opengist
Opengist is a self-hosted, open-source pastebin service that stores all snippets in a Git repository. It provides a web interface similar to GitHub Gist, plus the ability to manage snippets via standard Git commands over HTTP or SSH.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | thomiceli/opengist |
| Owner | thomiceli |
| Primary language | Go |
| License | AGPL-3.0 — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 3.2k |
| Forks | 176 |
| Open issues | 43 |
| Latest release | v1.13.1 (2026-06-09) |
| Last updated | 2026-07-03 |
| Source | https://github.com/thomiceli/opengist |
What opengist is
Go-based self-hosted pastebin with Git-backed storage, supporting syntax highlighting, OAuth2 authentication (GitHub, GitLab, Gitea, OIDC), and dual interfaces (web UI + Git protocol). Includes Docker/Helm deployment, revision history, and search capabilities.
Get the opengist source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/thomiceli/opengist.gitcd opengist# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- AGPL-3.0 license requires source code disclosure if you modify and deploy; conduct legal review before internal modifications.
- Requires Git 2.28+, Go 1.23+, Node.js 16+ for source build; Docker simplifies this but adds container orchestration overhead.
- SSH and HTTP Git access both need network configuration (ports 22/2222 typical); plan firewall and key management policies.
- Data stored in Git repository on disk; plan backup/disaster recovery strategy for the underlying Git storage volume.
- OAuth2 integration requires external provider (GitHub, GitLab, Gitea, OIDC); ensure identity provider availability and configuration.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Heavy public content platform — If you need massive public discovery, trending algorithms, or monetization—Opengist is optimized for team/private use, not community scale.
- Managed service preference — Teams unwilling to operate and maintain a self-hosted service; GitHub Gist or similar SaaS solutions are lower-friction.
- AGPL-3.0 license incompatibility — Projects or organizations that cannot accept AGPL-3.0's copyleft and network use restrictions; requires legal review before commercial deployment.
- Real-time collaboration — If simultaneous multi-user editing is critical, Opengist's Git-based model is not designed for live collaboration like Google Docs or Figma.
License & commercial use
Licensed under AGPL-3.0 (GNU Affero General Public License v3.0). This is a strong copyleft license requiring source code disclosure for any modifications or network-accessible deployments. Not a permissive OSI license.
Commercial use is possible but requires careful legal review. AGPL-3.0 mandates source code availability if you modify the software or offer it as a network service to external parties. Internal-only deployment on private infrastructure may have different implications; consult legal counsel before production deployment in commercial settings.
DEV.co evaluation signals
Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.
| Signal | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active |
| Documentation | Adequate |
| License clarity | Clear |
| Deployment complexity | Moderate |
| DEV.co fit | Good |
| Assessment confidence | High |
Self-hosted architecture shifts security responsibility to operator. No explicit security audit or hardening guidance visible in excerpt. AGPL-3.0 source availability aids code review. Key areas to evaluate: Git SSH key management, OAuth2 provider trust, password/auth storage, snippet access controls (public/private/unlisted), HTTP/HTTPS configuration, and input validation for code/markdown rendering. No known CVEs mentioned in data; verify before production use.
Alternatives to consider
GitHub Gist
Official SaaS pastebin; zero operational overhead, integrated with GitHub ecosystem, but closed-source and external-dependency.
Gitea
Lightweight self-hosted Git service with snippet/file storage capabilities; broader feature set than Opengist but heavier deployment footprint.
Paste.rs or Hastebin
Simpler, single-binary pastebins with minimal dependencies; trade off Git-native workflow and revision history for ease of deployment.
Build on opengist with DEV.co software developers
Opengist combines Git workflows with modern pastebin features. Evaluate license implications, test deployment with Docker, and verify OAuth2 and backup strategies before production rollout.
Talk to DEV.coRelated on DEV.co
Explore the category and the services that help you build with it.
opengist FAQ
Can I use Opengist in a commercial product or SaaS?
Does Opengist support high-availability or clustering?
What authentication methods are supported?
How large can snippets be?
Software developers & web developers for hire
From first prototype to production, DEV.co delivers software development services around tools like opengist. Our software development agency staffs experienced software developers and web developers for custom software development, web development, integrations, and ongoing support across open-source devops and beyond.
Ready to Deploy a Self-Hosted Pastebin?
Opengist combines Git workflows with modern pastebin features. Evaluate license implications, test deployment with Docker, and verify OAuth2 and backup strategies before production rollout.