Radicle 1.8.0 Released: Decentralized Peer-to-Peer Code Forge Built on Git

Radicle 1.8.0 is out (release date: 2026-03-26). It's an open source, peer-to-peer code collaboration stack built on Git, designed to replace centralized hosting like GitHub with a fully decentralized network where users control their data.

What It Is

Radicle is a sovereign code forge. Repositories are identified by a cryptographic ID (e.g., rad:z3gqcJUoA1n9HaHKufZs5FCSGazv5). There is no single entity controlling the network – repos replicate across peers, and all social artifacts (issues, patches, discussions) are stored as Git objects using Collaborative Objects (COBs).

Installation

On Linux, macOS, or BSD, run:

curl -sSLf https://radicle.dev/install | sh

Or build from source. They also offer a desktop client (Radicle Desktop) for a graphical experience.

Key Features

• Decentralized peer-to-peer: No central server. Repos replicated across peers via a custom gossip protocol.
• Cryptographic identities: All social artifacts are signed using public-key cryptography. Radicle verifies authenticity and authorship.
• Local-first: Always available offline. Users own their data; migration and backup are straightforward.
• Modular stack: CLI, web interface, and TUI all backed by the radicle-node and radicle-httpd. The node speaks NoiseXK, the HTTP daemon speaks HTTP+JSON.

Architecture

The stack is layered:

• Storage: Git repositories (code, issues, patches stored as Git objects via COBs).
• Network: Radicle Node uses NoiseXK for encrypted peer connections, Radicle HTTPD exposes REST endpoints.
• Clients: Radicle CLI, Radicle Web, and Radicle Desktop.

Notable History

• 1.8.0 (March 2026) – latest release.
• 1.7.0+ (ahead of 2025) added Jujutsu integration and Canonical References.
• Radicle Desktop launched June 2025.
• Heartwood protocol announced April 2023.

Licensed under MIT and Apache 2.0. Community on Zulip, updates on Mastodon/Bluesky/Twitter.