---
title: "Installation"
description: "Get your own Git service up and running in minutes"
icon: "download"
---

## Prerequisites

1. Gogs requires use of one of the following database backends:
    - MySQL, >= 5.7
    - PostgreSQL, >= 9.6
    - SQLite 3
1. Git, >= 1.8.3, on both server and client side
1. SSH server
    - Only required when enable Git over SSH, e.g., `git clone git@gogs.example.com:...`
    - Builtin SSH server is also available

<Note>
**For Windows users:**

- When using builtin SSH server, you still need to have `ssh-keygen` installed and available via the `%PATH%` environment variable.
- Use [OpenSSH](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/openssh/openssh_install_firstuse) on Windows 10 or newer.
- [Cygwin OpenSSH](http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E24628_01/install.121/e22624/preinstall_req_cygwin_ssh.htm) or [Copssh](https://www.itefix.net/copssh) are available on older versions of Windows.
</Note>

## Initialize database

If you choose to use MySQL or PostgreSQL as your database backend, you need to first complete the initial database creation.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="PostgreSQL">
    Create a database user and database:

    ```bash
    psql -c "CREATE USER gogs WITH PASSWORD '{YOUR_PASSWORD}';"
    psql -c "CREATE DATABASE gogs OWNER gogs ENCODING 'UTF8';"
    ```
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="MySQL">
    Use the [bundled script](https://github.com/gogs/gogs/blob/main/scripts/mysql.sql) to create the database with proper encoding:

    ```zsh
    mysql -u root -p < scripts/mysql.sql
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Installation methods

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Pre-built binary">
    All release archives containing pre-built binaries are available in [dl.gogs.io](https://dl.gogs.io) and [GitHub releases](https://github.com/gogs/gogs/releases).

    <Note>
    **For Windows users:**

    Release archives containing `mws` come with built-in Windows service support. If you prefer to manage the service using [NSSM](https://nssm.cc), download the standard version instead.
    </Note>

    Once extracted the archive, run `gogs web` to start the server. Use `gogs web --help` to see all available options.
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="Docker">
    Two types of Docker images are provided:
    1. [docker-next](https://github.com/gogs/gogs/blob/main/docker-next/README.md): The modern, non-root, and cloud-native version, but with no container options.
    1. [docker](https://github.com/gogs/gogs/blob/main/docker/README.md): The traditional, root-privileged version, with extensive container options.
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="Packages">
    <Warning>
    All packages listed below are packaged by third-party maintainers. Use at your own risk.
    </Warning>

    |Source| Description                              | Note|
    |------|------------------------------------------|-----|
    |Packager.io ([link](https://packager.io/gh/gogs/gogs))|Every commit of `main`|After installation, place custom configuration in `/etc/default/gogs`.|
    |Arch User Repository ([link](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/gogs/))| Stable releases | Detailed instructions available in the [Arch Linux Wiki entry](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Gogs). |
  </Tab>
</Tabs>