Apache Allura vs OneDev
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted git hosting & forges options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
OneDev
Self-hosted Git server with CI/CD and kanban
| Feature | Apache Allura | OneDev |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 68 · Good | 95 · Excellent |
| Category | Git Hosting & Forges | Git Hosting & Forges |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | Python | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 148 | ★ 15,259 |
| First released | 2012 | 2016 |
| Replaces | GitHub, SourceForge | GitHub, GitLab |
What are Apache Allura and OneDev?
Apache Allura
Apache Allura is the software behind SourceForge, providing repository hosting, ticket tracking, wikis, and discussion forums. It supports Git, Mercurial, and Subversion repositories.
- Multi-VCS repository hosting
- Ticket tracking and wikis
- Discussion forums
- Pluggable tool architecture
OneDev
OneDev is a self-hosted Git server with built-in CI/CD, issue tracking, and kanban boards in a single application. It targets small teams wanting an integrated platform without heavy resource use. It is deployed via Docker or a binary.
- Built-in CI/CD engine
- Kanban issue boards
- Code search and review
- Symbol navigation
Apache Allura vs OneDev: key differences
Apache Allura is written in Python, while OneDev is built with Java. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Apache Allura versus MIT for OneDev. OneDev is the lighter option, starting around 1,024 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Apache Allura. Apache Allura is the more established project (first released 2012), while OneDev arrived in 2016. OneDev has the considerably larger community, at 15,259 GitHub stars versus 148.
Why pick each one
Choose Apache Allura if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Python
Choose OneDev if…
- All-in-one in one process
- Strong code navigation
- Lighter than GitLab
Watch out for
- Smaller community
- Java memory footprint
Frequently asked questions
Is Apache Allura or OneDev better?
OneDev is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Apache Allura if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Apache Allura and OneDev free and open-source?
Yes. Apache Allura is licensed under Apache-2.0 and OneDev under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Apache Allura and OneDev with Docker?
Apache Allura: yes. OneDev: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Apache Allura or OneDev?
OneDev has the smaller minimum footprint at 1,024 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for Apache Allura. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.