GNU ELPA vs Packagist
GNU ELPA
elpa.gnu.orgPackagist
packagist.orgSide by side
| Figure | GNU ELPA | Packagist |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | €2,500/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 4 |
| Spec score · Package Registries | 8.6 (#8) | 8.0 (#13) |
| Purpose | GNU ELPA is the default package repository for GNU Emacs. | Packagist is the default Composer package repository, helping users find packages and telling Composer where to get their code. |
| Security | The contribution page warns that a package can pose a security risk if its maintainer’s repository access is compromised. | The site says Packagist.org package metadata is hosted on Bunny.net's global CDN. |
| Support | The site directs users to report bugs with `M-x report-emacs-bug` and suggests the help-gnu-emacs mailing list for help. | Commercial support and consulting for PHP dependency management with Packagist and Composer are available through Private Packagist subscription plans. |
Plans
Packagist
- Packagist.orgFree
- Bronze sponsorship€2,500 a month
- Silver sponsorship€5,000 a month
- Gold sponsorship€8,000 a month
In their own words
Packagist
Packagist is the default Composer package repository for PHP developers. It helps them discover public packages and tells Composer where to retrieve the code. To publish, a user submits a public repository URL, which Packagist checks periodically. New versions are gathered from repository tags, while branches are shown as development versions. Hooks or webhooks from GitHub, Bitbucket, GitLab, and Gitea can trigger automatic package updates. The API supports searching and listing packages, retrieving package data, and viewing download statistics, among other operations. Many endpoints can be used anonymously; authenticated ones accept bearer tokens or a username and API token. Packagist.org is free to publish open-source PHP packages. The maker says stable versions cannot be silently replaced with different code. The service is for public packages, and users seeking to share private code are directed to Private Packagist. Packagist Conductors GmbH, registered in Berlin, says it has operated Packagist.org since its creation in 2012. Separate sponsorship plans are available at 2500.00 EUR, 5000.00 EUR, and €8,000 a month, each with an annual commitment.