Jato

Jato is an open source project under LF Networking that provides a framework and tooling for building programmable, cloud-native network infrastructure and services (network automation / cloud networking).

• Framework for defining and managing network infrastructure as code (network automation).
• Support for cloud-native, programmable networking constructs and APIs (cloud networking).
• Tooling to integrate networking behavior with modern application and service architectures (infrastructure integration).
• Focus on open, community-driven development under the LF Networking umbrella (open-source governance).
• Positioned for use in carrier, service provider, and enterprise networking environments (telecom and enterprise networking).

More About Jato

Jato is an LF Networking project focused on building an open, programmable foundation for network infrastructure that aligns with cloud-native software practices. It addresses the problem of how to define, automate, and manage networking behavior in environments where applications, services, and infrastructure are increasingly dynamic and software-driven. The project targets operators and engineers who require network automation (network automation), integration with cloud-native platforms (cloud networking), and compatibility with open, community-governed tooling.

The project provides a framework for representing network intent and configuration as code (network automation). This approach helps network and platform teams describe how connectivity, routing, and related behaviors should operate through declarative models and programmatic interfaces. Jato’s tooling is designed to align with practices used in cloud-native and DevOps workflows, so networking behavior can be versioned, tested, and deployed in a similar manner to application code, rather than managed through manual, device-specific processes.

Within enterprise and service provider environments, Jato is positioned for use where networking must integrate with modern orchestration systems, Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, and automated service lifecycles (infrastructure integration). Typical scenarios include multi-tenant connectivity, service chaining, and policy-driven network configurations that need to adapt when applications scale or move. By providing open interfaces and models, the project supports environments where multiple vendors and platforms need to interoperate.

As a project under LF Networking, Jato participates in a broader ecosystem of open-source networking initiatives (open-source governance). This context helps align its design with related frameworks and standards used in Software Defined Networking (SDN), telco cloud, and cloud-native orchestration (telecom and enterprise networking). The governance model encourages collaboration between carriers, vendors, and enterprise users, which can help ensure that the project’s APIs, data models, and workflows are practical for production environments.

From an architecture and categorization standpoint, Jato belongs in directories and taxonomies under network automation, cloud networking, and Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) tools. Its focus on programmable behavior, cloud-native alignment, and open collaboration positions it as a project that helps bridge traditional networking with software-centric operations in enterprise and carrier settings.