Developer Edition — Installation Guide
This guide installs the free Developer Edition. Looking for the licensed production runtime? See the Enterprise Installation Guide.
StrataBI Developer Edition runs entirely in your own AWS account. Your dashboards, application data, and deployed AWS resources remain in your AWS account — StrataBI does not require a hosted StrataBI SaaS account.
From an AWS-ready machine to a live dashboard in about 15 minutes. Creating a new AWS account and configuring credentials for the first time may take longer.
Heads up — real AWS resources, real (small) costs. StrataBI provisions actual AWS services in your account, and AWS bills you directly. The Developer Edition uses serverless, usage-based services (Athena, Lambda, S3, DynamoDB), so evaluation costs are generally low — but actual charges depend on region and usage. Estimate with the AWS Pricing Calculator and see the cost FAQ. Shaleio has no visibility into or control over your AWS bill.
Quick links: Cost FAQ · License · Troubleshooting · Uninstall · GitHub
Fast path (experienced AWS users)
You have Python 3.11+, an AWS account with working credentials, and OpenTofu (or Terraform) installed:
pipx install stratabi stratactl
aws sts get-caller-identity # verify credentials
stratactl --profile <profile> --region <region> bootstrap --run --yes
stratactl --profile <profile> --region <region> dev install
stratactl --profile <profile> --region <region> dev configure-local
stratabi # http://127.0.0.1:8050New to any of this? Follow the full guide below — every layer is walked through, and you can skip any section whose "check" command already passes.
1. Python 3.11+
Check: python --version (or python3 --version). If it's 3.11–3.14, skip to §2.
- Windows:
winget install Python.Python.3.12, or the python.org installer — check "Add python.exe to PATH." - macOS:
brew install python@3.12(via Homebrew) — or the python.org installer. - Linux (Debian/Ubuntu):
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y python3 python3-pip python3-venv
2. pipx
pipx installs command-line apps in isolated environments so they never conflict with your other Python packages. Check: pipx --version — if present, skip to §3.
- Windows:
py -m pip install --user pipxthenpy -m pipx ensurepath, and reopen your terminal. - macOS:
brew install pipxthenpipx ensurepath. - Debian/Ubuntu:
sudo apt install -y pipxthenpipx ensurepath. - Docs: pipx.pypa.io.
3. Install StrataBI + StrataCTL
pipx install stratabi # the Developer Edition runtime (the app)
pipx install stratactl # the installer/orchestrator (provisions your AWS data plane)Verify: stratabi --version and stratactl --version. Upgrade later with pipx upgrade stratabi / pipx upgrade stratactl.
4. AWS account + credentials
StrataBI deploys into your AWS account. Check: aws sts get-caller-identity — if it prints your Account ID and an ARN, credentials work; skip to §5.
4a. No AWS account yet?
Create one at aws.amazon.com → Create an AWS Account. See the cost FAQ before you start.
4b. Install the AWS CLI
Check: aws --version. If present, skip to 4c.
- Windows: run the MSI — awscli.amazonaws.com/AWSCLIV2.msi
- macOS:
brew install awscli(or the official pkg) - Linux:
curl "https://awscli.amazonaws.com/awscli-exe-linux-x86_64.zip" -o awscliv2.zip && unzip awscliv2.zip && sudo ./aws/install - Docs: AWS CLI install guide.
4c. Get credentials
Recommended (organizations / production) — IAM Identity Center (SSO). Browser-based, short-lived credentials; nothing long-lived to leak.
- In the AWS console, enable IAM Identity Center, create a user, and assign it access to your account (e.g. AdministratorAccess or a scoped role).
- Configure and log in on your machine:
``bash aws configure sso # enter the SSO start URL + region shown in the console; name the profile e.g. "stratabi" aws sso login --profile stratabi ``
Fallback — IAM access keys (personal accounts). Simpler for a personal account; not for shared/production use.
- AWS console → IAM → Users → create a user → attach AdministratorAccess (or a scoped policy).
- Select the user → Security credentials → Create access key → Command Line Interface (CLI) → copy the key ID + secret.
aws configure— paste the key ID + secret, set a region, outputjson.
Never create or use root-account access keys. Use an IAM user or SSO. Treat any secret key like a password; never commit it or paste it into chats.
4d. Region & verify
Set a default region (e.g. us-east-1) during aws configure, or export it:
# Windows (cmd): set AWS_DEFAULT_REGION=us-east-1
# macOS/Linux: export AWS_DEFAULT_REGION=us-east-1Then confirm: aws sts get-caller-identity should print your Account ID.
5. OpenTofu
StrataCTL supports OpenTofu by default and can also use a compatible Terraform installation. Check: tofu -version (or terraform -version) — if present, skip to §6.
- Windows:
winget install OpenTofu.Tofu,scoop install opentofu, or the zip from opentofu.org/docs/intro/install (puttofu.exeon PATH). - macOS:
brew install opentofu. - Linux:
curl -fsSL https://get.opentofu.org/install-opentofu.sh | sh, or your package manager.
6. Deploy the data plane
stratactl --profile stratabi --region us-east-1 bootstrap --run --yes # one-time: StrataCI
stratactl --profile stratabi --region us-east-1 dev install # deploy the data plane
stratactl --profile stratabi --region us-east-1 dev configure-local # write a non-secret .envThis creates a small serverless data plane (S3, Athena, Glue, DynamoDB, two Lambdas) plus a lightweight CodeBuild runner + IAM. dev configure-local writes the STRATABI_* settings + region/profile into a local .env (no AWS keys). --profile/--region may appear anywhere in the command.
7. Run StrataBI
stratabi --check # preflight: dependencies, AWS creds/region, settings — should be all [ok]
stratabi # serves http://127.0.0.1:8050Open http://127.0.0.1:8050 — the Builder authors dashboards, the Dashboard page runs them.
8. Your first dashboard
stratactl --profile stratabi --region us-east-1 dashboards push getting-started.json # a sample
stratactl --profile stratabi --region us-east-1 dev demo install # or the ForgeWorks datasetRefresh the app — your dashboard is live.
Uninstall
Everything lives in your account, so teardown is under your control:
stratactl --profile stratabi --region us-east-1 dev demo remove # if you loaded ForgeWorks
stratactl --profile stratabi --region us-east-1 dev uninstall # StrataBI data plane
stratactl --profile stratabi --region us-east-1 bootstrap --destroy # StrataCI itselfbootstrap --destroyapplies only if you provisioned StrataCI with the built-in pipeline (stratactl bootstrap --run). If you deployed the runner with your own Terraform/OpenTofu, tear it down the same way you built it (tofu destroy).
The uninstall commands are designed to remove all StrataBI-managed resources; StrataCTL reports anything AWS prevents it from deleting. Enabling S3 versioning and reviewing the resource list before teardown is good practice.
Troubleshooting
stratabi --checkis the primary troubleshooting command — it names any missing
dependency, credential, region, or STRATABI_* setting.
NoRegionError→ setAWS_DEFAULT_REGION. "Unable to locate credentials" →
aws sso login or aws configure. tofu: not found → §5.
Trust & transparency
- What's created: an S3 bucket, Athena workgroups, a Glue database, a few DynamoDB
tables, two Lambdas, and a CodeBuild runner + IAM — all serverless, all deployed as OpenTofu you can read.
- Where data lives: in your account only. StrataBI queries your S3 via Athena/Lambda
under your IAM.
- Cost: usage-based; AWS bills you directly. See the cost FAQ.
- Credentials: your own AWS profile/SSO — StrataBI never receives or stores AWS keys.
- Telemetry: the Developer Edition does not phone home and works air-gapped.
- Uninstall: the commands above; you own the resources.
- License: source-available under the SGCL — read/run/modify for your own use; see the license FAQ.
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