date: 2026-01-29
author: Dasho
tags: [git, self-hosting, devops, ssh, tui]
🌳 I Built a Git Server (Because Why Not?)
Hey everyone! I'm excited to share something I've been working on lately... a fully-featured Git server running at
git.4-0-4.io. It runs the amazing
charmbracelet's soft-serve and honestly it works really well, like i'm very happy with it.
Why Another Git Server?
Look, I love GitHub/GitLab as much as the next developer, but sometimes you just want something that's:
- Terminal-native - No browser tabs, just a TUI (and over SSH no less... wow)
- Lightweight - Fast, minimal, no bloat
- Yours - Complete control over your code (ownership was a big motivator for me)
- Actually fun to use - Built by a hobbyists, for this hobbyist (and others)
Plus, let's be honest, expanding your infrastructure is always cool. 😎 <-- Cool guy emoji
The Interactive TUI Experience
So the really cool stand-out feature (obviously) is:
SSH into the server and you get a beautiful Terminal User Interface (TUI). You should definitely try it!! Just:
ssh git.4-0-4.io
And boom, that's it! You're browsing repositories with an elegant, keyboard-driven interface (how fucken cool is that). Navigate projects, read READMEs, check commit history, all without leaving your terminal. It's like
htop but for git repositories, and it's honestly satisfying in ways that web UIs just aren't.
Getting Started in 30 Seconds
Browse public repos (no account needed):
ssh git.4-0-4.io
Clone something:
git clone git@git.4-0-4.io:repo-name.git
# Or via HTTPS (and you call yourself a hacker... */me scoffs*)
git clone https://gitx.4-0-4.io/repo-name.git
Want to push your own code? Hit me up on [chat](/chat) and I'll get you set up with an account. It's a hobbyist operation, so I'm manually onboarding folks (keeps the spammers out 🛡️, only cool kids allowed).
Power User Features
Once you're in, the CLI is actually pretty powerful:
# List all repos
ssh git@git.4-0-4.io repos list
# Create a new project
ssh git@git.4-0-4.io repo create my-awesome-project
# Get repo info
ssh git@git.4-0-4.io repo info some-repo
# Manage your SSH keys
ssh git@git.4-0-4.io pubkey add <your-public-key>
You can even import directly from GitHub/GitLab:
ssh git@git.4-0-4.io repo import my-project https://github.com/user/project.git
This isn't trying to replace GitHub or anything fancy and all my code will still go up there like normal, but I do think that it's a complementary tool for when you want:
- 🏠 A home for side projects - Not everything needs to be public or on a corporate platform
- 🔒 Privacy-first hosting - Your code, your server, your rules
- 🎯 Minimal friction - No web forms, no OAuth dances, just SSH and git (I love using my SSH keys for stuff, ask anyone)
- 🤝 Community feel - Small, focused, hobbyist-friendly
Technical Bits (For the Curious)
- SSH on port 22 - Standard git protocol support
- HTTPS on 443 - For those who prefer it (via gitx.4-0-4.io)
- Git LFS support - Handle those binary files properly
- Webhook support - Integrate with your CI/CD if you want (obviously though this is a step down from github's level as it's just meant for small nice repo stuff)
- Mirror repos - Automatically sync from external sources
All running on modest hardware because efficiency matters when you're a hobbyist paying the hosting bills. 💸
A Few Friendly Limits
Since this is a passion project and not a venture-backed startup (too bad):
- Be reasonable with storage - 2-5 GB max per repo is ideal
- Use Git LFS for big files - Keeps everything performant
- Don't abuse bandwidth - This is a shared resource, that is I'm sharing it with you
If something gets excessive, I'll reach out before taking action. We're all friends here.
Try It Out!
Seriously, just SSH in and poke around:
ssh git.4-0-4.io
No account required to browse. Clone some repos. See if you like the workflow. If you dig it and want to host your projects here, find me on [IRC](/irc), the [forum](/forum), or [chat](/chat).
Give it a shot. Maybe we can even build something fun together.
Happy hacking! 🚀
— Dasho
Links:- Git Server: [git.4-0-4.io](ssh://git.4-0-4.io) (SSH) / gitx.4-0-4.io (HTTPS)
- Full Documentation: [Check the Git page](/git)
- Get Help: [Chat](/chat) | [IRC](/irc) | [Forum](/forum)
P.S. - If you spot bugs or have feature ideas, clone the server's own repo and send me a patch. Meta, right? 😄