[_wldu]

I have been thinking about closing my Github account and moving all my code to gitweb on one of my personal domains. I'm tired of the social/popularity contest aspect of Github and just want to write and publish code that I find interesting. I also want more control and I don't want my code used for AI research like co pilot. I thought about trying source hut, or something similar, but I feel it will end-up just like github once it gets more users.

Has anyone else setup a simple gitweb server on a personal domain? If so, how did it turn out?

[Klonoar]

The unpleasant truth is that you won't "escape" copilot; if anything is going to be done about that, it's more or less a legal issue.

That all said, the author of SourceHut seems really principled in regards to what they're building. If I was going to bet money on one person not ending up like GitHub (and one platform not ending up like GitHub), I'd probably bet on them.

I kicked the wheels on it recently and was really impressed, though I'm unsure if I'll use it full time yet - for all it does well (kind of putting git back to what it should be), it does draw a line in the sand where I'm not sure I'd draw it. Something like Gitea might be another option since it can provide a familiar enough interface to drive-by contributors.

In truth, I wish Gitea had support for git-send-email similar to SourceHut. Feels like it'd be the best of both worlds.

[hrbf]

I have done exactly this, after being fed up with GitHub. Surprising no one, if you set out to build the “social media but for code”, that’s what you get.

I’m using a combination of cgit, Gitolite and Nginx. Once set up, it’s easy to use and rock solid. Gitolite configures through a Git repository. I’m not going back.

About 14 days ago, on a post about Gitea incorporating, I shared my writeup of the install in case you’re interested: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33341191

Regarding your GitHub account, I suggest to simply replace the content you moved with a notice to the new URL and then archiving the repo, making interaction impossible. Even if you’re looking at deleting everything, maybe keep the account itself around, it’s free and you may need it later.

[_wldu]

Thank you, this is very helpful.

[chillfox]

I use Fossil for self hosting code on my own domain, it's running on a fan-less PC with daily backups to the cloud using restic. It's just so nice, no social pressure and it works for me when the internet is down. I am currently in the process of setting up Concourse CI, it's a really nice config driven ci system.

Also, it doesn't have to be a "one or the other" thing, you can use both GitHub and self hosted for different things. That's what I do, GitHub is for work and things I want to be social, and my own hosting is for private code or code that I want to share in a "take it or leave it" kinda way without any of the social stuff.

I highly recommend hosting your own git/fossil/etc... system for yourself. Think of it like your own little place that you can setup exactly as you like.

[einpoklum]

> and just want to write and publish code that I find interesting.

Don't you also want people to read the code you publish?

Not that GitHub is the only relevant venue, but still.

[MayeulC]

I sometimes use github search to double-check if someone has worked on a problem before startin myself. Even when the repo is abandonned, it sometimes gives a good starting point. GitHub often tells me about repos I didn't find on search engines.

I'd say go for it, but the discoverability aspect is important. I also follow friends and sometimes find interesting projects through their stars.

[Klonoar]

This is, increasingly, one of the only things I find myself locked into GitHub for: if I'm working in a space that's sufficiently "old" (e.g, macOS APIs), I generally cannot get Google to produce anything useful anymore and end up having to comb through various GitHub repositories. It's maddening.

No other code search engine comes close anymore, unfortunately.

[top_kekeroni_m8]

Nobody cares about your code.

[mylons]

how does another platform help you evade copilot? wouldn’t a “lower” platform have to pursue legal routes that are very unpalatable for those lacking deep pockets and legal expertise?

[_wldu]

Anyone may purchase a domain name from a registrar (such as 'example.com'). That is not a 'lower platform'. It's just a domain name. Sure, it's not as popular as 'github.com' but in every other way (in the DNS) it is equal. And unlike github.com, you have full control of that domain and its DNS records.

There are no unique legal issues with regard to buying a domain name and writing and publishing source code on that domain. Using 'github.com' to host your source code does not give you more legal rights or protections. Copyright is copyright and a license is a license no matter where you publish it.

You should not be afraid to buy a domain, write source code and publish it there. It's not illegal to do that and you are not at more risk (although these big central social platforms would like for you to believe that).

[xigoi]

Using another platformmeans that GitHub won't have more rights to your code than anyone else.