OpenTAP

What OpenTAP does

OpenTAP is an open source test automation platform launched in 2018 and managed by Keysight Technologies' OpenTAP team, providing a cross-platform test sequencer for hardware and software testing across R&D, manufacturing, and quality assurance. The platform is built on the .NET runtime and operates under the Mozilla Public License v.2, supporting Windows, Linux, and macOS. Its core product set includes the OpenTAP Core Engine, a Command Line Interface for plugin installation, and a Package Manager for ecosystem plugin distribution; the offering is extended by an SDK, official Docker images, an SCPI instrument-control plugin, and a Python plugin that enables test-step authoring in Python via Python.NET.

The technology architecture is modular and plugin-oriented, allowing third parties to build drivers for SCPI-based instruments, result listeners for data capture and formatting, and custom user interfaces. Community contributors assign copyright to Keysight via a Contributor License Agreement (CLA), which centralizes governance while preserving an open source community workflow. The platform has been deployed across telecommunications, automotive, consumer electronics, aerospace, medical devices, networking, and wireless communications, with use cases spanning early simulation and prototyping through high-volume manufacturing test.

The business model is open source at the core: the engine, CLI, SDK, and Package Manager are free downloads with no licensing fee. Commercial monetization occurs only through Keysight's PathWave Test Automation offering, which provides enterprise-grade support, SLAs, and professional services for the same engine. Go-to-market is community-led via documentation, blog, forum, YouTube, and newsletter channels, with no proprietary sales force for the open source product; enterprise customers are routed to Keysight's commercial channel. Pricing on the commercial tier is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, and no standalone revenue, ARR, or funding data are available for the project itself.

Name

OpenTAP

Legal name

OpenTAP (managed by Keysight Technologies, Inc.)

Website

https://opentap.io

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

OpenTAP is an open source, cross-platform test automation sequencer launched by Keysight Technologies, serving test engineers in telecommunications, automotive, consumer electronics, and other manufacturing verticals with a plugin-extensible .NET architecture and free MPL v.2 licensing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Test Automation Software

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Other Computer Related Services (541519)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Enterprise Application Testing & QA Services (BPAEAGAI)

Keywords

• Test automation software
• Open source test sequencer
• Hardware test automation
• Test orchestration platform
• Test and measurement tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Aalborg

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Open Source Software (Community): OpenTAP core engine and plugins are freely available under Mozilla Public License v.2. The open source community model drives adoption and ecosystem growth without direct revenue from the core software.
2. Commercial Support (Keysight): Commercial support available through Keysight Technologies for enterprise customers requiring dedicated technical support, SLAs, and professional services via Keysight PathWave Test Automation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

OpenTAP provides a cross-platform, open source test automation platform built on .NET, including a core test sequencing engine, a command line interface, and a Package Manager for plugin management. The platform supports hardware and software test automation across R&D, prototyping, and high-volume manufacturing, and is extended through a modular plugin SDK with officially supported Python and SCPI plugins. Commercial customers access a supported derivative, Keysight PathWave Test Automation, for enterprise deployments.

Product overview

OpenTAP is an open source test automation platform consisting of a core test sequencing engine, command line interface, and Package Manager. The core engine is built on the .NET Platform and provides sequencing functionality for hardware and software test automation across all product lifecycle phases. The platform supports plugin extensibility through an SDK, with officially supported plugins including a Python Plugin for Python-based development and an SCPI Plugin for instrument control. Commercial support is available through Keysight's PathWave Test Automation product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• OpenTAP Core Engine Cross-platform test sequencer for hardware and software test automation, supporting all phases of the product lifecycle from early simulation and prototyping through high-volume manufacturing. Released under the Mozilla Public License v.2 as the foundational open source component of the OpenTAP platform.
• OpenTAP SDK Software development kit for building OpenTAP plugins, including TestSteps, Instruments, DUTs, ResultListeners, and ComponentSettings, available with the OpenTAP Developer's System bundle.
• OpenTAP Docker Images Containerized Docker images for running OpenTAP, including a development image (~2.5GB) with all build tools and a production image (~330MB) with only runtime dependencies.
• OpenTAP Python Plugin Officially supported plugin enabling developers to create OpenTAP TestSteps, Instruments, DUTs, ResultListeners, and ComponentSettings in Python using IDEs such as PyCharm, by accessing the OpenTAP API through Python.NET.
• OpenTAP SCPI Plugin Plugin exposing the OpenTap.IScpiInstrument API for interfacing with SCPI-enabled test and measurement instruments, enabling instrument drivers and automated instrument communication.
• PathWave Test Automation Keysight's commercial extension of OpenTAP providing additional features and dedicated technical support, SLAs, and professional services for enterprise customers running production-grade automated test.

Quantifiable outcome

• Faster time-to-market for demanding tech segments

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Keysight TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKeysight Technologies launched OpenTAP and continues to manage the project through its OpenTAP team. Keysight provides commercial support via PathWave Test Automation (commercial version of OpenTAP) and contributes to the open source development. The relationship includes copyright assignment via Contributor License Agreement (CLA).
• OpenTAP Community ContributorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity developers contribute plugins, documentation, bug fixes, and feature enhancements to the OpenTAP ecosystem. Contributors retain copyright via CLA assignment to Keysight.
• OEMs, ISVs, and IntegratorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVarious OEMs, independent software vendors, and system integrators contribute to and participate in the OpenTAP ecosystem.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Instruments (NI): NI (now part of Emerson) is the dominant proprietary test automation platform with LabVIEW and TestStand. It directly competes with OpenTAP for hardware/software test sequencing workflows across electronics, aerospace, and automotive test engineers.
• dSPACE: Specialist in automotive simulation and test automation (HIL/SIL). Directly comparable to OpenTAP's automotive electronics testing use case, with strong enterprise relationships and integrated toolchains.
• LDRA: Software testing and code quality toolchain for embedded and safety-critical applications. Comparable to OpenTAP's QA engineering persona, particularly for verification workflows in aerospace, medical, and automotive software.
• Parasoft: Automated software testing platform covering unit, API, and functional testing. Adjacent competitor for the software side of OpenTAP's hardware/software combined test automation workflows.
• Marvin Test Solutions: Provider of PXI-based test solutions and test executive software for military, aerospace, and manufacturing. Comparable to OpenTAP for instrument-driven functional test, though typically deployed in more regulated, mission-critical workflows.
• Vector Informatik: Provider of test automation tools for automotive ECU development, HIL, and validation. Comparable to OpenTAP's automotive use cases, with deep vertical specialization and a strong installed base among OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.

Broad incumbents

• Anritsu: Test and measurement vendor with proprietary automation tooling focused on wireless, optical, and electronics test. Comparable to OpenTAP's telecom and consumer electronics test use cases.
• Keysight Technologies: OpenTAP's parent and the commercial steward via PathWave Test Automation. Keysight's broader instrument portfolio and software stack overlap with OpenTAP's use cases, but Keysight operates across a much wider product surface than the open source sequencer itself.
• Pickering Interfaces: Provider of modular switching and simulation instruments used inside PXI/LXI test systems. Comparable to OpenTAP in functional test architecture and often deployed alongside open or proprietary sequencers.
• Rohde & Schwarz: Major T&M vendor with proprietary test automation software (sequencer and scripting environments) integrated with its instruments. Comparable to OpenTAP in wireless, aerospace, and automotive test workflows but with a closed, instrument-tied stack.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCPVG-eaRTg9pZ063LnjvnFg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/opentap
• Xx.com/OpenTAPproj

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about OpenTAP