Radicle, a decentralized peer-to-peer platform for collaborative code development and storage, has recently unveiled its 1.0 release. This platform, similar to GitHub and Gitlab, is not tied to specific servers, is not subject to censorship, and operates using resources from participants in the P2P network. The release of Version 1.0 signifies the stabilization of the protocol and the platform’s readiness for widespread use. Moving forward, the protocol will undergo changes while ensuring reverse compatibility, and tools will offer seamless updates to existing systems.
The project is developed in Rust and distributed under the licenses of Apache 2.0 and MIT. Radicle has prepared assemblies for Linux and MacOS, along with a desktop client, web interface, and a console interface for users. By utilizing Radicle, developers can avoid reliance on centralized platforms and corporations, eliminating associated risks such as a single point of failure or changes in the platform’s operations.
Radicle leverages Git to control code, expanding its capabilities by defining repositories within a P2P network. All data is stored locally following the Local-First concept, ensuring developers have access to their code regardless of network connectivity. Participants on Radicle provide access to their code, patches, and issue discussions, which are replicated across other nodes in the decentralized P2P network.
The platform employs the gossip protocol to determine neighboring nodes in the network and the headwood protocol based on Git to replicate data between nodes. Radicle seamlessly integrates with existing Git development tools, utilizing cryptography based on open keys for component identification and repository verification without the need for accounts.