Top Google Code Hosting Alternatives for Your Open Source Projects
Google Code Hosting, once a popular platform for hosting open-source software projects with Subversion or Mercurial, offered a robust solution including a wiki, issue tracking, and file downloads. It was a go-to for many open-source projects licensed under various permissive and copyleft licenses. However, with the evolution of development tools and the shift in Google's focus, many developers are now seeking powerful and reliable Google Code Hosting alternatives. Whether you need advanced version control, better collaboration features, or more flexible hosting options, there are numerous platforms available to meet the needs of modern open-source development.
Top Google Code Hosting Alternatives
If you're looking for a new home for your open-source project or seeking a more feature-rich environment than what Google Code Hosting offered, consider these top alternatives:
GitHub
GitHub is arguably the most popular web-based hosting service for projects utilizing the Git revision control system. As a freemium platform available on Mac, Windows, Web, Android, and BSD, it's an excellent Google Code Hosting alternative, especially for those who prefer Git. Key features include File Versioning, Git integration, unlimited private repos, IFTTT integration, and robust version and source control, making it ideal for collaborative development.
GitLab
GitLab offers comprehensive web-based Git repository management with a built-in wiki, code reviews, issue-tracking, and a powerful CI/CD pipeline. As a freemium and Open Source solution, available on Linux, Web, BSD, and Self-Hosted environments, it's a strong contender among Google Code Hosting alternatives. Its features like unlimited private repos, continuous builds, continuous deployment, and continuous integration make it a complete DevOps platform.
Bitbucket
Bitbucket provides excellent code collaboration and version control, offering both hosted (freemium) for up to 5 users and commercial self-hosted options. Available on Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, and Self-Hosted, it supports both Git and Mercurial, making it a versatile Google Code Hosting alternative. Its strengths lie in private repositories, Jira integration, Mercurial support, Git integration, and real-time collaboration.
SourceForge
SourceForge is a long-standing web-based source code repository, acting as a centralized location for developers to control and manage open-source software development. As a Free and Web-based platform, it focuses primarily on version and source control, making it a straightforward Google Code Hosting alternative for those needing basic project hosting functionalities.
Gitea
Gitea is a community-managed fork of Gogs, offering a lightweight code hosting solution written in Go and published under the MIT license. As a Free and Open Source platform available on Mac, Windows, Linux, BSD, and Self-Hosted, it's an excellent self-hosted Google Code Hosting alternative. It boasts features like an included wiki, private repositories, FIDO U2F (2FA) support, Git LFS 2.0 support, and comprehensive code review capabilities.
Gogs
Gogs (Go Git Service) provides one of the easiest, fastest, and most painless ways to set up a self-hosted Git service. It's a Free and Open Source solution, available on Mac, Windows, Linux, and Self-Hosted environments, making it a compelling self-hosted Google Code Hosting alternative. Its lightweight nature, code review features, and integrated wiki make it ideal for quick and efficient project setup.
Launchpad
Launchpad is a collaboration and Bazaar code hosting platform, primarily for open-source software projects. It's Free and Open Source, available as a Web-based platform, and offers free hosting for public projects. While focused on Bazaar, its PPA (Personal Package Archive) and real-time collaboration features make it a viable Google Code Hosting alternative for Debian/Ubuntu-based project ecosystems.
GitBucket
GitBucket is an easily installable open-source GitHub clone written in Scala. It's a Free and Open Source solution available on Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, and Self-Hosted environments, making it a strong self-hosted Google Code Hosting alternative for those seeking a GitHub-like UI and features. It provides Git repository hosting via HTTP and SSH, and crucially, offers support for the GitHub API and private repositories.
GitPrep
GitPrep is another GitHub clone that allows you to install a portable GitHub system on Unix/Linux. As a Free and Open Source solution available on Mac, Windows, Linux, and Self-Hosted environments, it's a great self-hosted Google Code Hosting alternative for those who want full control over their Git repositories. It offers key features like forking support, Git integration, and general GIT support.
Kallithea
Kallithea is a free software source code management system that supports both Mercurial and Git, making it a flexible Google Code Hosting alternative, especially for projects previously using Mercurial. As a Free and Open Source solution available on Mac, Windows, Linux, and Self-Hosted, it provides robust features like code review, developer tools, Git and Mercurial support, a comprehensive permission system, and real-time collaboration.
Choosing the right Google Code Hosting alternative depends on your specific project needs, team size, preferred version control system, and whether you prefer a hosted or self-hosted solution. Explore these options to find the platform that best empowers your open-source development.