Gerrit

Gerrit is an open-source, self-hosted web application designed for code review and project management within Git based software projects. It functions as a server that manages the flow of changes from developers to the main repository, ensuring that code is vetted and approved before it is merged into the master branch. This system provides a centralized environment where developers can submit their work for inspection and feedback.

The software is deployed as a server and can be installed via binary packages for Debian, Ubuntu, CentOS, RedHat, and Fedora. It is also available as a Docker image for Ubuntu and CentOS environments, allowing for flexible infrastructure setups. Users interact with the tool through a web interface to manage commits, track progress, and communicate about specific lines of code during the review cycle.

Key features

• Side-by-side display of code changes for easier review
• Inline commenting system for reviewers
• Automated submission of changes to the master Git repository
• Permission-based access control for authorized users
• Integration with Git for version control management
• Support for multiple Linux distribution package managers
• Docker containerization for simplified deployment

Gerrit is built for project maintainers and developers who need a structured way to handle contributions in large scale projects. By allowing authorized users to submit approved changes directly, it reduces the manual workload on project maintainers who would otherwise have to merge every single change by hand. The architecture supports a workflow where the review process is decoupled from the final merge, ensuring that only verified code enters the primary codebase. The project is developed by a large community of contributors and is distributed under the Apache License 2.0.

This tool is positioned as a specialized infrastructure component for teams requiring a formal, audited review process for Git repositories.