Comparison with other open source tools¶
SPRUCE is part of a growing ecosystem of open source tools focused on measuring and reducing the environmental impact of cloud computing. This page compares SPRUCE with other notable open source projects in this space.
Cloud Carbon Footprint (CCF)¶
Cloud Carbon Footprint is an open source tool that provides cloud carbon emissions estimates.
Note: Cloud Carbon Footprint is no longer actively maintained. As a result, its data and methodology may be outdated. SPRUCE implements CCF's core methodology but with actively maintained data sources and models.
Similarities¶
- Both tools estimate the carbon footprint of cloud usage
- Both support AWS (as well as GCP and Azure for CCF)
- Both use comparable methodologies for calculating operational emissions
- Both are open source and transparent about their calculation methods
- SPRUCE implements several modules based on CCF's methodology (see Cloud Carbon Footprint modules)
Key Differences¶
| Feature | SPRUCE | Cloud Carbon Footprint |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Apache Spark-based for scalable data processing | Node.js application with web dashboard |
| Data Processing | Batch processing of Cost and Usage Reports (CUR) in Parquet format | Real-time API calls to cloud providers |
| Primary Use Case | Enrichment of existing usage reports for GreenOps + FinOps | Standalone dashboard for carbon tracking |
| Deployment | Runs on-premises or in the cloud (e.g., EMR) without exposing data | Requires credentials to query cloud provider APIs |
| Data Privacy | Processes data locally, no external API calls for core functionality | Requires cloud provider credentials |
| Modularity | Highly modular with configurable enrichment pipelines | Fixed calculation pipeline with configuration options |
| Output | Enriched Parquet/CSV files for custom analytics and visualization | Pre-built dashboard and recommendations |
| Embodied Carbon | Includes embodied emissions via Boavizta integration | Limited embodied carbon estimates |
| Scalability | Designed for large-scale data processing with Apache Spark | Suitable for smaller to medium deployments |
| Carbon Intensity | Uses Ember average data | Default factors outdated |
| Maintenance Status | Actively maintained with regular updates | No longer actively maintained |
| Complexity | Easy to run on Docker | Challenging to set up |
When to Choose SPRUCE¶
- You want to combine GreenOps and FinOps data in a single workflow
- You need to process large volumes of historical CUR data
- You prefer to keep your usage data within your own infrastructure
- You want to build custom dashboards and reports with tools like DuckDB, Tableau, or PowerBI
- You need fine-grained control over the calculation methodology through configurable modules
- You want access to data at the lowest-possible granularity and control what gets displayed and how
CloudScanner¶
CloudScanner is an open source tool by Boavizta that focuses on estimating the environmental impact of cloud resources.
Similarities¶
- Both tools estimate the environmental impact of cloud usage
- Both are open source and transparent about their methodologies
- Both can work with AWS cloud resources
- Both use data from the BoaviztAPI
Key Differences¶
| Feature | SPRUCE | CloudScanner |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Enrichment of Cost and Usage Reports (CUR) for GreenOps + FinOps | Direct resource scanning for environmental impact |
| Architecture | Apache Spark-based batch processing | Direct API-based resource scanning |
| Data Source | Cost and Usage Reports (CUR) in Parquet/CSV format | Live cloud resource inventory via cloud provider APIs |
| Scope | Focuses on AWS CUR data enrichment | Limited to EC2 |
| Integration | Enriches existing billing data for FinOps alignment | Standalone tool for environmental assessment |
| Scalability | Designed for large-scale historical data processing | Suitable for periodic resource audits |
| Output | Enriched reports in Parquet/CSV for custom analytics | Prometheus metrics and Grafana dashboard |
| Accuracy | Uses Ember intensity factors | Uses outdated factors from BoaviztAPI |
When to Choose SPRUCE¶
- You want to combine environmental impact with cost data from CUR reports
- You need to process large volumes of historical usage data
- You prefer batch processing over real-time scanning
- You want fine-grained control through configurable enrichment modules
- You need to integrate with existing FinOps workflows
- You want more accurate estimates and coverage beyond EC2
Other Related Tools¶
Kepler (Kubernetes Efficient Power Level Exporter)¶
Kepler is a CNCF project that exports energy-related metrics from Kubernetes clusters.
Key difference: Kepler focuses on real-time power consumption metrics at the container/pod level using eBPF, while SPRUCE focuses on enriching historical cost reports with carbon estimates at the service level.
Scaphandre¶
Scaphandre is a power consumption monitoring agent that can export metrics to various monitoring systems.
Key difference: Scaphandre provides real-time power measurements at the host/process level, while SPRUCE provides carbon estimates based on cloud usage patterns and billing data.
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