vacuum review
A focused open-source CLI for API linting, reports, documentation, and CI workflows.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
vacuum is an open-source command-line tool and Go library for developers and API teams that need automated quality checks for API specifications. It covers OpenAPI, AsyncAPI 3, and JSON Schema, with support for Spectral-compatible rulesets and validation rules. The product fits teams that want lightweight, repeatable checks during local development or in pipeline-based workflows rather than a hosted API design workspace.
Its strongest area is the breadth of quality work available from a focused tool. Alongside linting, vacuum supports OpenAPI documentation generation, bundling, overlays, an interactive console dashboard, and offline HTML reports. That combination gives teams several ways to inspect specifications and share results while keeping the workflow close to source files and automation. Language-server integration also connects API quality checks with development environments, while CI/CD installation and GitHub Actions support make pipeline validation a practical fit.
The open-source model suits teams that prefer a local toolchain and want to incorporate API checks into existing engineering processes. Its published platform coverage is macOS, Linux, and API workflows, and its integration set is narrower than a broader hosted API design platform. Teams looking for a centralized workspace, wider platform coverage, or a larger ecosystem should consider an alternative. Developers who value command-line control, specification-focused linting, generated reports, and Git-based automation should pick vacuum.
vacuum pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Supports OpenAPI, AsyncAPI 3, and JSON Schema linting
- Generates documentation, dashboards, and offline HTML reports
- Includes bundling, overlays, language-server, and GitHub Actions support
- Where it doesn't
- Primarily a local CLI and Go library, not a hosted workspace
- Platform coverage centers on macOS, Linux, and API workflows
- Its broader integration coverage is narrower than larger platforms
vacuum fact sheet, pricing and score →
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