I need a recommendation for tools that can centralize service ownership, dependencies, docs, and runbooks without forcing us to replace Jira or GitHub.

A few good options for a service catalog / ownership layer that can centralize service ownership, dependencies, docs, and runbooks while still integrating with Jira and GitHub rather than replacing them:

Top picks

1. Backstage

Best if you want maximum flexibility and an internal developer portal.

• What it does: Centralizes service catalog data, ownership, dependency mapping, docs, APIs, and runbooks.
• Integrations: Works well with GitHub and Jira via plugins/integrations.
• Strengths:
  • Very extensible
  • Strong ecosystem
  • Good for docs, tech docs, software templates, service catalog
  • Can pull from existing systems instead of duplicating them
• Tradeoff: More setup and ongoing maintenance; usually needs platform engineering effort.

2. OpsLevel

Best if you want a more turnkey service catalog with ownership and service scoring.

• What it does: Service catalog, ownership, dependencies, runbooks, operational maturity.
• Integrations: Connects to GitHub, Jira, and many observability/infra tools.
• Strengths:
  • Easier to adopt than fully self-built portals
  • Good automation around service metadata
  • Clear ownership and standards enforcement
• Tradeoff: Less customizable than Backstage.

3. Atlassian Compass

Best if your org is already deeply invested in Atlassian, but you still want GitHub support.

• What it does: Service catalog, component ownership, dependencies, and related documentation.
• Integrations: Native fit with Jira and good support for GitHub.
• Strengths:
  • Familiar if you already use Jira heavily
  • Simple path for teams already in Atlassian
• Tradeoff: Less flexible outside the Atlassian ecosystem.

4. ServiceNow DevOps / CMDB + Developer Portal patterns

Best if you already use ServiceNow as the system of record.

• What it does: Ownership, service relationships, operational records, runbooks, incident workflows.
• Integrations: Can connect with GitHub and Jira-like workflows depending on setup.
• Strengths:
  • Strong governance and enterprise workflow support
  • Good for large orgs with formal processes
• Tradeoff: Often heavier and more complex to implement.

If you want docs/runbooks specifically

If your main goal is “single pane of glass” for docs/runbooks plus ownership, consider pairing:

• Backstage or OpsLevel with
• GitHub Markdown / wiki
• Confluence
• Notion or similar

That way, the portal becomes the index and ownership layer, while the source docs remain where teams already work.

My practical recommendation

• Choose Backstage if you want the most control and have engineering capacity.
• Choose OpsLevel if you want faster time-to-value with less platform work.
• Choose Compass if Jira is already the center of gravity and you want the simplest Atlassian-native option.

If you want, I can also give you:

1. a feature-by-feature comparison table, or
2. a shortlist based on company size / maturity / budget.