  We present an open source slow control system for small and medium scale
projects. Thanks to its modular and flexible design, where the various
instruments are read and controlled by independent plugins, Doberman (Detector
OBsERving and Monitoring ApplicatioN) can be quickly adapted for many
applications, also making use of existing code or proprietary components. The
system uses a SQL database to store the data from the instruments and provides
an online application to display and browse through the data. It allows the
modification of device settings while the program is running and features a
protocol to handle exceptions, including the automated distribution of alarm
messages. We present two case studies from astroparticle physics, on which
Doberman is successfully deployed: a low-background screening facility
installed in a remote underground laboratory and a detector R&D platform using
cryogenic liquid xenon.
