Self hosting code with OpenBSD and stagit

8 minutes read

Self-Hosting Git Using OpenBSD and Stagit

In the world of software development, version control is essential. Git, a distributed version control system, has become the de facto standard for managing source code and collaborating on projects. While platforms like GitHub and GitLab offer convenient hosting solutions, there’s something empowering about self-hosting your Git repositories. In this guide, we’ll explore how to set up a self-hosted Git environment using OpenBSD and Stagit.

Why Self-Host Git?

Self-hosting Git repositories offers several advantages:

Privacy and Control: When you self-host, you retain complete control over your codebase and its access. This is crucial for sensitive projects or if you have specific security requirements.
Customization: Self-hosting allows you to tailor the environment to your needs. You can customize the server setup, authentication methods, and more.
Offline Access: Self-hosting allows you to work with your repositories even when you’re offline or don’t have access to external services.
Learning Opportunity: Setting up your Git server is a great learning experience that deepens your understanding of Git and networking.

Using OpenBSD for Self-Hosting

OpenBSD is a security-focused operating system known for its proactive security measures and clean codebase. It’s an excellent choice for self-hosting due to its strong emphasis on security and simplicity.

Prerequisites

Before you start, ensure you have a machine running OpenBSD. You’ll need root access or the ability to use sudo.

Installation Steps

Install Git and Web Server: Use the OpenBSD package manager to install Git and a web server (e.g., Nginx or OpenBSD’s built-in httpd).
```
doas pkg_add git nginx
```
Create a Git User: For security reasons, it’s best not to run Git and the web server as the root user. Create a dedicated user for Git operations.
```
doas useradd -m -s /bin/ksh _git
```

Configure Git Server: Initialize an empty Git repository and configure the server-side hooks.

su - _git
git init --bare myrepo.git
cd myrepo.git/hooks
# Configure hooks (e.g., post-receive for updating the stagit site)

Install and Configure Stagit: Stagit generates a static HTML representation of your Git repository, suitable for serving through a web server. Clone the stagit repository, configure it, and generate the HTML.
```
doas pkg_add stagit
git clone https://git.codemadness.org/stagit.git
cd stagit
make
./stagit-index /home/_git/myrepo.git > index.html
```

Configure Nginx: If you’re using Nginx, create a virtual host configuration file pointing to the stagit-generated HTML files.

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name git.example.com;

    location / {
        alias /path/to/stagit/index.html;
        index index.html;
    }
}

Start Services: Start your web server (Nginx or httpd) and enable it to start on boot.
```
doas rcctl enable nginx
doas rcctl start nginx
```

Conclusion

Self-hosting Git using OpenBSD and Stagit gives you full control over your repositories, enhancing your privacy, security, and customization options. This guide has outlined the essential steps, from setting up the OpenBSD environment to configuring Git repositories and serving them using Stagit and a web server. By following these steps, you can create a secure and private Git hosting solution tailored to your needs. Happy coding!