Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

GitHub VS SourceHut

Compare GitHub VS SourceHut and see what are their differences

GitHub logo GitHub

Originally founded as a project to simplify sharing code, GitHub has grown into an application used by over a million people to store over two million code repositories, making GitHub the largest code host in the world.

SourceHut logo SourceHut

Git and Mercurial hosting, mailing lists, bug tracking, continuous integration, and more
  • GitHub Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-05
  • SourceHut Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-17

GitHub

Website
github.com
$ Details
Release Date
2008 January
Startup details
Country
United States
State
California
Founder(s)
Chris Wanstrath
Employees
500 - 999

GitHub features and specs

  • collaboration
    GitHub provides a platform for multiple developers to work on the same project concurrently, facilitating collaboration through features like pull requests, code reviews, and issues tracking.
  • integration
    GitHub integrates seamlessly with various third-party tools and services, such as CI/CD pipelines, project management tools, and many development environments, enhancing productivity and workflow efficiency.
  • version_control
    Utilizes Git for version control, allowing users to track changes, revert to previous versions if necessary, and manage different branches of development, ensuring code stability and history tracking.
  • community
    With millions of developers and a vast repository of open-source projects, GitHub fosters a robust community where users can contribute to projects, seek help, share knowledge, and collaborate broadly.
  • availability
    GitHub is a cloud-based platform, which means that projects are accessible from anywhere with an internet connection, providing flexibility and convenience to developers globally.
  • documentation
    GitHub allows for comprehensive project documentation through README files, wikis, and GitHub Pages, making it easier for users to understand project context and contribute effectively.

Possible disadvantages of GitHub

  • cost
    While GitHub offers free plans, more advanced features and private repositories come at a cost, which might be a barrier for some individuals or small teams.
  • steep_learning_curve
    For newcomers, especially those unfamiliar with Git, the learning curve can be quite steep, making it challenging to utilize all of GitHub's features effectively.
  • privacy_concerns
    Given its expansive, open nature, users must be cautious with sensitive or proprietary information. Even with private repositories, there is a latent concern over data privacy and security.
  • interface_complexity
    The user interface, while powerful, can be overwhelming and complex for beginners or those not deeply familiar with version control concepts.
  • performance_issues
    Occasionally, GitHub may experience downtime or performance issues, which can disrupt workflow and prevent access to repositories temporarily.
  • limited_storage
    GitHub imposes limitations on storage space and file size within repositories, which can be restrictive for projects requiring large datasets or binaries.

SourceHut features and specs

  • Minimalistic Design
    SourceHut prides itself on simplicity and a minimalist interface, which makes it easy to navigate and reduces distractions.
  • Highly Configurable CI
    SourceHut offers a highly configurable continuous integration (CI) system that allows for a great deal of customization in build pipelines.
  • Focus on Free Software
    SourceHut places a strong emphasis on free and open-source software, aligning with the values of many developers in the community.
  • Fast Performance
    The lightweight nature of SourceHut's web interface enhances load times and overall performance.
  • Email-based Workflow
    The platform offers a unique email-based workflow for code review and patches, which can be more efficient for some developers.
  • Privacy-focused
    SourceHut emphasizes user privacy, avoiding tracking and invasive data collection.

Possible disadvantages of SourceHut

  • Learning Curve
    The unique email-based workflow and minimalist design might have a steeper learning curve for new users.
  • Lack of Popular Integrations
    Unlike some other platforms, SourceHut does not support as many third-party integrations out of the box.
  • Paid Service
    SourceHut is primarily a paid service, which might be a barrier for some users, especially those looking for free options.
  • Limited Community Support
    As a relatively new and niche platform, SourceHut has a smaller user community, which can limit the availability of community support and resources.
  • Sparse Documentation
    The documentation available might be considered sparse compared to more established platforms, making it harder for new users to get started.
  • Fewer Built-in Features
    SourceHut has fewer built-in features compared to giants like GitHub or GitLab, which offer extensive integrated tools and services.

Analysis of GitHub

Overall verdict

  • GitHub is considered an excellent choice for developers and teams looking for a reliable and efficient platform for version control and collaboration. Its community support, extensive documentation, and innovative features make it a preferred choice in the software development community.

Why this product is good

  • GitHub is a widely used platform for version control and collaboration, popular among developers and teams for its robust features, ease of use, and integration capabilities. It allows for streamlined project management, code review, and continuous integration, enhancing productivity and collaborative workflows.

Recommended for

  • Individual developers working on personal projects
  • Software development teams in need of collaborative tools
  • Open-source project maintainers and contributors
  • Organizations looking for scalable version control solutions

Analysis of SourceHut

Overall verdict

  • SourceHut is considered a good option, especially for developers who prioritize simplicity, speed, and the ethical aspects of software development.

Why this product is good

  • SourceHut is a lightweight and minimalist platform for software development. It supports various features such as mailing lists, bug tracking, and continuous integration while placing a strong emphasis on ethical design, privacy, and transparency. SourceHut appeals to those who appreciate open-source values and prefer a platform that doesn't overburden them with unnecessary features.

Recommended for

  • Developers who prefer minimalistic and efficient tooling
  • Open-source enthusiasts who value transparency and privacy
  • Teams looking for straightforward continuous integration and bug tracking solutions
  • Projects that benefit from a mailing list-based workflow

GitHub videos

How to do coding peer reviews with Github

More videos:

SourceHut videos

System Crafters Live! - What is GNU? • Is Sourcehut the future? • Q&A

More videos:

  • Review - Building Natalie on OpenBSD with Sourcehut

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to GitHub and SourceHut)
Software Development
99 99%
1% 1
Git
91 91%
9% 9
Code Collaboration
95 95%
5% 5
Developer Tools
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using GitHub and SourceHut. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare GitHub and SourceHut

GitHub Reviews

  1. Reinhard
    · Boss at CLOUD Meister ·
    perfect 4 open Source

Best Forums for Developers to Join in 2025
GitHub Discussions is a communication forum for the community around an open source or internal project. Discussions enable fluid, open conversation in a public forum. Discussions are transparent and accessible, but they are not related to code.
Source: www.notchup.com
The Top 10 GitHub Alternatives
However, like any (human) product, the platform has its limits, downsides, and critics. GitHub has been barred by certain governments, and even if that isn’t exactly the company’s fault, the users are the ones limited from pushing their code. Another criticism concerns the price tag: some users have pointed out that GitHub’s pricing model is too inflexible. Moreover, some...
Top 10 Developer Communities You Should Explore
GitHub also has an extensive API that allows it to integrate workflows seamlessly. Continuous integration, code review tools, and project management features make GitHub an essential tool for any developer, and the community aspect adds a layer of connectivity that enriches the overall experience.
Source: www.qodo.ai
Top 7 GitHub Alternatives You Should Know (2024)
FAQs: Are there any cloud source repositories similar to GitHub?Is there a free alternative to GitHub?
Source: snappify.com
Best GitHub Alternatives for Developers in 2023
We may earn from vendors via affiliate links or sponsorships. This might affect product placement on our site, but not the content of our reviews. See our Terms of Use for details. Looking for an alternative to GitHub? Check out our in-depth list of the best GitHub competitors, covering their features, pricing, pros, cons, and more.

SourceHut Reviews

We have no reviews of SourceHut yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, GitHub seems to be a lot more popular than SourceHut. While we know about 2271 links to GitHub, we've tracked only 58 mentions of SourceHut. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

GitHub mentions (2271)

  • 6 Ways AI Can Improve Your Python Code(Tested!)
    Enterprise surveys confirm this benefit: developers report that AI tools help them deliver more secure software with higher quality. For instance, the GitHub/Accenture research found 90% of developers saw an improvement in code security and quality when using AI-assisted coding tools. In practice, you might configure an AI scanner to run on every pull request, ensuring that even minor security or reliability... - Source: dev.to / about 7 hours ago
  • 7 Ways AI Code Review Can Save Hours of Developers' Effort
    Enterprise teams can roll out AI reviewers with minimal friction by simply connecting tools to their GitHub/GitLab instances. Once integrated, the AI does the first pass of code review as part of the normal CI/CD pipeline. Anecdotally, teams report merges happening up to 89% faster after enabling AI review agents, since the automated feedback avoids multiple back-and-forth cycles. By aligning with existing... - Source: dev.to / 4 days ago
  • Deploying a NestJS and VueJS App with Dokploy
    Focusing on the image step, -f let's you specify the Dockerfile you want to use while -t is for the image tag. ${{ secrets.DOCKER_USERNAME }} is pulled from your actions' secrets. To set your secrets and variables, head to https://github.com/{username}/{repo_name}/settings/secrets/actions. You should see options for repository secrets and environment secrets. Environment secrets allow you to override your default... - Source: dev.to / 25 days ago
  • How to Use GitHub Copilot for Free (Student Discount Guide)
    If you don’t have one already, go to https://github.com and sign up for a free account. Be sure to use your school-issued email address if you have one—it helps GitHub verify your student status faster. - Source: dev.to / 20 days ago
  • Proper setup for a MiniScript GitHub repo
    The most important thing you should do for any MiniScript-related project is to tag it (in the "About" info) with miniscript. This will cause your project to appear under the miniscript topics list: Https://github.com/topics/miniscript. - Source: dev.to / 21 days ago
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SourceHut mentions (58)

  • Forgejo: A self-hosted lightweight software forge
    b) The barrier to create accounts on yet another platform to contribute. In that regards I find the original way of just using email's to send patches just such a brilliant idea, because at least it eliminates my second point completely. That's why I think sourcehut [0] is such a nice idea at least in theory. Though now you have to teach people not only how to use "git" but also hot to use "git" via email :D... - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Ask HN: Anyonne tried alternative company models (like a co-op) for SaaS?
    Https://sourcehut.org/ is a sort of coop open source project and a SaaS with an interesting model. There is also https://opencollective.com/ which provides a platform for collective ownership of an online business. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Why GitHub Won
    If you just want an online repository, go with Sourcehut (https://sourcehut.org/). - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Ask HN: What's Happenning with SourceHut?
    For anyone coming across this, a new page has been set up at https://sourcehut.org/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Using Git Offline
    Do you know SourceHut? https://sourcehut.org/ I would be really curious to have your opinion about it as compared to how it was 14 years ago. I feel like SourceHut does a really good job helping on the tooling side (it's super easy to setup a mailing list). Also I find Aerc very cool for that. The author describes it here: https://drewdevault.com/2022/07/25/Code-review-with-aerc.html. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing GitHub and SourceHut, you can also consider the following products

GitLab - Create, review and deploy code together with GitLab open source git repo management software | GitLab

BitBucket - Bitbucket is a free code hosting site for Mercurial and Git. Manage your development with a hosted wiki, issue tracker and source code.

Gitea - A painless self-hosted Git service

VS Code - Build and debug modern web and cloud applications, by Microsoft

GitBucket - GitBucket is the easily installable open-source GitHub clone written with Scala.

Treehouse - Treehouse is an award-winning online platform that teaches people how to code.