cgit vs RhodeCode
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 | RhodeCode |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Developer Tools & Git | Developer Tools & Git |
| License | GPL-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | C | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 800 | ★ 800 |
| First released | 2006 | 2010 |
| Replaces | GitHub | GitHub, Bitbucket |
What are cgit and RhodeCode?
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
RhodeCode
RhodeCode Community Edition is a self-hosted platform for managing Git, Subversion, and Mercurial repositories in one place. It includes code review, permissions, and pull request workflows.
- Git, SVN, and Mercurial in one tool
- Code review workflows
- Fine-grained permissions
- LDAP integration
cgit vs RhodeCode: key differences
Cgit is written in C, while RhodeCode is built with Python. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for cgit versus AGPL-3.0 for RhodeCode. Cgit is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for RhodeCode. Cgit is the more established project (first released 2006), while RhodeCode arrived in 2010. RhodeCode 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 RhodeCode if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Python
Frequently asked questions
Is cgit or RhodeCode better?
cgit is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider RhodeCode if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are cgit and RhodeCode free and open-source?
Yes. cgit is licensed under GPL-2.0 and RhodeCode under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run cgit and RhodeCode with Docker?
cgit: check the project docs for container support. RhodeCode: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, cgit or RhodeCode?
cgit has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for RhodeCode. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.