Comparison
JustScale vs Inngest & Restate
Durable functions as a hosted service vs a framework primitive.
JustScale, Inngest, and Restate all make multi-step, long-running work durable, but they live at different layers. Inngest is an event-driven, largely hosted platform for durable step functions, popular in serverless setups where retries and step memoization are handled for you. Restate is a durable-execution runtime (a sidecar/server) that makes handlers durable. JustScale folds durability into the application framework itself: processes are plain async code, suspend on typed signals or timers, and persist to a database you already run, with no external service or runtime.
Choose Inngest or Restate when you want a dedicated, hosted (or sidecar) durable-function layer, especially in serverless or polyglot environments. Choose JustScale when you want durable workflows as a native part of a typed, DDD-oriented backend, sharing the same runtime, types, and database as the rest of your application.
JustScale vs Inngest & Restate at a glance
| Aspect | JustScale | Inngest & Restate |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment model | In your app; state in your database | Inngest: hosted/serverless event platform. Restate: durable runtime/sidecar |
| Programming model | Plain async code compiled to durable processes | Step functions / durable handlers via SDK |
| Triggering | Typed, path-based signals + HTTP/CLI/WS controllers | Events (Inngest) / durable RPC handlers (Restate) |
| Infrastructure | Database you already run | A hosted service or a separate runtime to operate |
| Domain integration | Shares DI, types, ID-free domain, and locks | External to your domain model |
| Languages | TypeScript | Multiple, depending on platform |
Choose JustScale when
- You want durable workflows native to a typed, domain-driven backend, not a separate service.
- You want a complete framework too — multi-transport controllers, auth, permissions, OpenAPI, and testing — alongside the durable layer.
- You prefer to keep durable state in a database you already operate.
- Signals, locks, and channels integrated with your domain are valuable to you.
Choose Inngest & Restate when
- You run serverless and want a hosted platform to manage retries and step state (Inngest).
- You want a language-agnostic durable runtime as a sidecar/server (Restate).
- You prefer an external durable layer decoupled from your application framework.
Switching from Inngest & Restate
- Inngest steps and Restate durable handlers become steps inside a JustScale process handler.
- Event triggers map to JustScale signals or controller routes.
- Built-in retries become explicit control flow or service-level retry policy inside the process.
- You drop the external platform/runtime; durable state moves into your database.
Frequently asked questions
Is JustScale hosted like Inngest?
No. JustScale runs inside your application and persists durable state to your own database. There is no hosted service to sign up for.
How does JustScale differ from Restate?
Restate is a language-agnostic durable runtime you operate alongside your app. JustScale builds durability into a TypeScript framework, sharing your types, DI, and database.