Author: Ian Farrer, StratoWeave project lead
For many of us working in network and service automation, one challenge has remained surprisingly persistent: how do we make operating complex networks simpler without sacrificing flexibility, scale, or control?
After years of working across network and service automation use cases, that question led us to build StratoWeave. Today, I’m excited to introduce StratoWeave, a new open source project under LF Networking focused on declarative, closed-loop automation for networks and services.
StratoWeave represents years of learning, iteration, and practical experience operating and automating increasingly complex environments. As networks become more distributed, cloud native, and dynamic, operators need a different approach. One that allows teams to focus less on managing individual configuration steps and more on defining the outcomes they want to achieve.
That philosophy became the foundation for StratoWeave.
Why We Built StratoWeave
Traditional automation approaches often place too much burden on operators to define not only what they want, but how every change should happen. As environments scale across technologies, vendors, and domains, that operational complexity compounds quickly.
With StratoWeave, we wanted to create a platform that enables teams to define the desired end state while allowing the platform to determine how to reach and maintain that state over time.
Our goal is simple: make robust network automation more accessible, transparent, and adaptable.
What StratoWeave Brings
The initial StratoWeave release introduces a foundation for model-driven, declarative network and service orchestration.
Highlights include:
- Model-driven, declarative orchestration designed for networks and services, allowing operators to define intended outcomes instead of procedural workflows
- Closed-loop lifecycle management that continuously configures, monitors, and reconciles service and device state to identify and resolve changes quickly
- Layered service models that simplify large-scale operations and reduce complexity across deployments
- Transform-based lifecycle automation to manage provisioning, updates, monitoring, and operational consistency
- Built-in automation code library with integrations for common operator services and supported platforms including Cisco IOS-XR, Cisco IOS-XE, JUNOS, and Nokia SR Linux
- Vendor-agnostic architecture designed to evolve alongside changing infrastructure requirements and operational models
From the beginning, our focus has been to create something practical. A platform that teams can start using quickly while remaining flexible enough to support future innovation.
Open Source and Community Matter
One of the reasons we’re excited to bring StratoWeave into LF Networking is the opportunity to grow this work in an open and collaborative environment.
Network automation is becoming increasingly interconnected with cloud native infrastructure, GitOps workflows, and AI-enabled operations. Building openly creates opportunities to learn faster, integrate more broadly, and reduce the friction that often slows innovation.
We see strong opportunities to collaborate across the LF Networking ecosystem and explore how StratoWeave can complement adjacent efforts in declarative orchestration, model-driven operations, and future AI-native automation approaches.
If you’d like more details on the announcement and how StratoWeave fits into the broader LF Networking ecosystem, be sure to read the press release.
What’s Next
We’re already working on the next phase of StratoWeave.
A WebUI is nearing readiness and will provide an easier way to configure environments and gain visibility into service and device state. We’re also expanding device integrations and developing additional service implementations to broaden the platform’s capabilities.
This initial release is only the beginning. If you’re a developer, operator, vendor, or interested in the future of open network automation, we’d love for you to explore the project, join the community, and help shape what comes next.
Learn more and join the StratoWeave community:
- Explore the project website: StratoWeave
- Get involved and contribute: StratoWeave GitHub
