TL;DR
A developer has migrated their code from GitHub to a self-hosted Forgejo instance, citing concerns over ownership, outages, and GitHub’s increasing integration with Microsoft’s AI initiatives. This reflects broader industry debates on control and data privacy.
A developer has officially migrated their code repositories from GitHub to a self-hosted Forgejo instance, citing issues of ownership, outages, and concerns over GitHub’s increasing integration with Microsoft’s AI initiatives. This move reflects a broader shift among some developers and government entities seeking greater control over their source code.
The developer, who previously used GitHub as their primary hosting platform, transitioned to Forgejo, a self-hosted, open-source alternative, on April 27, 2026. They cited the ownership of their code and data as a key reason, aligning with actions by the Dutch government, which launched a similar self-hosted Forgejo platform for its source code earlier in April.
GitHub has experienced frequent outages, with 257 incidents recorded between May 2025 and April 2026, including major outages affecting core features like Actions and Pull Requests. GitHub’s CTO publicly acknowledged that capacity needs to increase 30-fold to handle AI-driven load growth. Additionally, since August 2025, GitHub’s leadership was absorbed into Microsoft’s AI division, reducing its independence. The company also changed its privacy policy in April 2026, defaulting to opt-in for AI training data collection, raising privacy concerns among some users.
Why It Matters
This move underscores growing distrust among developers regarding platform ownership, reliability, and data privacy. It highlights a broader industry trend where users seek more control over their source code and data, especially in light of outages and corporate policy shifts. The decision by a developer and the Dutch government signals a potential shift away from proprietary, centralized hosting services toward open-source, self-managed solutions.
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Background
Over the past year, GitHub has faced increasing criticism over outages, capacity issues, and its integration with Microsoft’s AI efforts. The company experienced numerous incidents, with CTO Vlad Fedorov admitting that infrastructure needs a 30x increase. Meanwhile, GitHub’s leadership was absorbed into Microsoft’s AI division after the departure of CEO Thomas Dohmke in August 2025. The policy change in April 2026, making AI training data collection opt-out by default, further fueled privacy concerns, especially among those wary of US government access under FISA and CLOUD Act. These developments have prompted some users and governments to consider alternative hosting solutions.
“I moved my code from GitHub to a self-hosted Forgejo because I no longer trust owning my code on a platform controlled by a corporation that is increasingly driven by AI and government concerns.”
— the developer
“The Dutch government chose Forgejo because it allows us to legally publish our source code on a platform we own, ensuring digital autonomy.”
— Boris Van Hoytema, Dutch project manager
“Capacity needs to grow 30x to handle AI-driven workflow growth; outages are a symptom of this scaling challenge.”
— Vlad Fedorov, GitHub CTO
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What Remains Unclear
It remains unclear how widespread the shift away from GitHub will become among individual developers and organizations. The long-term stability and security of Forgejo instances compared to proprietary platforms are also still being tested. Additionally, the full impact of GitHub’s policy changes on user trust and migration patterns is yet to be seen.
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What’s Next
The developer plans to archive all remaining GitHub repositories and fully transition to Forgejo, with ongoing migration expected to complete within the coming months. Industry observers will watch whether more users and institutions follow suit, potentially influencing the future landscape of source code hosting.
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Key Questions
Why is the developer leaving GitHub now?
The developer cites concerns over ownership, reliability issues, and GitHub’s increasing reliance on AI and corporate policies that reduce user control and privacy.
What is Forgejo, and why is it chosen?
Forgejo is an open-source, self-hosted Git platform based on Gitea, allowing users to run their own code hosting service with full control over data and infrastructure.
Does this mean GitHub is unreliable?
While GitHub has experienced numerous outages, the primary reason for migration is the concern over ownership, privacy, and strategic direction, not solely technical reliability.
How does GitHub’s policy change affect users?
Starting April 24, 2026, GitHub collects AI training data by default unless users opt out, raising privacy concerns for some users and organizations.
Will more developers or organizations leave GitHub?
It is still uncertain, but these developments may prompt others to consider alternative hosting solutions, especially those prioritizing control and privacy.
