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Tool Comparison

Thrubit vs Serverless Framework
for Step Functions development

Serverless Framework is a powerful deployment tool. But when it comes to locally developing, testing, and debugging Step Functions workflows, it was never designed for that job. Here's an honest comparison of what each tool does and why they're solving different problems.

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Purpose-built for Step Functions Visual debugger — not log parsing Run workflows locally in under 2 minutes
The Short Answer

They're solving different problems and only one is built for local Step Functions dev.

Serverless Framework is a deployment and infrastructure-as-code tool. Thrubit is a local development environment built from the ground up for Step Functions. They're not the same category of tool you see the visual debugger, that becomes obvious.

Local dev & debugging
Thrubit
Visual debugger, real Lambda execution, Bedrock mock, 60+ prebuilt workflows, no Docker, no deployment step. Built specifically for developing and testing Step Functions on your local machine.
Deployment & IaC tool
Serverless Framework
Infrastructure-as-code and deployment tool for AWS, Azure, and GCP. Local Step Functions testing requires the third-party serverless-step-functions plugin with limited debugging support.
Side by Side

Full feature comparison

An honest look at what each tool supports for Step Functions development. Blue cells indicate Thrubit has a clear advantage for local workflow development.

Feature
Primary Purpose
Primary use case
Local Step Functions developmentRun, test, and debug state machines on your machine before you ever deploy.
Deployment & IaCDefine and deploy serverless infrastructure to AWS and other clouds. Local dev is a secondary capability via plugins.
Step Functions focus
Step Functions is the entire product — every feature is designed around it
Supported via serverless-step-functions community plugin — not a core feature
Setup & Installation
Installation
Download the desktop appDouble-click to open. Ready in under 2 minutes.
npm install + plugin setupInstall Node.js, Serverless Framework, configure serverless.yml, add and configure plugins for local Step Functions emulation.
Configuration to run first workflow
Point at your project folder. Done. Auto-discovery handles the rest.
Define state machines in serverless.yml, configure plugin, wire Lambda functions — then run sls offline start
AWS credentials required for local dev
No AWS account needed to run workflows locally
Required for deployment; local offline mode works without credentials for Lambda/Step Functions emulation
Step Functions Support
ASL execution (local)
Full Standard & Express supportAll state types: Task, Wait, Choice, Parallel, Map, Pass, Succeed, Fail, Catch, Retry
Via community pluginThe serverless-step-functions plugin supports common state types; complex workflows may have gaps
Visual state machine debugger
Built-in, real-timeWatch execution flow live on a visual graph. Click any state to inspect inputs, outputs, errors, and timing.
None — console log output only. No visual execution graph.
Real-time execution tracing
Step-by-step trace with timing, I/O, and state transitions as they happen
Terminal output only — no structured per-state tracing for Step Functions
60+ prebuilt workflow examples
Healthcare, fintech, logistics, AI, aerospace, e-commerce — ready to run locally on day one
No included Step Functions workflow library — you write the ASL from scratch
Lambda Execution
Local Lambda execution
Real code, instant executionYour actual Lambda code runs directly on your machine — no container, no emulation layer, no spin-up delay.
Via serverless-offline pluginRuns a local HTTP server that emulates Lambda. Works well for API Gateway-triggered functions; Step Functions invocations require additional wiring.
SAM template.yaml auto-discovery
Point at your SAM project; all Lambda functions auto-discovered with no config required
Uses its own serverless.yml format — SAM projects require migration or parallel config files
Lambda environment variables
Loaded from your project's env files or SAM template automatically
Configured in serverless.yml or via .env files with the dotenv plugin
AWS Service Mocking
Amazon Bedrock mock
10+ model families built inClaude, Titan, Llama, Mistral, Nova & more — correctly-shaped responses at zero cost
Not available — your Lambda must call real Bedrock or you write your own mock
SQS, EventBridge integration
Local SQS and EventBridge for Step Functions direct integrations
Available via serverless-offline and companion plugins (serverless-offline-sqs, etc.) — requires additional setup
Developer Experience
Native desktop app
macOS + Windows native app — no terminal required to run workflows
CLI-only — everything runs in your terminal via sls offline start
Open source
Commercial product — free trial, paid license
Open source core (MIT). Serverless Framework Pro/Cloud features are paid.
Pricing for local dev use
Free trial, flat per-developer licenseNo usage-based billing, no surprise costs, no feature tiers for core Step Functions features.
Free for local development use. Paid plans apply only to cloud dashboard features.
The Thrubit Edge

Where Thrubit leaves Serverless Framework behind for Step Functions work

Serverless Framework is excellent at what it does; deploying infrastructure. But Step Functions development requires a different kind of tool, and these are the areas where that gap is most visible.

Visual State Machine Debugger
Watch your execution flow live on an interactive graph. Click any state to inspect its input, output, errors, and timing. Serverless Framework gives you terminal output — Thrubit shows you exactly what's happening inside your workflow at every step.
Serverless Framework has no visual debugger for Step Functions. There's no way to see the execution graph as it runs.
No Framework Lock-in
Thrubit works with any project structure — SAM, CDK, or raw ASL files. You don't need to define your state machines in serverless.yml or migrate your existing project. Just point Thrubit at your code and it figures out the rest.
To use Serverless Framework's Step Functions support, you must define your state machines in serverless.yml — which means maintaining a parallel config if you use SAM or CDK.
Amazon Bedrock Mock — Built In
Running AI workflows with Step Functions? Thrubit intercepts every Bedrock call and returns correctly-shaped mock responses for 10+ model families — Claude, Titan, Llama, Mistral, Nova and more. Zero API cost, zero latency, 1-click toggle.
Serverless Framework has no Bedrock mock. For local AI workflow testing, your Lambda must call real Bedrock or you write custom mocking logic yourself.
Instant Lambda Execution
No HTTP server to spin up, no port to configure, no emulation overhead. Thrubit runs your actual Lambda code directly on your machine whenever a workflow state invokes it. Iterate in seconds, not minutes.
serverless-offline runs a local HTTP server that emulates API Gateway + Lambda. Step Functions invocations require additional plugin wiring and the emulation adds latency and complexity.
60+ Industry Workflow Examples
Thrubit ships with over 60 pre-built state machine workflows across healthcare, fintech, logistics, aerospace, AI, e-commerce, and more — each with ASL, Lambda functions, and sample inputs. Ready to run locally on day one.
Serverless Framework doesn't include a Step Functions workflow library. You start with an empty serverless.yml and write your own state machine definitions from scratch.
SAM Template Auto-Discovery
Point Thrubit at a SAM project and it automatically discovers all Lambda functions defined in your template.yaml — no migration to serverless.yml, no duplicate config files, no deployment step needed before you can test locally.
Serverless Framework uses its own config format. Existing SAM or CDK projects must be partially migrated or maintained with parallel configuration files to use Serverless Framework tooling alongside them.
Is Thrubit Right for You?

Thrubit is the right choice when…

Serverless Framework is a great deployment tool. But if local Step Functions development and debugging is your daily workflow, Thrubit will make every iteration faster.

Purpose-built Step Functions dev environment. Visual debugging. Local Lambda. No deployment required.
  • Step Functions is your primary orchestration tool
  • You want a visual debugger — not terminal log parsing
  • You're using SAM and don't want to maintain a parallel serverless.yml
  • You're building AI workflows using Amazon Bedrock
  • You need to iterate fast without a deploy-test-debug loop
  • You're teaching or demoing Step Functions to a team
  • You want pre-built workflows as a starting point
  • You're working fully offline or in a restricted network environment
Get Started with Thrubit

Up and running in under 2 minutes

No CLI setup. No YAML to write before your first run. No deployment step before you can test a workflow.

Download the desktop app

Download Thrubit for macOS or Windows. Double-click to install — it behaves like any other desktop application. No npm install, no CLI dependencies.

Point at your project

Open Preferences and point Thrubit at the folder containing your template.yaml or ASL files. It automatically discovers all Lambda functions and state machines — no config file required.

Import or create a state machine

Paste your ASL JSON, drag in a template from Thrubit's workflow library, or create a new state machine from scratch using the visual designer.

Run and debug visually

Click Run. Watch the execution trace live on the visual graph. Inspect each state's input, output, timing, and errors — exactly as it flows through your workflow. No deploy required.

Common Questions

Questions about Thrubit vs Serverless Framework

If your team already uses Serverless Framework and wonders how Thrubit fits in, here are the questions we hear most often.

Can I use Thrubit alongside Serverless Framework?
Yes — they complement each other well. Use Thrubit on your local machine to develop, test, and debug your Step Functions workflows with the visual debugger. When you're ready to ship, use Serverless Framework's sls deploy to push your Lambda functions and state machines to AWS. Many teams run this combination today.
Do I need to rewrite my serverless.yml to use Thrubit?
No. Thrubit works independently of your deployment configuration. Point it at your project folder and it discovers Lambda functions directly — no config migration needed. Your serverless.yml stays exactly as it is for deployment; Thrubit handles local development separately.
What about serverless-offline? Doesn't that handle local Step Functions?
serverless-offline emulates API Gateway and Lambda over HTTP — it's great for REST API development. Step Functions support requires the separate serverless-step-functions plugin, which provides basic local execution but no visual debugger, no real-time execution trace, and no Bedrock mock. Thrubit was built from the ground up specifically for that workflow.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. Download Thrubit and try it free — no credit card required. You'll see the visual debugger in action within two minutes of downloading.

See the visual debugger in 2 minutes

Download Thrubit and run your first Step Functions workflow locally — with the real-time visual debugger that Serverless Framework doesn't have. No Docker. No AWS account. No credit card. ZERO AWS costs.

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Loved by Users

What teams are saying

Real feedback from engineers, trainers and decision makers.

★★★★★

“Thrubit cut our Step Functions debugging cycle from 15 minutes per iteration down to seconds. The visual trace is worth the price alone. It’s become an essential part of our development workflow.”

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Kim V.
Software Engineer at Cozy Code Creations
★★★★★

“I was looking for ways to make Step Functions and Lambdas more tangible for students. Thrubit makes it significantly easier to visualize workflows and experiment locally, accelerating real understanding.”

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John L.
Certified AWS Trainer
★★★★★

“Thrubit saves us over $24k a year & protects us from surprise AWS bills. One rogue state machine once cost us 10x our typical month. With Thrubit, that risk is gone and our developers iterate faster.”

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Lisa H.
Co-Owner at WordHerd
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