Radicle 1.0: Code Freely, Ditch Centralization

On September 10, 2024, Radicle released Version 1.0 of its decentralized platform for code management, following five months of development that saw 17 candidate versions being issued since March 26. The release marks a significant milestone for the platform.

Radicle is a platform that enables collaborative coding based on principles of decentralization and privacy. It builds on GIT capabilities and operates in a “Peer-to-Peer” format, allowing users to interact without the need for centralized services.

The main features of Radicle 1.0 include:

  • The platform utilizes its own data exchange and synchronization protocol, based on Git.
  • The Collaboration Objects system facilitates tasks, patches, and code reviews, all stored in repositories.
  • Authentication and authorization are managed through open key cryptography, enabling local content verification without centralized servers.
  • Command-line and web interfaces are available for interacting with repositories and nodes.
  • Data protection at the protocol level, including support for private repositories and Tor.
  • Reproducible and signed assemblies for all binary Radicle files.

In terms of stability and future plans, the Radicle team aims to maintain stability with version 1.0. Protocol changes will be reversible, and command line updates will offer convenient ways to transition to new versions. Despite challenges during the testing phase, the team is confident in achieving stability and enhancing the release process.

Future developments for Radicle include capabilities for CI/CD, the Radical Tui terminal interface, improved code reviewing, and notification systems. The team also plans to support node management and release a desktop application in the future.

The Radicle network is expanding, with plugins for VS CODE and Jetbrains already available on the platform. Over 40 nodes are currently active on the network, replicating user content and contributing to the growth of the ecosystem.

/Reports, release notes, official announcements.