go-vikunja/vikunja

Overview

Vikunja is a self-hosted task and project management application. Its central promise is data ownership: instead of relying on a hosted SaaS, you run the Go backend and Vue frontend yourself, and keep the tasks, projects and API under your control. It fits individuals and teams that need a to-do app with an HTTP API and are comfortable operating a server.

The repository is the open-source core, with the desktop part under a separate license. A hosted offering and a Pro tier also exist; those add conveniences such as an admin panel, audit logs and time tracking, but the self-hosted project is usable on its own.

Getting started

1. Pick an installation route from the official installing guide: packages, a Docker image or building from source. The Docker image is published as vikunja/vikunja on Docker Hub, so a container runtime is the main prerequisite for that path.
2. Start the service and reach the web UI, then create your first project and task. The project's own try instance lets you inspect the UI before deploying.
3. For programmatic access, the API is documented via Swagger at https://try.vikunja.io/api/v2/docs OpenAPI docs; point the same endpoint at your own instance after deployment.

If you prefer to build rather than run a package or container, the build-from-source guide and development setup cover the Go/Vue toolchain, Magefile tasks and tests. The README does not itself list the concrete install commands, so follow those pages rather than improvising one.

Constraints

• Self-hosting requires server operation. You are responsible for deploying, upgrading and backing up the instance; the README points to the docs rather than a managed setup.
• Licensing is split. Most of the repository is AGPL-3.0-or-later, while the desktop/ directory is GPL-3.0-or-later license notes. Check both before redistributing or embedding.
• Some capabilities are Pro-only. Admin panel, audit logs and time tracking are listed as part of Vikunja Pro, not the open-source core Pro offering.
• LLM-assisted code is disclosed. The maintainers state that LLM-assisted coding tools are used in parts of the codebase.
• Image credits are required. Bundled Unsplash backgrounds carry the Unsplash License, which requires crediting the photographer and Unsplash Unsplash terms.

HotRepo's take

On the Go daily list of 2026-11-07, Vikunja recorded 5,983 stars and 810 forks, with 10 stars gained and a best position of 4 on that language list. That places it among the more established Go projects rather than a new entrant, which matches a codebase dating back to 2018. The single recorded snapshot supports only that day's standing; it is not enough to describe a trend. What stands out technically is the combination of a self-hostable Go backend, a Vue frontend, a documented REST API and an explicit split between free core and paid Pro features — a useful reference point for anyone comparing open-source task managers that must be owned and operated in-house.