If you want your business to thrive, it’s crucial to have your developers working efficiently on code. Using an external service to manage versions and work on projects collaboratively is common practice, as seen among most software developers who seldom work solo.
Organisations may be pleasantly surprised to learn the wide range of options available for transitioning from external to internal repository hosting. The ability to host code repositories internally brings significant advantages for both the company and its developers.
If you’re unfamiliar with the term, could you please explain what a code repository is?
If you’re contemplating establishing an on-site repository to store your code, we can assume you have some understanding of what a repository is. If not, let’s take a moment to explore what repositories are.
When establishing a code repository, it’s crucial to comprehend versioning, as a version control system is typically integrated. This system tracks and manages modifications to source code, enabling developers to revert back to a previous version if required. To learn more about the latest GitHub authentication procedure, please visit our blog.
In the event that a team member’s code change has a detrimental effect on a feature, it’s possible to undo the change by reverting to a previous version of the code, thus restoring the functionality. This process is commonly referred to as “versioning”.
The primary difference between a shared folder and a code repository lies in the implementation of versioning. While you could grant your engineers access to a shared directory on a server, this is likely to have limited usefulness given the lack of versioning incorporated in shared folders.
A code repository, essentially a networked directory, supports version control operations like ‘check out/in,’ ‘commit changes,’ and ‘merge code.’ Although some repositories may have more advanced features than others, all should meet the above criteria. In summary, it’s crucial to find a storage system that:
- Make sure your source code remains private and inaccessible to others.
- Permit version tracking and management.
- Promote teamwork and collaboration among employees by enabling smooth communication.
- Help you develop a production-ready version of your code with ease.
- Track analytics and data related to code modifications.
Irrespective of the programming language you utilise (e.g., Java, JavaScript, Python, Xamarin, .NET, or Ruby), a code repository can provide the necessary support. All programming languages can benefit from employing a code repository.
The explanation for this will be provided shortly.
Why invest in hosting your own code repository?
The idea behind hosting your own code repository is straightforward: safeguard sensitive information contained within your code from unauthorised access. Since third-party systems may contain more code, they present a more attractive target for hackers, making self-hosted repositories an effective measure for preventing unauthorised access.
Hosting your own website is cost-effective, as the only expense involved is the cost of the server used to host the repository, if you opt for a free, open-source solution. These solutions are generally economical, as standard commercially available hardware can be used for deployment.
In summary, you can access your code repository without requiring a wide area network connection. Even if external network connections are disrupted, if your local area network (LAN) is still operational, your developers can still access the repository.
If you are eager to learn more about self-hosting, you have landed on the right platform!
Guide to Setup Your Own Code Repository
There are various options available to you. However, please keep in mind that if you opt for this alternative, 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 crucial to note that setting up certain solutions may necessitate greater effort than others. Nevertheless, the effort will undoubtedly pay off in the end.
So, what options are available to us? Let’s take a look.
Gitea
Gitea is a fantastic option for those looking to self-host their code repository. It is simple to install, consumes minimal system resources, and is free of charge. As a Git server, it is built on the same system designed by Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, making it highly dependable. In addition, Git is one of the most commonly used version control systems globally.
Gitea can be installed on Linux, macOS, Windows, and ARM since all of these platforms have Go installed. There are multiple deployment options available, such as standalone binary executable, Docker, or platform-specific package. This version of Gitea offers additional features, such as wikis, issue tracking, and code reviews, in addition to standard functionality.
Gitlab
Another open-source repository option is GitLab, which offers comprehensive features like end-to-end encryption, issue tracking, code review, and continuous integration/continuous deployment. GitLab provides access to your repositories both locally and externally and requires minimal training to set up successfully. To install GitLab, a server with a minimum of two processing cores and four gigabytes of RAM is needed.
Unlike Gitea, which is available for Windows and Mac, GitLab is only compatible with Linux (although there are unsupported versions for FreeBSD and macOS). The free GitLab Community Edition, in addition to several features, offers the ability to create subgroups, limit IP addresses, conduct audits, manage compliance, authenticate and authorise, analyse code, generate DevOps reports and import content. The GitLab Enterprise Edition provides even more functionalities. For more details on the Enterprise Edition and its pricing, please review the GitLab feature matrix.
GitBucket
GitBucket is a Git version control system web hosting solution written in the Scala programming language. This lightweight option provides an API compatible with GitHub, an easy installation process, and an intuitive user interface.
GitBucket has an extensive assortment of features that offer many benefits to its users. In addition to the regular repository components such as public and private repositories, GitLFS support, a repository viewer, and an online file editor, an activity timeline, email notifications, user/group administration, and LDAP connectivity, this platform also includes Git.
To install GitBucket, the system only needs to run Java, which is a requirement for GitBucket installation.
Gogs
Gogs offers a readily available self-hosted code repository. It is compatible with the Go programming language and can be used on any compatible system, including Linux, macOS, Windows, and ARM platforms.
Gogs provides several functionalities, including code review, issue tracking, wikis, and private/personal branches, all integrated with the Git version control system for easy integration into any git-based operations.
Gogs can be deployed using Docker or Vagrant, installed using a platform-specific package or executed from a single binary. It is an open-source platform that is available free of charge.
Conclusion
Establishing your own software repository is a simple and time-efficient process. The advantages you gain from self-hosting far exceed the effort invested in setting it up. Having the option of a self-hosted repository, even if only for part of your work, is a significant advantage.
