requests with a 403 response. NORA runs as a single binary, with no database or Java dependency; the documentation describes a binary under 23 MB and startup in about three seconds. Deployment options include Docker and a Kubernetes Helm chart, and storage can use AWS S3, Ceph RGW, or other S3-compatible backends. A mirror CLI supports offline synchronization in air-gapped environments. Authentication can be enabled using an htpasswd file or a setting. NORA is MIT-licensed and listed as free forever.
Who it suits
NORA suits teams that need a self-hosted registry for artifacts across multiple package formats. Its proxying, curation, and offline synchronization features may be useful in environments with specific artifact controls or air-gap requirements.
What it does well
- Supports 13 registry formats
- Proxies upstream registries and caches artifacts locally
- Curation includes blocklists, allowlists, and integrity verification
- Mirror CLI supports offline synchronization
What to know first
- Requires self-hosted deployment
- Runs as a single binary rather than a hosted service
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| NORA | MIT licensed · self-hosted artifact registry | Free |
As getnora.dev lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
NORA combines multi-format artifact storage with upstream caching and configurable curation in a self-hosted package. Its MIT license and listed free plan make it a no-cost option for teams prepared to deploy and operate it themselves.
Facts from NORA's own pages
- Authentication
- The quick start shows enabling authentication with an htpasswd file, and says authentication can be enabled with NORA_AUTH_ENABLED=true. · getnora.dev, 9 Oct 2026
- Client integrations
- The quick start demonstrates using Docker, npm, Go modules, and Helm OCI with a NORA registry. · getnora.dev, 9 Oct 2026
- Curation
- Its curation layer supports blocklists, allowlists, CVE blocking, and integrity verification. · getnora.dev, 9 Oct 2026
- Curation integration
- The maker documents Dozor as a companion tool that creates OSV advisory blocklists for NORA to enforce. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Curation modes
- Curation can be set to off, audit, or enforce; enforce mode blocks matching requests with a 403 response. · getnora.dev, 9 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- The maker documents running NORA with Docker and provides a Kubernetes Helm chart. · getnora.dev, 9 Oct 2026
- License
- The maker describes NORA as open source under the MIT License and free forever. · getnora.dev, 9 Oct 2026
- Maintainer
- The repository says NORA was created and is maintained by Pavel Volkov. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Product
- NORA (No-nonsense Open Registry for Artifacts) is an open-source, multi-protocol artifact registry built with Rust. · getnora.dev, 9 Oct 2026
- Proxy and cache
- NORA can transparently proxy upstream registries and cache artifacts locally. · getnora.dev, 9 Oct 2026
- Registry formats
- The documentation lists support for 13 formats, including Docker, Maven, npm, PyPI, Cargo, Go, and Raw. · getnora.dev, 9 Oct 2026
- Startup and footprint
- The documentation describes a single binary with no database or Java dependency, a startup time of about three seconds, and a binary under 23 MB. · getnora.dev, 9 Oct 2026
- Storage integration
- The maker lists AWS S3, Ceph RGW, and other S3-compatible backends for storage. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Support for air-gapped use
- NORA includes a mirror CLI for offline synchronization in air-gapped environments. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Where NORA stands on Freedom251
- Artifact repository software#26 of 64