gitblit/docs/00_index.mkd

## What is Gitblit?
<div class="well" style="margin-left:5px;float:right;width:275px;padding: 10px 10px;">
<b>Current Release %VERSION% (%BUILDDATE%)</b> <a href="releases.html">changelog</a>
<div style="padding:5px;"><a style="width:175px;text-decoration:none;" class="btn btn-success" href="http://code.google.com/p/gitblit/downloads/detail?name=%GO%">Download Gitblit GO</a></div>
<div style="padding:5px;"><a style="width:175px;text-decoration:none;" class="btn btn-danger" href="http://code.google.com/p/gitblit/downloads/detail?name=%WAR%">Download Gitblit WAR</a></div>
<div style="padding:5px;"><a style="width:175px;text-decoration:none;" class="btn btn-info" href="http://code.google.com/p/gitblit/downloads/detail?name=%EXPRESS%">Download Gitblit Express</a> <span class="label label-warning">BETA</span></div>
<div style="padding:5px;"><a style="width:175px;text-decoration:none;" class="btn btn-primary" href="http://code.google.com/p/gitblit/downloads/detail?name=%MANAGER%">Download Gitblit Manager</a></div>
	<div style="text-align:center">
		<a href="http://code.google.com/p/gitblit/downloads/detail?name=%API%">Gitblit API</a> | <a href="http://code.google.com/p/gitblit/downloads/detail?name=%FEDCLIENT%">Gitblit Federation Client</a>
		<br/>
		<a href="screenshots.html" title="Screenshots"><img style="margin-top:5px;border:1px solid #ccc;" src="thumbs/00.png" alt="Screenshots" /></a>
	</div>

	<div style="padding-top:5px;">
	<table class="table condensed-table">
		<tbody>
		<tr><th>License</th><td><a href="http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0">Apache License, version 2.0</a></td></tr>
		<tr><th>Sources</th><td><a href="http://github.com/gitblit">GitHub</a> &amp; <a href="http://code.google.com/p/gitblit/source/list">GoogleCode</a></td></tr>		
		<tr><th>Issues</th><td><a href="http://code.google.com/p/gitblit/issues/list">GoogleCode</a></td></tr>
		<tr><th>Discussion</th><td><a href="http://groups.google.com/group/gitblit">Gitblit Group</a></td></tr>
		<tr><th>Google+</th><td><a href="https://plus.google.com/114464678392593421684">Gitblit+</a></td></tr>
		<tr><th>Ohloh</th><td><a target="_top" href="http://www.ohloh.net/p/gitblit"><img border="0" width="100" height="16" src="http://www.ohloh.net/p/gitblit/widgets/project_thin_badge.gif" alt="Ohloh project report for Gitblit" /></a></td></tr>
		<tr><th>Donations</th><td>If you enjoy Gitblit and want to support its development, please consider making a donation to <a href="http://www.helpmegivetostjude.org/gitblit">St. Jude Children's Research Hospital</a>.
		<a href="http://www.helpmegivetostjude.org/gitblit" alt="St. Jude Children's Research Hospital"><img style="padding-top:10px;" src="stjude_150x150.gif"/></a></td></tr>
		</tbody>
		</table>
	</div>
</div>

Gitblit is an open-source, pure Java stack for managing, viewing, and serving [Git][git] repositories.  
It's designed primarily as a tool for small workgroups who want to host centralized repositories.

You can browse a live demo [here](https://demo-gitblit.rhcloud.com) hosted on [RedHat's OpenShift][rhcloud] cloud service.

### GO: Single-Stack Solution

*Gitblit GO* is an integrated, single-stack solution based on Jetty.

You do not need Apache httpd, Perl, Git, or Gitweb.  Should you want to use some or all of those, you still can; Gitblit plays nice with the other kids on the block.

This is what you should download if you want to go from zero to Git in less than 5 mins.

All dependencies are bundled.

### WAR: For Your Servlet Container
*Gitblit WAR* is what you should download if you already have a servlet container available that you wish to use.  Jetty 6/7/8 and Tomcat 6/7 are known to work.  Generally, any Servlet 2.5 or Servlet 3.0 container should work.

All dependencies are bundled.

### Express: For the Cloud <span class="label label-warning" style="vertical-align: middle;">BETA</span>
*Gitblit Express* is a prepared distribution for [RedHat's OpenShift][rhcloud] cloud service.

All dependencies are bundled.

### You decide how to use Gitblit

Gitblit can be used as a dumb repository viewer with no administrative controls or user accounts.  
Gitblit can be used as a complete Git stack for cloning, pushing, and repository access control.  
Gitblit can be used without any other Git tooling (including actual Git) or it can cooperate with your established tools.

### Easy Remote Management

Administrators can create and manage all repositories, user accounts, and teams from the *Web UI*.  
Administrators can create and manage all repositories, user accounts, and teams from the *JSON RPC interface* using the [Gitblit Manager](http://code.google.com/p/gitblit/downloads/detail?name=%MANAGER%) or your own custom tooling. 

### Integration with Your Infrastructure

- Groovy push hook scripts
- Pluggable user service mechanism for custom authentication, authorization, and user management
- Rich RSS feeds
- JSON-based RPC mechanism
- [Java Client RSS/JSON API library](http://code.google.com/p/gitblit/downloads/detail?name=%API%) for custom integration

### Backup Strategy

Gitblit includes a backup mechanism (*federation*) which can be used to backup repositories and, optionally, user accounts, team definitions, server settings, & Groovy push hook scripts from your Gitblit instance to another Gitblit instance or to a [Gitblit Federation Client](http://code.google.com/p/gitblit/downloads/detail?name=%FEDCLIENT%).  Similarly, you can use the federation mechanism to aggregate individual workspace Gitblit instances to a common, centralized server.

### Java Runtime Requirement

Gitblit requires a Java 6 Runtime Environment (JRE) or a Java 6 Development Kit (JDK).

[jgit]: http://eclipse.org/jgit "Eclipse JGit Site"
[git]: http://git-scm.com "Official Git Site"
[rhcloud]: https://openshift.redhat.com/app "RedHat OpenShift"