Runway Overview
Runway is a DevOps automation platform designed to streamline mobile app development and deployment processes. It provides a centralized hub for managing releases, automating workflows, and facilitating collaboration between development and operations teams, ultimately accelerating the app delivery pipeline.
Key Features of Runway
- Release Management: Centralize and automate the entire release process, from planning to deployment.
- Workflow Automation: Create custom workflows to automate repetitive tasks and processes.
- Collaboration Tools: Facilitate communication and coordination between team members with integrated chat and task management features.
- CI/CD Integration: Seamlessly integrate with popular CI/CD tools to enhance your existing pipelines.
- Analytics and Reporting: Generate insights on release performance and team productivity through comprehensive dashboards and reports.
What Makes Runway Unique
- Mobile-First Approach: Specifically designed for mobile app development, addressing unique challenges in iOS and Android ecosystems.
- No-Code Automation: Enables non-technical team members to create and manage complex workflows without coding skills.
- App Store Optimization: Built-in tools for managing app store metadata, screenshots, and release notes across multiple app stores.
- Release Train Model: Supports the implementation of release trains, allowing for more predictable and manageable release cycles.
- Cross-Platform Synchronization: Ensures consistency across iOS and Android releases, reducing discrepancies and improving overall app quality.
Is Runway Right for Me?
Runway is ideal for mobile app development teams looking to streamline their release processes and improve collaboration between developers, QA, and operations. It's particularly valuable for organizations managing multiple apps or working with cross-platform development, where coordination and consistency are crucial.
Signs You Need Runway
Your release process is manual and error-prone
- Frequent release delays due to human error
- Inconsistent release processes across teams or platforms
- Difficulty tracking release status and progress
When Runway Isn’t the Right Fit
You're primarily developing web applications
- Not focused on mobile app development
- No need for app store management features
Customizing Runway
- Custom Workflows: Create tailored automation workflows specific to your team's needs and processes.
- Integrations: Connect Runway with your existing tools and services through built-in integrations or API.
- Role-Based Access Control: Configure user roles and permissions to match your team structure and security requirements.
- Customizable Dashboards: Build personalized dashboards to monitor the metrics and KPIs most relevant to your team.
- Notification Settings: Set up custom notification rules to keep team members informed about relevant events and updates.
Is Runway Worth It?
Runway is worth it for product and engineering teams looking to streamline their release processes specifically for mobile applications. Its ability to automate workflows, provide visibility into release progress, and integrate with existing tools can significantly boost productivity and reduce errors in software delivery. For small teams with simple release processes or building web applications, Runway's specialized features is likely not a good fit.
How Much Does Runway Cost?
Pricing is one of the most important evaluation factors when buying software. We have pricing
insights contributed by current and former customers of Runway to help you make the
best purchasing decision for your use case.
Competitors to Runway
| Vendor | Reasons to Consider | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Instabug | Strong focus on bug reporting and user feedback for mobile apps | Teams prioritizing in-app user feedback and crash reporting |
| Fastlane | Powerful set of command-line tools for automating mobile app deployment | Development teams comfortable with scripting and command-line interfaces |
| Bitrise | Comprehensive mobile-focused CI/CD platform with extensive integrations | Teams looking for a full-featured mobile CI/CD solution with advanced build configurations |
| CircleCI | Versatile CI/CD platform supporting various development environments | Teams working on both mobile and web applications, requiring flexibility in their CI/CD setup |
| Microsoft App Center | Integrated platform for building, testing, and distributing mobile apps | Teams deeply integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem or using Xamarin for cross-platform development |
Open Source Alternatives to Runway
| Projects | Reasons to Consider | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Jenkins | Highly customizable automation server with extensive plugin ecosystem | Teams with strong technical expertise, requiring flexible and customizable CI/CD pipelines |
| GitLab CI/CD | Integrated CI/CD solution within the GitLab ecosystem | Organizations already using GitLab for source control and project management |