> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://rudderlabs.gitbook.io/rudderlabs-1/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://rudderlabs.gitbook.io/rudderlabs-1/docs/rudderstack-open-source/index.md).

# RudderStack Open Source

Overview of how to set up the open source RudderStack in your development environment.

Follow the guides in this section if you want to set up RudderStack in your preferred development environment.

The [RudderStack backend](https://github.com/rudderlabs/rudder-server) is written in Go, with a simple React.js UI to manage your sources, destinations, and the connections between them.

## Overview

Installing and setting up open source RudderStack involves the following steps:

Setting up the control plane to manage your source and destination configurations.

[ Control Plane Setup](https://rudderstack.com/docs/rudderstack-open-source/control-plane-lite/)

Setting up the data plane(backend) for RudderStack to track, process, and route the events.

[ Data Plane Setup](https://rudderstack.com/docs/rudderstack-open-source/installing-and-setting-up-rudderstack/)

Sending test events to verify your RudderStack installation.

[ Sending Test Events](https://rudderstack.com/docs/rudderstack-open-source/installing-and-setting-up-rudderstack/sending-test-events/)

## FAQ

### Do I need to sign up for an account to set up open source RudderStack?

Signing up for [RudderStack Open Source](https://app.rudderstack.com/signup?type=opensource) is the easiest way to set up and manage your data pipelines. The web app is only used for source/destination configuration and does not have access to your data. It also provides a [Live Events](https://www.rudderstack.com/docs/rudderstack-cloud/live-events/) feature for debugging purposes, only for a limited time.

**RudderStack does not persist any of your data**.

However, if you do not wish to sign up for RudderStack and want to self-host the source/destination configurations, you can use the open source [Control Plane Lite](https://rudderstack.com/docs/rudderstack-open-source/control-plane-lite/) utility. To set up the RudderStack server (backend) in your own environment, follow the steps listed in the [Data Plane Setup](https://rudderstack.com/docs/rudderstack-open-source/installing-and-setting-up-rudderstack) guide.

The control plane set up using Control Plane Lite does not have features like [Transformations](https://rudderstack.com/docs/transformations) and [Live Events](https://www.rudderstack.com/docs/rudderstack-cloud/live-events/).

### What is a data plane URL? Where do I get it?

For routing and processing the events to the RudderStack backend, a **data plane URL** is required.

Refer to the [RudderStack Architecture](https://rudderstack.com/docs/get-started/rudderstack-architecture) guide for more information the RudderStack data plane.

If you're using open source RudderStack, you are required to set up your own data plane by [installing and setting up RudderStack](https://rudderstack.com/docs/rudderstack-open-source/installing-and-setting-up-rudderstack) in your preferred environment.

An open source RudderStack data plane URL typically looks like `http:localhost:8080`, where `8080` is the port where your RudderStack data plane is hosted.

## Contact us

For more information on any of the sections covered in this guide, you can [contact us](mailto:%20docs@rudderstack.com) or start a conversation in our [Slack](https://rudderstack.com/join-rudderstack-slack-community) community.