NETCONF vs OpenConfig

Developers should learn NETCONF when working in network automation, SDN, or DevOps for network infrastructure, as it enables programmatic configuration and management of network devices, reducing manual errors and improving efficiency meets developers should learn openconfig when working in network automation, devops for networking (netdevops), or managing large-scale, heterogeneous network infrastructures. Here's our take.

NETCONF

Nice Pick

Developers should learn NETCONF when working in network automation, SDN, or DevOps for network infrastructure, as it enables programmatic configuration and management of network devices, reducing manual errors and improving efficiency

Pros

• It is particularly useful in scenarios requiring automated provisioning, configuration backups, or integration with orchestration tools like Ansible or SaltStack
• Related to: yang, restconf

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

OpenConfig

Developers should learn OpenConfig when working in network automation, DevOps for networking (NetDevOps), or managing large-scale, heterogeneous network infrastructures

Pros

• It's essential for automating configuration, telemetry collection, and operational tasks in modern networks using tools like Ansible, Python scripts, or custom applications, reducing vendor lock-in and improving interoperability
• Related to: yang, gnmi

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. NETCONF is a protocol while OpenConfig is a concept. We picked NETCONF based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

NETCONF wins

Based on overall popularity. NETCONF is more widely used, but OpenConfig excels in its own space.