How to Set Up and Use Gitea on Oikos OpenHub: Lightweight Self-Hosted Git

Gitea is an efficient and lightweight self-hosted Git service designed to be a simpler, faster alternative to monolithic platforms like GitHub or GitLab. It provides all the essential features needed for effective code collaboration, including repository management, pull requests, issue tracking, and a built-in wiki.

Deploying Gitea through the Oikos OpenHub Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) is the ideal solution for teams requiring a private, autonomous Git environment. Oikos handles the container orchestration, persistence (volume mapping for data), and secure networking, allowing you to launch a production-ready code hosting platform in minutes.

1. Accessing the Oikos OpenHub Catalog#

Access the Oikos Console#

  • Visit: Navigate to the Oikos platform launchpad at https://launch.nife.io.
  • Log In: Use your registered Oikos credentials to access the primary application dashboard.

Navigate to OpenHub#

  • Locate: Find the OpenHub option in the left-hand navigation sidebar.
  • Selection: Click OpenHub to view the comprehensive catalog of deployable open-source applications.

Search for Gitea#

  • Search Bar: Utilize the search functionality within the OpenHub interface and enter the term Gitea.
  • Identify: Locate the Gitea application card, pre-configured for deployment on the Oikos PaaS.

2. Configuring and Initiating Deployment#

Gitea requires a secure environment for data persistence (repositories, users) and proper network routing.

Start Deployment and Configuration Review#

  • Action: Hover over the Gitea tile and click the Deploy button. This transitions you to the configuration screen.

Review Deployment Settings#

  • App Name: Assign a unique name to your Git instance (e.g., team-code-host).
  • Cloud Region: Select a Cloud Region that offers the lowest latency for the developers who will be frequently cloning and pushing code.
  • Resource Allocation: Review the default CPU and RAM. While Gitea is lightweight, resource needs will grow with the number of repositories, users, and CI/CD pipelines being integrated.

Persistence (Volume Mapping): Oikos typically ensures data persistence by automatically mounting a dedicated volume to the container path /data (where Gitea stores its database, repositories, and index). Crucially, ensure this volume is backed up regularly to protect your source code.

  • Finalization: Review all settings, confirm persistence is configured, and click Submit or the final Deploy button to commence the container launch process.

Monitor Deployment Status#

  • Process: Oikos provisions resources, pulls the Gitea container image, maps the persistent storage, and establishes a secure HTTPS network endpoint.
  • Completion: Wait for the status indicator to change to Running.

3. Accessing and Initializing Gitea#

Wait for Completion and Launch#

  • Action: Once the status is Running, click the Open App button.
  • Result: This redirects you to the unique, secure URL of your deployed Gitea instance, which presents the Initial Configuration Page.

Initial System Setup#

  • Database Settings: On the initial setup page, confirm the database settings (often SQLite for simplicity, or connect to an external PostgreSQL/MySQL instance if required).
  • Application General Settings: Set the base URL (which should match your Oikos public endpoint) and the server name.
  • Create Admin Account (Mandatory): Scroll down to the Administrator Account section and:
    • Choose a secure Username.
    • Enter a primary Email Address.
    • Set a strong, unique Password.
  • Finalize: Click Install Gitea to complete the setup and proceed to the main dashboard.

4. Managing Repositories and Collaboration#

Once logged in with the Admin account, you can manage the self-hosted environment:

Creating and Cloning Repositories#

  • Create: Click the + button in the top right to New Repository. Define the name, select private/public visibility, and choose whether to initialize a README/Gitignore.
  • Clone: Use the provided SSH or HTTPS URL (e.g., git clone https://your-gitea-url/user/repo.git) to clone the repository to your local development machine.

User Management and Collaboration#

  • Invite Team Members: As Admin, navigate to Admin Panel to manage users, or go to an individual repository’s Settings → Collaborators & Teams to grant Read, Write, or Admin access roles to specific users.
  • Code Review: Use the built-in features for Pull Requests and Issue Tracking to facilitate structured code review and bug reporting within your team.

CI/CD and Webhooks#

  • Integration: Navigate to a repository’s Settings → Webhooks. Set up webhooks to trigger external CI/CD systems (like Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or self-hosted Drone) or send notifications to team communication tools (Slack/Discord) upon code pushes or pull request events.

Advanced System Administration#

  • Configuration: The Admin Panel provides deep control over system settings, including setting user registration policies, configuring external authentication methods (LDAP, OAuth), and managing email notifications for system events.

Core Benefits of Deploying Gitea on Oikos#

1. Self-Hosted Data Sovereignty#

By hosting your Git service on Oikos, you retain full ownership and control over all source code, commit history, and user data. This is critical for proprietary projects and meeting specific organizational compliance requirements.

2. Lightweight and High-Performance#

Gitea is exceptionally fast and resource-efficient. Running it on Oikos’s optimized container platform ensures rapid cloning, smooth code browsing, and quick load times, even for large codebases.

3. Integrated Persistence and Security#

Oikos automatically manages the persistent storage required for Gitea, ensuring that all code and database changes survive container restarts. Furthermore, the platform secures your endpoint with HTTPS/TLS encryption by default.

4. Simplified DevOps Tooling#

The PaaS environment abstracts the need to manage the underlying server, dependencies (like Go or Git installation), and database setup. Developers can launch a complete Git service instantly, focusing purely on code development and collaboration.

Official Documentation#

For comprehensive information on Gitea's features, advanced configurations, and community updates:

Gitea Official Website: https://gitea.com/