Complete Guide to Forgejo 17.0: New Features and Improvements

Introduction to Forgejo 17.0

Forgejo is an open-source, self-hosted Git collaboration platform, an alternative to GitHub and GitLab. Version 17.0 introduces significant improvements in the Actions CI/CD system, Git LFS support, repository management, and migration tools.

This version is useful for developers and teams looking for a self-managed, community-driven alternative for managing Git projects. The new features improve workflow efficiency, large file management, and migration from other platforms.

• Actions CI/CD: Support for job summaries with Markdown, Mermaid diagrams, and mathematical formulas.
• Git LFS: Improvements in file navigation and management, commit identification, and pointer management.
• Repository Management: Support for FUNDING.yml files and Donate button.
• Autocomplete: Feature for quick suggestions while writing issues, pull requests, and comments.
• Organization Management: Configuration of member invitations with expiration and multiple additions to teams.
• Migration: Support for migration from Bitbucket Data Center.

Forgejo 17.0 is a non-LTS release with support until January 28, 2027. For those who prefer longer support, Forgejo 15.0 LTS is available until July 15, 2027.

Prerequisites

• Hardware: Server or virtual machine with at least 2 CPU cores, 4GB of RAM, and 20GB of disk space.
• Software: Linux operating system (Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, Debian 10, CentOS 7), Docker, and Docker Compose.
• Database: PostgreSQL 12 or later.
• Browser: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge for the web interface.

Procedure: Upgrading to Forgejo 17.0

By the end of this guide, you will have successfully upgraded your Forgejo instance to version 17.0, benefiting from the new features and improvements.

• Ensure you have administrator permissions on the Forgejo server.
• Perform a backup of the current data, including databases and repositories.
• Access the server via SSH.
• Navigate to the Forgejo installation directory.
• Run the command to upgrade the Forgejo package. For example, if you installed Forgejo via apt:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade forgejo

• If you installed Forgejo via another method, consult the official documentation for specific commands.
• Update the Forgejo service:

sudo systemctl restart forgejo

• Verify that the service is active and running:

sudo systemctl status forgejo

• Log in to the Forgejo web interface.
• Verify that the version has been upgraded to 17.0 by checking the "About" or "Information" page.
• Explore the new features such as job summaries, Git LFS support, and repository management improvements.

Verification and Troubleshooting

By the end of this guide, you will be able to test the correct functioning of Forgejo 17.0 and resolve any issues.

Functionality Test

• Verification of Actions CI/CD:
  • Run a sample workflow to verify the generation of job summaries.
  • Check that information formatted in Markdown is displayed correctly above the job logs.
  • Test the ability to rerun completed workflows or individual jobs via the Actions API.
• Git LFS Test:
  • Upload a large file using Git LFS.
  • Verify the correct management of pointers and navigation in the LFS interface.
  • Check that commits referencing specific LFS files are identifiable.
• Verification of FUNDING.yml:
  • Create a FUNDING.yml file in your repository.
• Autocomplete Test:
  • Type ! to limit suggestions to pull requests.
• Verification of Migrations:

Troubleshooting

• Issues with Actions CI/CD:
  • Verify that the API permissions are correct to rerun workflows or jobs.
• Issues with Git LFS:
• Issues with FUNDING.yml:
• Issues with Migrations:

By the end of this guide, you will have a complete overview of the new features introduced by Forgejo 17.0 and be ready to leverage its new features to improve your workflow.

Educational Summary

Call to Practice

Explore the new features of Forgejo 17.0 and integrate them into your daily workflow. For more details, consult the official announcement or the project's release notes.