Opengist

Opengist is a self-hosted pastebin application that stores code snippets in a Git repository. It allows users to create and share snippets while maintaining a versioned history of changes. The software is deployed as a server and provides a web interface for managing content, making it a central hub for storing reusable code fragments and configuration files.

Users can interact with their snippets through the browser or by using standard Git commands over HTTP or SSH. This dual approach ensures that snippets are not locked into a proprietary database but remain accessible as standard Git repositories. The application supports various deployment methods, including Docker containers, Helm Charts, or running as a standalone binary on Linux and other supported systems. It is designed for users who need a private, versioned way to store and distribute code snippets.

Key features

• Git integration for cloning, pulling, and pushing snippets via HTTP or SSH
• Support for public, unlisted, and private snippet visibility
• Syntax highlighting with support for Markdown and CSV
• Search functionality for code, users, likes, and forks
• Revision history for tracking changes to snippets
• OAuth2 authentication via GitHub, GitLab, Gitea, and OpenID Connect
• Ability to embed snippets in external websites
• Raw file downloads or export as ZIP archives

The application is built using Go and TypeScript. It includes a flexible authentication system that allows administrators to restrict or unrestrict snippet visibility for anonymous users, providing control over who can view specific pieces of code. Because it relies on a Git backend, all data is stored in a format that remains accessible and portable outside of the web interface. The system also supports the addition of topics to snippets, which helps in organizing large collections of code and improving discoverability through the search interface.

Opengist serves as a version-controlled snippet manager for developers and teams who require a self-managed environment for sharing code.