The Code Hosting and Forges Tools I Actually Use (Not Just Recommend)

The Setup

I spent the last few weeks going deep on code hosting and forges tools. Not just reading docs or watching demos — actually using them on real projects. Here's what I found.

First Impressions

Gitea immediately stood out for onboarding. Codeberg had a steeper learning curve but more power under the hood. The dark horse surprised me the most.

What I Actually Ended Up Using

After testing everything, my daily driver ended up being a combination. For most tasks I stuck with Gitea, but for specific workflows Codeberg was unbeatable.

The Honest Verdict

If you're looking for code hosting and forges tools in 2026, don't just follow the hype. Test at least 3 options yourself. What works for my workflow might not work for yours — and that's fine.

Tools Mentioned