In order to ensure the success of your business, your developers are working hard to create code. It is likely that they are using some type of external service to manage versions and collaborate on projects, as most software developers do not work in isolation.
It may come as a surprise to discover the range of options available to assist organisations in moving from external to internal repository hosting. Taking advantage of the potential to host these code repositories locally can bring numerous benefits to both the company and its developers.
For those who don’t know, please explain what a code repository is.
It can be assumed that you are aware of what a repository is if you are considering establishing one on-site to house your code. If this is not the case, then let us explore what they are.
It is essential to understand versioning when creating a code repository as a version control system is typically included. This system records and monitors changes to source code, allowing developers to revert to a previous version if necessary.
If a team member commits a change to the code repository which negatively impacts a feature, it is possible to revert back to a previous version of the code, thereby restoring the functionality. This process is known as “versioning”.
The primary distinction between a shared folder and a code repository is the implementation of versioning. To enable this, you could provide your engineers with access to a shared directory on a server. However, it is likely to be of limited utility.
A code repository is a networked directory that enables version control operations such as ‘check out/in’, ‘commit changes’ and ‘merge code’. While some repositories may offer more features than others, all should fulfil the above criteria. To summarise, it is important to find a storage system that:
- Don’t let anybody else see your source code.
- Allow for version tracking.
- Facilitate communication and teamwork among employees.
- Assist you in putting together a production-ready version of your code.
- Keep track of analytics and data pertaining to modifications made to code.
Regardless of the programming language you are using (e.g., Java, JavaScript, Python, Xamarin, .NET, or Ruby), a code repository can provide you with the necessary support. All programming languages can benefit from utilising a code repository.
The reason(s) for this is about to be explained.
So why bother with hosting your own repository?
The rationale behind self-hosting a code repository is clear; to protect sensitive information within your code from being viewed by unauthorised individuals. As third-party systems tend to include more code, they become more appealing targets to hackers, so a self-hosted repository is an effective measure for preventing unauthorised access.
It is more economical to host your own website, as the only expense incurred would be the cost of the server used to host the repository if you choose a free, open-source solution. These solutions are usually cost-effective as they can be deployed on standard, commercially available hardware.
In summary, you can now access your repository without the need for a wide area network connection. If your local area network (LAN) is still functioning even when external network connections are disrupted, your software developers can continue to access the repository.
If you’re interested in learning more about self-hosting, you’ve come to the right place!
Instructions for Setting Up Your Own Source Code Repository
You have a range of options available to you. Please bear in mind that if you select this option, you will need to host the repository either on your own servers or a cloud-hosted service, such as AWS, Google Cloud, Rackspace, or Linode. It is important to note that some solutions may require more effort to set up than others. Nevertheless, the effort will be worth it in the end.
So, what do we have to choose from? Look, let’s have a look.
Gitea
Gitea is an excellent choice for those looking to host their code repository locally. It is easy to install, uses minimal system resources and is free of charge. Being a Git server, it is based on the same system created by Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, making it highly reliable. Furthermore, Git is one of the most widely used version control systems globally.
Gitea can be installed on Linux, macOS, Windows, and ARM as all of these platforms have Go installed. There are several deployment options available, such as standalone binary executable, Docker, or platform-specific package. This version of Gitea also provides additional features such as issue tracking, wikis, and code reviews in addition to the standard features.
Gitlab
An alternative open-source repository option is GitLab, which provides comprehensive features such as end-to-end encryption, issue tracking, code review and continuous integration/continuous deployment. GitLab offers both local and remote access to your repositories and requires minimal training for successful setup. In order to install GitLab, a server with two processing cores and four gigabytes of RAM is required.
In comparison to Gitea, which is available for Windows and Mac, GitLab is only available for Linux (although there are also unsupported versions for FreeBSD and macOS). In addition to the free GitLab Community Edition, the GitLab Enterprise Edition offers a range of capabilities, such as subgroups, IP address limitation, audits, compliance management, authentication and authorisation, code analytics, DevOps reports, and importers. For further information on the Enterprise Edition and its pricing, please refer to the GitLab feature matrix.
GitBucket
GitBucket is an open source web hosting solution for the Git version control system, written in the Scala programming language. This lightweight choice offers an API compatible with GitHub, a straightforward installation process, and an intuitive user interface.
GitBucket offers an extensive range of features to benefit users. As well as the standard repository components such as public and private repositories, GitLFS support, a repository viewer and online file editor, an activity timeline, email notifications, user/group administration, and LDAP connectivity, this platform also includes Git.
Any system that can run Java can run GitBucket (which is required for installation).
Gogs
Gogs provides an easily accessible on-premise code repository. It is platform independent and can be used on any system that is compatible with the Go programming language, including Linux, macOS, Windows and ARM.
Gogs offers a range of features, including code review, issue tracking, wikis and private/personal branches, all built on the Git version control system for easy integration into any git-based process.
Gogs can be deployed using Docker or Vagrant, installed using a platform-specific package, or run from a single binary. It is open source and available for free.
Conclusion
Setting up your own software repository is relatively straightforward and time-efficient. The autonomy you gain from doing so far outweighs the effort taken to set it up. Having the option of a self-hosted repository, even if just for part of your work, is a great benefit.
