cgit vs klaus
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted developer tools & git options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | cgit | klaus |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Developer Tools & Git | Developer Tools & Git |
| License | GPL-2.0 | ISC |
| Language | C | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 800 | ★ 704 |
| First released | 2006 | 2011 |
| Replaces | GitHub | GitHub |
What are cgit and klaus?
cgit
cgit is a hyperfast web frontend for Git repositories written in C. It provides a read-only browsing interface ideal for publicly publishing source code.
- Extremely fast browsing
- Tiny resource footprint
- Caching layer for big repos
- Read-only repository viewer
klaus
klaus is a lightweight Git web viewer written in Python that displays repositories, commits, and diffs with syntax highlighting. It requires no database and minimal configuration.
- Read-only Git viewer
- Syntax-highlighted diffs
- No database needed
- Smart HTTP support
cgit vs klaus: key differences
Cgit is written in C, while klaus is built with Python. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for cgit versus ISC for klaus. Cgit is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for klaus. Cgit is the more established project (first released 2006), while klaus arrived in 2011. Klaus lists first-class Docker deployment; cgit does not.
Why pick each one
Choose cgit if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- Written in C
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Choose klaus if…
- Released under the ISC license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Python
Frequently asked questions
Is cgit or klaus better?
Neither is universally better. cgit has the larger community, while klaus is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are cgit and klaus free and open-source?
Yes. cgit is licensed under GPL-2.0 and klaus under ISC. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run cgit and klaus with Docker?
cgit: check the project docs for container support. klaus: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, cgit or klaus?
cgit has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for klaus. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.