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Software Forges

Effective collaboration and version control are essential for software developping organisations (SDOs) for delivering robust, maintainable, and high-quality code. Software “forges”—platforms designed for code hosting, management, and collaborative development—play a pivotal role in enabling these practices. While cloud-hosted solutions like GitHub and GitLab dominate the landscape, on-premises (or :self-hosted”) software forges provide an alternative for organizations seeking greater control over their infrastructure, enhanced privacy, and tailored functionality.

This document explores a range of open-source, on-premises software forges, each uniquely suited to specific development needs and organizational contexts. From lightweight, easy-to-deploy solutions like Gogs to enterprise-grade platforms such as Tuleap, these tools cater to diverse workflows and project scales. With features encompassing code review, issue tracking, continuous integration, and project management, on-premises forges empower teams to align their development practices with their technical, operational, and governance requirements.

The comparison presented here aims to guide organizations and developers in selecting a forge that aligns with their use cases—whether it’s individual developers seeking simplicity, enterprises prioritizing structured workflows, or teams needing comprehensive project lifecycle management. By understanding the capabilities, strengths, and trade-offs of each forge, users can make informed decisions to optimize their software development ecosystems.

Detailed descriptions

Gerrit

  • Purpose: A code review and collaboration tool tightly integrated with Git. Designed for rigorous workflows in enterprise environments.
  • Technologies: Java backend, Polymer UI, uses Elasticsearch for search and NoteDB for metadata. Requires Java SE Runtime Environment and Unix-based systems.
  • Key Features:
    • Advanced code review with approval workflows.
    • Integration with CI/CD pipelines.
    • Support for large binary files via Git LFS.
    • Authentication support (LDAP, OAuth, SSH).
  • Community:
    • Corporate contributors (e.g., Google, SAP).
    • Active mailing list for support.
  • Ideal For: Large teams with structured development and review processes.
  • Challenges: UI is considered outdated and complex for new users.

Gogs

  • Purpose: Lightweight and easy-to-install Git service for individuals or small teams.
  • Technologies: Written in Go, uses Macaron for web framework, and XORM for ORM. Supports MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite.
  • Key Features:
    • Basic Git repository hosting.
    • Simple installation and minimal resource requirements.
    • Issue tracking and lightweight UI.
  • Community:
    • Small but active.
    • Contributions via GitHub.
  • Ideal For: Small-scale projects or developers new to Git hosting.
  • Challenges: Limited features compared to other platforms.

Gitea

  • Purpose: Self-hosted Git service offering extensive features for collaborative development.
  • Technologies: Built with Go, runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, and Raspberry Pi.
  • Key Features:
    • Code hosting, review, CI/CD integration with Gitea Actions.
    • Repository mirroring and webhooks.
    • Extensive customization options.
  • Community:
    • Broad open-source community with diverse contributors.
    • Strong plugin ecosystem.
  • Ideal For: Small to medium teams seeking a robust and flexible Git hosting solution.
  • Challenges: Some overlap with Forgejo due to shared origins.

Forgejo

  • Purpose: A community-driven fork of Gitea, emphasizing sustainability and open governance.
  • Technologies: Same as Gitea; Go-based with cross-platform support.
  • Key Features:
    • Similar to Gitea but with a focus on governance transparency.
    • Active community and long-term development goals.
  • Community:
    • Open governance model encouraging broad participation.
  • Ideal For: Organizations valuing community-driven development and governance.
  • Challenges: Feature development may overlap with Gitea.

Redmine

  • Purpose: A project management tool integrating Git with task and issue tracking.
  • Technologies: Built with Ruby on Rails, supports MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite.
  • Key Features:
    • Advanced issue tracking.
    • Task management and Gantt charts.
    • Extensible with numerous plugins.
  • Community:
    • Long-established and active.
    • Supported by a plugin ecosystem.
  • Ideal For: Teams managing both project tasks and version control.
  • Challenges: Outdated UI and complex setup.

SourceHut

  • Purpose: A minimalist and scriptable Git hosting service for advanced workflows.
  • Technologies: Python and Go; lightweight and designed for Unix environments.
  • Key Features:
    • Email-driven issue tracking and patch-based contributions.
    • Scriptable workflows and API-driven operations.
    • Minimalist UI focusing on functionality.
  • Community:
    • Niche community of advanced users and developers.
  • Ideal For: Power users and teams favoring automation and customization.
  • Challenges: Steeper learning curve for newcomers.

Trac

  • Purpose: Combines wiki-style documentation and issue tracking with Git/Subversion integration.
  • Technologies: Python-based; integrates with multiple version control systems.
  • Key Features:
    • Strong documentation and issue tracking.
    • Integration with Git and Subversion.
    • Flexible customization through plugins.
  • Community:
    • Stable and long-standing.
  • Ideal For: Projects needing integrated documentation and issue management.
  • Challenges: Dated interface and slower development pace.

Tuleap

  • Purpose: A comprehensive application lifecycle management (ALM) tool covering project management, version control, and CI/CD.
  • Technologies: Built with PHP and Java; supports PostgreSQL.
  • Key Features:
    • Advanced project and task management.
    • Integrated Git support with CI/CD pipelines.
    • Support for Agile and waterfall methodologies.
  • Community:
    • Enterprise-oriented with smaller open-source contributions.
  • Ideal For: Enterprises managing complex, multi-team projects.
  • Challenges: Complex installation and higher resource requirements.

Features Comparison

Feature Gerrit Gogs Gitea Forgejo Redmine SourceHut Trac Tuleap
Code Review Advanced Basic Moderate Moderate None Advanced None Basic
CI/CD Integration Strong Limited Built-in Built-in Plugin-based Scriptable Limited Extensive
Task Management None Basic Moderate Moderate Advanced None Advanced Advanced
Ease of Use Moderate High High High Moderate Low Low Low
Customization Moderate Limited High High High High Moderate High
Resource Needs High Low Low Low Moderate Moderate Moderate High

Use Cases and Conclusion

  1. Gerrit:

    • Use Case: Large-scale teams requiring structured code review workflows, strict approval processes, and integration with CI/CD pipelines.
    • Best For: Enterprises, open-source projects with rigorous quality control.

  2. Gogs:

    • Use Case: Lightweight Git hosting for individual developers or small teams needing basic repository management with minimal setup.
    • Best For: Personal projects, startups, and teams with limited resources.

  3. Gitea:

    • Use Case: Full-featured Git hosting with flexibility for small-to-medium teams and integration with CI/CD.
    • Best For: Developers and organizations looking for an extensible, user-friendly self-hosted alternative to GitHub or GitLab.

  4. Forgejo:

    • Use Case: Community-driven projects prioritizing open governance and sustainability, with features similar to Gitea.
    • Best For: Organizations valuing transparency and long-term support in their tools.

  5. Redmine:

    • Use Case: Teams requiring integrated task management, issue tracking, and Git support for software or project development.
    • Best For: Project-heavy teams managing complex workflows alongside version control.

  6. SourceHut:

    • Use Case: Developers and power users needing scriptable workflows, email-based issue tracking, and minimalistic Git hosting.
    • Best For: Advanced users, automation-heavy workflows, and highly customized development environments.

  7. Trac:

    • Use Case: Projects that combine version control with comprehensive wiki-style documentation and issue tracking.
    • Best For: Teams requiring detailed documentation integration alongside source control.

  8. Tuleap:

    • Use Case: Comprehensive project management and ALM for large enterprises managing multiple teams, Agile, or waterfall workflows.
    • Best For: Enterprises needing an all-in-one tool for complex project lifecycles.

Page last modified: 2024-11-19 20:35:39