Codeberg: AI-Optimized Technical Reference
Platform Overview
Technology Stack: Forgejo v12 (Gitea fork from October 2022) hosted on owned servers in Berlin, Germany
Governance: German non-profit (Codeberg e.V.) with 600+ paying members, democratic voting structure
User Base: 100,000+ users and projects, growing steadily since 2019
Configuration
Account Setup
- Registration: No phone verification, no credit card required
- Access: Instant account creation at codeberg.org
- Private Repository Limits: 100MB for legitimate FOSS work only
- Storage Quotas: 750MB Git repositories + 1.5GB packages/LFS
Migration from GitHub
- Time Investment: 30 minutes per repository (best case), 2 hours with complications
- Success Rate: Code, issues, PRs, releases, wikis migrate successfully
- Breaking Changes: Webhooks require manual reconfiguration, GitHub Actions workflows incompatible
- Rate Limits: Can affect migration speed for large repository collections
Resource Requirements
Human Time Costs
- Initial Migration: 1 weekend for 50 repositories
- Webhook Reconfiguration: 3+ hours for complex setups
- CI Learning Curve: 2-3 days switching from GitHub Actions to Woodpecker CI
- Storage Request Processing: 3 days approval time for increased limits
Technical Expertise Requirements
- Basic Usage: Identical to GitHub workflow
- CI Setup: YAML configuration knowledge required
- Self-Hosting: Systems administration skills for Forgejo deployment
- Advanced Features: Docker knowledge for package registry
Financial Costs
- Platform Usage: Free for open source projects
- Membership: €42/year for voting rights (optional)
- Private Hosting: Use GitHub or self-host for proprietary code
Critical Warnings
What Official Documentation Doesn't Tell You
Storage Reality:
- 100MB private repository limit is enforced strictly
- Storage requests for legitimate FOSS projects generally approved
- No automatic storage scaling unlike GitHub
CI/CD Limitations:
- Woodpecker CI requires separate application and approval (3-day wait)
- Forgejo Actions is alpha software with reliability issues
- Hosted runners frequently unavailable or disappear
- No Dependabot equivalent for dependency management
Performance Constraints:
- Repository stats are basic (no traffic graphs, limited analytics)
- Status checks from CI sometimes delayed 5+ minutes
- Build times slower than GitHub Pages
- Mirror setup requires manual configuration
Breaking Points and Failure Modes
UI Performance:
- Repository insights significantly limited compared to GitHub
- No automated security scanning or dependency alerts
- Project management features basic (no boards, time tracking)
Integration Ecosystem:
- Limited third-party integrations compared to GitHub marketplace
- No VS Code integration for web editing
- Webhook configuration more complex and error-prone
Enterprise Features:
- No 24/7 phone support
- No enterprise SLA guarantees
- Community forum support only
Decision Criteria
Choose Codeberg When:
- Privacy Priority: GDPR compliance and no AI training on code required
- Community Governance: Democratic decision-making preferred over corporate control
- Open Source Focus: All projects are open source
- European Hosting: Data sovereignty requirements for EU projects
- Cost Sensitivity: Free hosting with reasonable storage limits acceptable
Stay with GitHub When:
- Enterprise Requirements: Need 24/7 support and SLA guarantees
- Complex CI/CD: Depend on GitHub Actions marketplace ecosystem
- Private Development: Significant proprietary code hosting needs
- Integration Dependencies: Rely on extensive third-party tool ecosystem
- Advanced Analytics: Require detailed repository insights and traffic data
Technical Trade-offs
| Capability | Codeberg Reality | GitHub Equivalent | Impact Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Training Opt-out | Explicit policy prohibition | Default enabled, complex opt-out | High privacy value |
| CI/CD Maturity | Woodpecker stable, Actions alpha | Actions mature ecosystem | Medium development friction |
| Storage Limits | 750MB + 1.5GB packages | 1GB LFS then paid | Low impact for most projects |
| Integration Ecosystem | Limited selection | Comprehensive marketplace | High for complex workflows |
| Security Scanning | Manual/third-party only | Automated Dependabot | Medium security overhead |
| Performance Analytics | Basic repository stats | Comprehensive insights | Low impact for development |
Implementation Reality
Successful Migration Strategy
- Preparation Phase: Export GitHub repository list, identify webhook dependencies
- Batch Migration: Use built-in migration tool during low-activity periods
- Webhook Reconstruction: Budget 30 minutes per webhook configuration
- CI Transition: Apply for Woodpecker CI access before migration
- Testing Phase: Verify all integrations before GitHub repository deletion
Common Failure Scenarios
- Webhook Misconfiguration: Most time-consuming migration issue
- CI Runner Unavailability: Forgejo Actions hosted runners unreliable
- Storage Quota Exceeded: Requires community request process
- Integration Breaks: Third-party tools may lack Codeberg support
Success Factors
- Community Engagement: Active participation in governance decisions
- Realistic Expectations: Accept limited enterprise features
- Technical Adaptability: Willingness to learn new CI/CD workflows
- Privacy Prioritization: Value data sovereignty over convenience features
Resource Links
Essential Setup Documentation
Operational Resources
- Community Issues - Bug reports and feature requests
- Resource Requests - Storage limit increases
- Status Page - Service availability monitoring
Technical Implementation
- API Documentation - Programmatic access
- Woodpecker CI Setup
- Forgejo Self-Hosting Guide
Operational Intelligence Summary
Primary Value Proposition: Privacy-focused GitHub alternative with community governance and no AI training on code
Critical Success Requirement: Acceptance of limited enterprise features in exchange for data sovereignty
Primary Risk Factor: Smaller ecosystem may impact complex integration requirements
Recommended Use Case: Open source projects prioritizing privacy and community governance over enterprise features and extensive third-party integrations
Useful Links for Further Investigation
Actually Useful Links
| Link | Description |
|---|---|
| Codeberg.org | Just sign up here. No phone verification, no credit card required. Takes 30 seconds. |
| Codeberg Docs | Documentation that actually helps instead of the usual vendor bullshit. Migration guides that work, CI setup that doesn't assume you're an expert. |
| Codeberg Blog | Platform updates and governance decisions. Not marketing fluff - actual useful info about what's changing and why. |
| Join Codeberg e.V. | €42/year gets you voting rights. Help keep it non-profit instead of letting VCs buy it out. |
| Forgejo Project | The actual software running Codeberg. Install it yourself if you don't trust anyone else with your code. |
| Forgejo Docs | Self-hosting guides that don't suck. Includes the gotchas they actually hit in production. |
| Codeberg Infrastructure | Their actual server configs and scripts. Transparent operations - you can see exactly how they run the service. |
| Community Issues | File bugs here instead of screaming into the void. Community-driven fixes actually happen. |
| Resource Requests | Need more storage or CI access? Ask here. They're reasonable about legitimate FOSS projects. |
| Status Page | Check here when shit's broken. Subscribe to notifications so you know if it's you or them. |
| Codeberg Pages | Static hosting that actually works. No tracking pixels, automatic SSL, custom domains work fine. |
| Codeberg Translate | Weblate instance for translations. Saves you from hosting your own if you need multilingual projects. |
| Woodpecker CI | The CI that actually works on Codeberg. Apply for access, learn YAML, get shit done. |
| Terms of Use | Don't be a dick, keep it open source. That's basically it. |
| Privacy Policy | GDPR-compliant policy that actually protects your data instead of finding loopholes to exploit it. |
| Bylaws | How the non-profit actually works. Democratic governance, transparent finances, no VC bullshit. |
| Start here | A comprehensive guide to help you sign up, migrate your repositories, and join developers who prioritize privacy over convenience, moving your code away from AI training. |
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