⚡ Executive Summary & Quick Facts
Authoritative SourceCTFd is CTFd is an open-source project written in Python: CTFs as you need them..
| Repository | CTFd/CTFd ↗ |
|---|---|
| Primary Category | ctf |
| Language & Stack | Python |
| Software License | Apache-2.0 |
| Community Traction | ★ 6.9K stars · ⑂ 2.8K forks · #1,974 globally |
| Maintenance | ● Active (Last commit: Oct 26, 2026) · 438 open issues |
| Target Audience | Developers and engineering teams building with Python, seeking reliable, tested, and actively maintained tooling for production workloads. |
Star History
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+172
STARS · LAST 30 DAYS
6
PER DAY
#316
MOST-STARRED Python
| Window | 7 days | 30 days | 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stars gained | +42 | +172 | +540 |
| Per day | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Forks gained | +14 | +56 | +139 |
CTFd gained 172 stars in the last 30 days, about 6 a day, and now has 6.9K. It is about 12 years old and has averaged roughly 574 stars a year. It ranks #316 among Python repositories and #1,974 across all languages on GitHubRepo.
Trending Record
2
DAYS ON TRENDING
#6471
BEST RANK
Oct 26, 2026
FIRST APPEARANCE
Active
STATUS TODAY
CTFd has maintained a continuous presence across global trending indexes, peaking at #6471. Below is the 30-day activity profile:
💡 Overview
CTFd is an open-source project written in Python: CTFs as you need them.
Engineered for speed, consistency, and developer ease, it solves common hurdles in ctf, ctfd, education. It provides clear interfaces, comprehensive configuration options, and seamless integration with existing tools across the modern development stack.
⚡ Key Features
Optimized execution pipeline written in Python for predictable speed.
Zero-friction configuration with comprehensive sensible defaults out of the box.
Cross-platform runtime support across Linux, macOS, and Windows environments.
Strong typing and modular architecture designed for easy extension and maintainability.
Standardized CLI and API interfaces for smooth integration into CI/CD workflows.
Active community maintenance with regular dependency updates and security patches.
📥 Installation
$ pip install CTFd⚙ System Requirements
Platforms
- • macOS
- • Linux
- • Windows
Runtime & Dependencies
Python >= 3.9, pip, virtualenv
Architecture
x86_64, ARM64 (Apple Silicon & Graviton)
🧠 How It Works
CTFd coordinates its core functionality through a modular Python pipeline. It parses configuration parameters, validates inputs, and resolves dependencies asynchronously. By minimizing runtime overhead and keeping allocations localized, it delivers predictable performance in both local development environments and automated production workloads.
🎯 Production Use Cases
Production System Integration
Embed CTFd into Python backend services to handle core application logic.
CI/CD Automated Pipelines
Run automated validation, builds, and integration suites during deployments.
Developer Tooling & Workflows
Accelerate developer onboarding with pre-configured project utilities.
Open Source Extension
Fork and customize internal modules under the repository's open Apache-2.0 license.
🚀 Getting Started
Install CTFd using your package manager: `pip install CTFd`
Initialize your project workspace or configuration file for CTFd.
Import CTFd into your codebase or invoke it directly from your terminal.
Execute your test suite or run `CTFd --help` to verify successful setup.
👍 Strengths
⚠️ Considerations
⇄ Alternatives & Direct Competitors
👥 Who Should Use This
Developers and engineering teams building with Python, seeking reliable, tested, and actively maintained tooling for production workloads.
🏆 Nearby in the Rankings
CTFd/CTFd is currently ranked #1,974 by stars across every repository tracked on GitHubRepo. These are adjacent projects:
| Rank | Repository | Language | Stars | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1,969 | hyperf/hyperf | PHP | ★ 6.9K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,969 | external-secrets/external-secrets | Go | ★ 6.9K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,969 | joe-bell/cva | TypeScript | ★ 6.9K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,972 | rabbitmq/rabbitmq-tutorials | Java | ★ 6.9K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,973 | libp2p/go-libp2p | Go | ★ 6.9K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,974 | CTFd/CTFd This Project | Python | ★ 6.9K | |
| #1,975 | sqldelight/sqldelight | Kotlin | ★ 6.9K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,976 | pallets/werkzeug | Python | ★ 6.9K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,977 | flexprice/flexprice | Go | ★ 6.9K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,978 | nodejs/nodejs.org | TypeScript | ★ 6.9K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,979 | jstedfast/MailKit | C# | ★ 6.9K | Compare ↗ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does CTFd do? +
CTFs as you need them
What language is CTFd written in? +
The primary language is Python. Topics include: ctf, ctfd, education, flask, security.
Is CTFd actively maintained? +
Yes, the last recorded push was on Oct 26, 2026 with 438 open issues being tracked.
How many stars does CTFd have? +
CTFd has 6,893 stars and 2,784 forks on GitHub.
How does CTFd rank among GitHub repositories? +
With 6,893 stars, CTFd/CTFd is ranked #1,974 globally across all repositories tracked on GitHubRepo and #316 among Python projects.
What license is CTFd distributed under? +
The repository reports a Apache-2.0 license. Always verify the repository LICENSE file for legal terms.
