Show HN: I Built a Platform to Buy and Sell GitHub Repositories

[iliaddh]

Hey HN,

I built a platform that allows developers to buy and sell GitHub repositories using private forking. The idea is to help indie developers, open-source maintainers, and teams monetize their work while ensuring buyers get fully functional projects with minimal hassle. Many developers create great projects but lack the time or resources to maintain them. Instead of letting them fade away, why not sell them to someone who wants to continue the work?

Here is how it works:

- Sellers list theis GitHub repos in the platform - Buyers purchase repos - Buyers automatically added as collaborators and can fork the repo

Check it out here: https://gittrader.com

[Fajar_Rahmad]

I get the idea and the UI also looks nice. But i think this is for repo owner with closed source licensing, GitHub just for more easy version control and backup. So it's like project selling but using GitHub for better ownership transfer and control?

[iliaddh]

Thanks! How it works is the owner posts a private repo they have. Then a user purchases it and they are automatically added as collaborators. Then buyer can fork it and use their own copy. There is no ownership transfer, seller gets paid for every collaborator basically

[sexyman48]

Bro, your shit don't work at all.

[iliaddh]

Whats the issue?

[acosmism]

how does this work with sub-assets. let's say i made a game and several resources were purchased each with their own license?

[iliaddh]

So if it requires licenses they must be followed. If the licences allow transfer buyer has to transfer otherwise buyer has to purchase them. Each listing has documentation section where seller can mention these

[andrewfromx]

so what are you buying the repo not the source? If MIT License how does this work?

[iliaddh]

They are not getting any exclusive rights. Buyers will be added as collaborators automatically and then fork it to their own account!

[andrewfromx]

help me understand why I wouldn't just fork an open source repo without paying for it on this platform. Honest question. What's the value add here?

[iliaddh]

The repositories are private and seller gets paid for every collaborator that buys it. So you cant access it without permission.

[Fajar_Rahmad]

Isn't GitHub sponsor able to do that?

[iliaddh]

GitHub sponsor is donations in long term for open source projects. In this platform the repository ownership isn't transferred, and seller gets paid for every collaborator added and forked.