Forgejo

Forgejo is a self-hosted lightweight software forge. Easy to install and low maintenance, it just does the job.

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Key Features

Host unlimited repos with pull requests, code reviews, forks, and wikis. Familiar interface mirrors GitHub for quick onboarding. Benefits: Full control over your codebase, no rate limits or surprise costs—perfect for teams scaling from hobby projects to enterprises.

Robust kanban boards, milestones, labels, and assignees streamline workflows. Time tracking and dependencies boost productivity. Self-hosted means customizable fields and integrations, keeping sensitive project data private.

Registries for Docker, npm, Maven, PyPI, and more centralize artifacts. Forgejo Actions run CI/CD workflows compatible with GitHub Actions YAML—runners self-hosted for compliance. Accelerates DevOps without external dependencies.

Experimental ForgeFed/ActivityPub enables repo federation across instances. Built-in accessibility tests and security focus ensure inclusive, robust deployments. Future-proofs decentralized collaboration.

Lightweight Self-Hosted Software Forge: Forgejo from Germany

In a world dominated by proprietary platforms like GitHub, developers crave control, privacy, and community governance. Enter Forgejo, a Berlin-born, lightweight software forge that's empowering open-source projects worldwide. Launched in October 2022 as a soft fork of Gitea amid concerns over its shift to for-profit governance, Forgejo has evolved into a hard fork by 2024, prioritizing public interest under non-profit Codeberg e.V.

This German powerhouse runs on minimal resources—making it ideal for self-hosting on a Raspberry Pi or VPS—while delivering full-featured Git repository hosting, issue tracking, pull requests, wikis, package registries, and CI/CD via Forgejo Actions (GitHub Actions-compatible). With experimental federation via ActivityPub, it heralds decentralized development. No vendor lock-in, no telemetry, just pure FOSS sovereignty. Featured on the official Git website, Forgejo is the European antidote to Big Tech forges, ensuring your code stays yours.

What is Forgejo?

Forgejo (/forˈdʒe.jo/, Esperanto for "forge") is a self-hosted, lightweight software forge designed for Git-based collaborative development. It originated in late 2022 as a community-driven soft fork of Gitea, sparked by unease over Gitea's domains and trademarks being acquired by a for-profit entity without consensus. Developed under Codeberg e.V., a non-profit registered association in Berlin, Germany, Forgejo upholds free/libre software principles exclusively—from development to operations.

By early 2024, it became a hard fork, diverging with unique features like end-to-end upgrade tests, accessibility checks, and proactive security disclosures. Hosted on Codeberg (powered by Forgejo itself) with Weblate for translations, it releases stable versions every three months and LTS annually (e.g., v11.0 LTS). Installation is effortless via binaries, Docker, or packages, with a GitHub-like UI easing migrations.

Key strengths include security, stability, scalability, and federation (ForgeFed/ActivityPub experimental, advancing monthly). Sustainability comes from volunteers, grants, donations, and pro services. Public instances are listed in "Delightful Forgejo," and it's battle-tested for projects valuing low maintenance and sovereignty. Transparent governance via Codeberg repos ensures longevity, making Forgejo the go-to for FOSS communities ditching corporate platforms.

Who Uses Forgejo?

Forgejo serves open-source developers, FOSS communities, and self-hosting enthusiasts seeking independence from proprietary forges. Codeberg.org, its flagship instance, hosts thousands of public projects. Fedora is moving towards Forgejo for dist-git, praising its lightweight nature over GitLab.

Dev teams in privacy-sensitive fields like research and activism use it for sovereign repos. Small businesses and universities self-host for cost savings and data control. "Delightful Forgejo" lists growing public instances, while enterprises leverage pro support. Ideal for migrating Gitea users valuing community governance.

European Advantage

Backed by Berlin-based Codeberg e.V., Forgejo embodies European values of data sovereignty and openness. Self-hosting lets admins enforce GDPR effortlessly—no data leaves your infrastructure. German non-profit governance avoids U.S.-style profit pressures, with transparent decisions and FOSS purity.

EU teams drive development, ensuring compliance-friendly features like no telemetry. Low-resource footprint suits edge deployments, aligning with green computing. For Europeans, it's the GDPR-secure, sovereign alternative powering instances across the continent.

How Forgejo Compares

Forgejo excels over Gitea (its fork origin) with superior governance—no for-profit takeover risks—and extras like upgrade tests. Lighter than GitLab (fewer resources, simpler setup), it skips bloat for core forge functions. Versus GitHub's SaaS proprietary model, Forgejo offers full self-hosting, federation, and zero lock-in.

Unique: Community-first, MIT-licensed (compatible with AGPL services), Actions parity. Gitea users upgrade seamlessly; GitLab migrants enjoy speed; GitHub defectors gain privacy.

Get Started with Forgejo

Ready to try Forgejo?

Visit Official Website to learn more and get started.

Forgejo is proudly based in Germany, ensuring European data sovereignty and GDPR compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Forgejo is completely free and open-source (MIT license). Self-hosted with no licensing fees; sustainability via donations and optional pro services from Codeberg.

Germany - Germany

Self-hosted nature enables full GDPR compliance—control your data, no external processing. Privacy-focused design (no telemetry), ideal for EU regs; admins implement policies.

- **Gitea**: Similar lightweight fork origin, but governance concerns. - **GitLab**: Feature-rich but resource-heavy CE/EE. - **GitHub**: SaaS powerhouse, proprietary with lock-in.