Radicle: P2P, Censorship-Resistant Code Collaboration Based on Git

Speaker: Lorenz Leutgeb Today, much of the open-source ecosystem depends on a few centralized code forges, even though modern version control systems are designed with fully distributed collaboration in mind. This creates questionable dependencies with regards to governance and supply-chain security. In this talk, we explore an alternative: Radicle, a decentralized, peer-to-peer code collaboration stack built on Git, that empowers developers to work together while staying sovereign. Unlike traditional, centralized code forges that can impose censorship, Radicle ensures that each user retains control over their data, interactions, and collaboration, free from corporate influence. This aligns with broader movements toward decentralization, open-source software, and the democratization of internet services. - We describe the Radicle gossip protocol, peer discovery, and secure data replication through cryptographic verification. - We highlight Radicle’s concept of Collaborative Objects (an implementation of conflict-free replicated data types, stored within the Git repository), which enables decentralized code reviews and issue management, and can be extended. - We demonstrate how Radicle integrates with familiar workflows while offering full control over code and issues, even when offline. - We share plans for future development of the network. Attendees gain a comprehensive understanding of Radicle’s technical architecture, its practical benefits for decentralized code collaboration, and how it contributes to a more autonomous and resilient future for open-source development. Free your code!