Moving to Sourcehut
I am moving all of my Git repositories from Codeberg to Sourcehut, a minimal software forge. I enjoyed using Codeberg, but like Sourcehut more for a multitude of reasons.
Neccessities Only
The Sourcehut website is minimal, and has:
- No tracking and advertisements
- No AI features
- No JavaScript required for anything
It is free and open-source software that has contributed to hundreds of software projects. Plus, you don’t even need an account for some specific features!
Universal
Sourcehut uses email, which is how Git was designed to be used when it was made. This ensures that you are not tied to using only Sourcehut. This is unlike the vast majority of other Git platforms, where you have to create an account to interact.
Accessible
Sourcehut is lightweight, meaning that it can run on old devices with generations-old hardware. In this article by Drew DeVault (the creator of Sourcehut), he says:
I am able to load a git repository on git.sr.ht in about 3 seconds (DOM ready in 1.8s), while GitHub took 38 seconds (DOM ready in 20s). Working with any of the sourcehut services — browsing git repos, reading and filing tickets, reviewing build logs — is hardly any different in this situation than it is at my workstation at home. Browsing any other forge, on the other hand, is miserable. In the same amount of time I can load 3 pages on GitHub (one full minute!), I can load more than 30 on sourcehut.
Version control shouldn’t have extra complicated features.
Workflow
As Drew DeVault mentions in this article on his website, Sourcehut’s website was designed with an engineer in mind. Sourcehut was designed to be brutalist on purpose, because it’s important to minimize distractions when you’re working.
The few times colours are used, they are used to guide you to the action you visited the page for.
Freedom!
Sourcehut is not owned by Microsoft, Google, or any other corporation. They support free software. Also, Drew DeVault has supported open-source for years!
Conclusion
I enjoy using Sourcehut because of its universal standards, accessibility, minimalist philosophy, and brutalist design. I am happy with the switch!