Git hosting that never leaves Europe
Pushin.eu launches as a new European Git hosting platform, explicitly designed to keep code within EU jurisdiction, avoid US legal reach, and never use user code for AI model training. This fresh take on Git hosting resonates with Hacker News for its privacy-first stance and its challenge to industry giants. The founder's direct, transparent engagement in the comments also significantly shaped the discussion.
The Lowdown
Pushin.eu is a new Git hosting service that positions itself as a privacy-focused, European alternative to mainstream providers like GitHub. The platform emphasizes its commitment to keeping all user data within the EU, thereby sidestepping US legal frameworks like the CLOUD Act.
- European Exclusivity: All repositories are hosted 100% in the EU, specifically on bare-metal Scaleway servers in Paris, France, ensuring compliance with GDPR and avoiding foreign platform politics.
- Anti-AI Training: Pushin.eu explicitly states it will not use user code to train AI models, nor will it allow partners to do so, a direct response to growing concerns in the developer community.
- Slop Blocking: The service aims to combat 'low-effort contributions' to help maintainers avoid burnout, though the exact mechanism for this is not fully detailed.
- Human-Centric Design: Focuses on developer experience (DX) and reliability rather than integrating "shiny AI features."
- Early Stage: Currently in an invite-only beta, with plans for individual and team subscriptions that will be priced comparably to GitHub/GitLab.
- Technology Stack: Built using Elixir (Phoenix + LiveView) for the frontend and Rust with gitoxide libraries for Git operations, utilizing S3-compatible buckets for storage.
- Transparency: The founder, Peter Ullrich, actively engaged in the Hacker News comments, providing detailed answers about the roadmap, business model, and technical implementation.
Pushin.eu offers a compelling alternative for developers and organizations prioritizing data sovereignty, privacy, and an ethical stance against AI model training from their private codebases, all while promising a stable and developer-friendly experience.
The Gossip
Founder's Frankness and Fast Fixes
The top theme was the founder, Peter Ullrich's, unexpected appearance and candid responses. He clarified that the website 'escaped containment' onto HN prematurely, leading to an impromptu Q&A session where he detailed the business model (future subscriptions), privacy stance (minimal data collection), roadmap (GA by early 2027), tech stack (Elixir, Rust, Scaleway), and even the fact that he's a solo founder working with his dog. This direct engagement was highly appreciated, providing crucial context for an otherwise underdeveloped landing page.
Pricing Puzzles and Platform Particulars
Commenters were keen to understand the financial model and specific feature limitations. Initial concerns about missing pricing information, company details, and legal pages were common, with users wanting to know 'how much' before considering a move. The founder later confirmed that paid subscriptions are coming, likely mirroring GitHub/GitLab pricing, and outlined initial upload limits (5GB for logs/artifacts, 10GB cache), which will be adjusted for different tiers. There was also interest in what features were still missing compared to established platforms.
AI Angst and Anti-Slop Statements
The platform's explicit stance against using code for AI model training and its promise to 'block slop' (low-effort contributions) drew attention. Some commenters questioned the practical implications of 'no AI training' for public repositories and critically assessed the marketing copy itself, with one user remarking that it 'smells vibe coded' or even like 'egregious AI slop' despite the anti-AI claims. This created a minor debate around the authenticity and impact of these core value propositions.
Technical Talk and Trust Testing
Beyond the business aspects, a few discussions touched upon the underlying technology and the general trustworthiness of a new, relatively unknown service. The founder highlighted the use of Rust with gitoxide for Git implementation, storing repos in S3-compatible buckets. Some users also searched for independent verification of the founder's identity and past projects, noting a possible pivot from a 'blockchain-something' focus. The discussion included suggestions for alternative self-hosting options for users looking to avoid GitHub.