Fossil vs Gitea: What are the differences?

Key Differences between Fossil and Gitea

1. Version Control System: Fossil is an integrated wiki, bug tracking, and distributed version control system (DVCS) designed for software projects, while Gitea is solely a self-hosted Git service like GitHub. Fossil has a built-in web interface, making it a complete solution for project management, whereas Gitea focuses solely on providing Git repository hosting.

2. User Interface and Features: Fossil has a built-in web interface that includes project management tools like ticketing system, wiki, and source code browser, making it convenient for users. On the other hand, Gitea provides a more traditional Git repository hosting service with a user-friendly interface and features such as pull requests, issue tracking, and collaboration tools.

3. Community Support and Development: Gitea has a larger community base and is actively developed by the open-source community, resulting in regular updates and improvements. In contrast, Fossil has a smaller community and may have slower development cycles, leading to potentially fewer features and updates compared to Gitea.

4. Installation and Deployment: Gitea is designed for easier installation and deployment, making it more suitable for users looking for a straightforward self-hosted Git service. Fossil, with its integrated features and complexities, may require more effort for installation and configuration, potentially making it less user-friendly in comparison to Gitea.

5. Customization and Extensibility: Gitea offers more customization options and extensibility through plugins and themes, allowing users to tailor the service to their specific needs. In contrast, Fossil may have limited customization options and extensions due to its all-in-one approach, potentially restricting users who require more flexibility in their project management setup.

6. License and Security: Fossil is distributed under a permissive BSD license, ensuring flexibility in usage, modification, and redistribution, whereas Gitea is licensed under the more restrictive AGPL license, requiring users to make their modifications open-source. This difference in licensing may influence the choice of organizations based on their security and compliance requirements.

In Summary, Fossil is an integrated solution for software projects with built-in project management tools, while Gitea is a self-hosted Git service focused on repository hosting with a larger community base and more customization options.