Using GitHub without workflow lock-in

Published: 2022-12-31

Git is a decentralized version control system, meaning that there is no one superior repository. Every single copy of a Git repository is just as complete as any other. Of course we can pick one particular repository and declare it to be the one source of truth, the “upstream” repository. Usually this upstream repository is then hosted on some server, and if we are interested in openness and collaboration this server is part of a larger web service, called a “forge”. Out of these forges GitHub is perhaps the most popular one. Unfortunately this means if we are interested in contributions we have to make the GitHub repo our upstream and use its web services and web UI for our workflow. At least that is the common wisdom, but it does not have to be that way.

GitHub does not have to be your only forge

I had moved off GitHub back before it was cool, but recently more and more Free and Open Source projects have been migrating off GitHub as well, and with how much of a shitshow the entire service has become I cannot see why anyone would trust the platform at all anymore. Actually no, I do know one reason: its user base. Pretty much everyone is on GitHub. For all its flaws, GitHub is still solving this one major social problem. I am here to give you the good news that you can get the best of both worlds: move off GitHub and still benefit from its social inertia.