Gitolite

Spec sheet

Purpose

Gitolite is an access control layer for hosting Git repositories on a central server.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gitolite.com

Support

The maker directs general support and discussion to a mailing list and identifies an IRC channel on libera.chat.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gitolite.com

License

The software is licensed under GPL v2.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gitolite.com

Access control

It controls read access by repository and write access by branch, tag, file, or directory.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gitolite.com

Authentication

Authentication commonly uses sshd, and Gitolite also supports smart HTTP mode.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gitolite.com

Customization

Gitolite supports custom commands for users and custom code.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gitolite.com

Groups and configuration

Convenience features include repository groups, user groups, LDAP-sourced user group information, include files, and macros.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gitolite.com

Groups and LDAP

Rule-writing features include repo and user groups, LDAP-sourced user group information, include files, and macros.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gitolite.com

Hosting model

The maker's setup guide installs Gitolite under a hosting Unix user and provides installation from source or a distribution package.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gitolite.com

Install requirements

The maker says it can be installed without root access if Git and Perl are already installed.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gitolite.com

Installation requirements

Gitolite can be installed without root access if Git and Perl are already installed.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gitolite.com

Intended use

The maker says Gitolite is useful on servers hosting multiple repositories with many developers when unrestricted access to every repository is unsuitable.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gitolite.com

Limitations

The maker says Gitolite does not provide code review and recommends Gerrit when code review is essential.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gitolite.com

Mirroring

The overview describes its mirroring system as powerful and flexible.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gitolite.com

Rule features

Its rules can use factors such as branch or tag names, changed files, and changed-file size or count.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gitolite.com

Rules

Its rule language can use factors such as branch or tag names, files or directories touched, changed file size, and number of changed files.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gitolite.com

Security contact

The maker asks that possible security issues be reported directly by email.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gitolite.com

Security process

The site says the v3 version has not had the outside security audit mentioned for an earlier version.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gitolite.com

Self-service repositories

Users can create repositories and set access rights when the administrator allows it.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gitolite.com

User isolation

Multiple Gitolite users share one Unix server user and do not receive shell access.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gitolite.com

User model

It uses one real Unix user on the server while Gitolite users are not real users and do not receive shell access.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gitolite.com

Web interface limit

The maker describes Gitolite as invisible to users except when access is denied and contrasts it with alternatives that offer a full web-based GUI.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gitolite.com

Plans and prices

Every Gitolite plan and price →

Where Specifiction places it

• Git Hosting Services#16 of 358.1