SourceHut

SourceHut (often stylized as sr.ht) is a minimalist software development platform created by Drew DeVault, a prominent open-source developer and advocate. Launched in 2018, SourceHut takes a radically different approach to code hosting and collaboration compared to GitHub and GitLab. While those platforms have evolved into feature-heavy ecosystems with social networking elements, integrated AI, and complex web interfaces, SourceHut strips development tooling down to its essentials: reliable version control hosting, email-based workflows, continuous integration, and bug tracking -- all accessible without requiring JavaScript in your browser.

The platform's philosophy is rooted in the Unix tradition of small, composable tools that each do one thing well. SourceHut is not trying to become a social network for developers or an all-in-one DevOps platform. Instead, it provides the fundamental building blocks of software collaboration using time-tested protocols like email and SSH, wrapped in a lightweight web interface that loads in milliseconds rather than seconds. This approach resonates strongly with developers who value simplicity, speed, and the open-source ethos of decentralized collaboration.

Git and Mercurial Hosting

SourceHut supports both Git and Mercurial repositories, making it one of the few modern platforms that has not abandoned Mercurial users. Repository hosting on SourceHut is straightforward -- you push code via SSH and manage repositories through a clean web interface that renders README files, displays commit history, and provides browsable source trees. There are no pull request buttons, no merge request dashboards, and no drag-and-drop interfaces. Instead, collaboration happens through patches sent via email, following the workflow used by the Linux kernel, PostgreSQL, and many other major open-source projects.

The email-driven patch workflow may seem archaic to developers accustomed to GitHub's pull request model, but it has significant advantages for distributed collaboration. Patches can be reviewed, discussed, and applied using standard email clients without requiring an account on any specific platform. This decentralized model means contributors are not locked into a single vendor's ecosystem. SourceHut provides the git send-email integration and mailing list infrastructure to make this workflow accessible, along with detailed documentation for developers transitioning from pull-request-based workflows.

Mailing Lists and Communication

SourceHut's mailing list service (lists.sr.ht) is a core component of the platform, not an afterthought. Mailing lists serve as the primary channel for project discussions, patch review, and announcements. Each list has a web archive that is fully searchable and browsable without JavaScript. Users can subscribe via email and participate in discussions using any email client, making the barrier to contribution extremely low -- you do not need a SourceHut account to send an email to a public mailing list.

This email-first approach to project communication stands in stark contrast to GitHub's Issues and Discussions, which require accounts and are accessible only through GitHub's web interface or API. For open-source projects that value inclusivity and accessibility, SourceHut's mailing lists remove platform lock-in and ensure that project discussions are stored in an open, portable format (email) rather than proprietary databases. The web archives provide a permanent, linkable record of all conversations.

Continuous Integration with builds.sr.ht

SourceHut's CI system (builds.sr.ht) uses declarative YAML manifests to define build environments and tasks. It supports a wide range of operating systems and architectures, including various Linux distributions (Alpine, Arch, Debian, Fedora, Ubuntu), FreeBSD, OpenBSD, and NetBSD -- a breadth of platform support unmatched by GitHub Actions or GitLab CI. Build VMs are provisioned fresh for each job, providing clean, reproducible environments.

The build manifests are intentionally simple. You specify an image, packages to install, environment variables, and a list of shell commands to execute. There is no marketplace of pre-built actions or complex pipeline DSL to learn. This simplicity makes builds.sr.ht highly predictable and easy to debug. Build logs are plain text, streamed in real-time through the web interface. For developers who have struggled with the complexity of GitHub Actions workflows or GitLab CI pipeline configurations, SourceHut's CI is refreshingly straightforward.

Bug Tracking with todo.sr.ht

SourceHut's bug tracker (todo.sr.ht) provides a minimal issue tracking system organized around trackers, which function similarly to projects or repositories on other platforms. Each tracker contains tickets with titles, descriptions, labels, and status fields. Users can submit tickets and comments via email or the web interface. The bug tracker integrates with SourceHut's other services, allowing CI builds to reference tickets and mailing list discussions to link to relevant issues.

The bug tracker deliberately avoids the feature bloat common in modern issue tracking tools. There are no Kanban boards, sprint planning features, or project management dashboards. For teams that need those capabilities, SourceHut is not the right tool. But for open-source projects that need a simple, reliable way to track bugs and feature requests with email integration, todo.sr.ht provides exactly what is needed without unnecessary complexity.

No JavaScript Required

One of SourceHut's most distinctive technical characteristics is that its entire web interface functions without JavaScript. Every page loads as server-rendered HTML, resulting in extremely fast load times even on slow connections or older hardware. Forms submit via standard HTTP POST requests, and navigation uses regular hyperlinks. This is not merely a philosophical stance -- it has practical benefits for accessibility, security, and performance. Users browsing with JavaScript disabled for privacy or security reasons can use SourceHut without any degradation in functionality.

This approach also means SourceHut's web interface is inherently more accessible to screen readers and assistive technologies, which often struggle with JavaScript-heavy single-page applications. The pages are lightweight (typically under 50KB), making the platform usable in bandwidth-constrained environments where GitHub's multi-megabyte JavaScript bundles would be impractical. For a development platform, this commitment to web standards and progressive enhancement is notable.

Open Source and Self-Hosting

SourceHut's entire codebase is open source, licensed under the AGPL and MIT licenses. This means anyone can inspect the code, contribute improvements, or deploy their own instance of the platform. The self-hosting option is particularly relevant for organizations that need complete control over their development infrastructure, whether for regulatory compliance, air-gapped environments, or simply philosophical preference for self-hosted tools.

The open-source nature of SourceHut provides transparency that proprietary platforms cannot match. Users can verify how their data is handled, audit the security of the platform, and ensure there are no hidden telemetry or tracking mechanisms. Drew DeVault has been vocal about the importance of sustainable open-source funding, and SourceHut's business model -- offering paid hosting while keeping the software free -- aligns with this philosophy.

Privacy and Data Sovereignty

SourceHut collects minimal user data by design. The platform does not use analytics trackers, does not serve advertisements, and does not sell user data. Account creation requires only an email address and a username. The absence of JavaScript means there are no client-side tracking scripts. For developers concerned about data sovereignty and privacy, SourceHut represents one of the most privacy-respecting code hosting options available.

While SourceHut's creator Drew DeVault is based in the United States, the platform operates with a strong emphasis on user privacy that aligns well with European data protection values. The open-source codebase allows European organizations to self-host SourceHut within their own infrastructure, ensuring complete data sovereignty and GDPR compliance. The managed hosting service stores data with minimal collection, and the platform's transparency report and privacy policy reflect a commitment to user rights over data monetization.

Pricing and Sustainability

SourceHut is currently in a public alpha phase and offers free access to all features during this period. Once the platform exits alpha, paid plans are expected to start at approximately $2 per month or $20 per year. The pricing model is designed to be sustainable without venture capital funding or advertising revenue. Drew DeVault has been transparent about SourceHut's financial status, publishing regular updates about revenue, expenses, and the path to sustainability.

The low pricing reflects SourceHut's minimal infrastructure requirements. Because the web interface does not use JavaScript frameworks, CDN costs are negligible. Server-rendered pages require less compute than single-page applications, and the email-based workflow distributes load across the existing email infrastructure rather than requiring proprietary real-time systems. This efficiency allows SourceHut to operate profitably at price points that would be unsustainable for platforms with heavier technical architectures.

Limitations and Considerations

SourceHut's minimalism is a double-edged sword. The email-based patch workflow has a steep learning curve for developers who have never used git send-email, and the lack of a web-based merge interface means code review processes that work well on GitHub may need to be significantly reworked. The platform does not offer project wikis through a web editor, mobile apps, or integrations with popular project management tools. Teams that rely on GitHub's rich ecosystem of Actions, Apps, and integrations will find SourceHut's integration options sparse.

The platform's alpha status means features and APIs may change, and some functionality is still under active development. The user base is smaller than GitHub or GitLab, which means fewer community resources, tutorials, and third-party tools. For commercial teams that need enterprise features like SSO, audit logs, and compliance certifications, SourceHut does not currently offer these capabilities. The platform is best suited for developers and teams who value simplicity and are comfortable with command-line and email-based workflows.

Who Should Choose SourceHut

SourceHut is ideal for developers who prefer minimalist, Unix-philosophy tools and are comfortable with email-based collaboration workflows. Open-source maintainers who want to avoid vendor lock-in and ensure their project infrastructure is portable will appreciate SourceHut's open standards approach. Privacy-conscious developers who want a code hosting platform that does not track them or require JavaScript will find SourceHut uniquely aligned with their values. Organizations that need to self-host their development platform on their own infrastructure can deploy SourceHut's open-source code. If you value speed, simplicity, and software freedom over feature richness and polished UIs, SourceHut deserves serious consideration in 2026.