When you use an online wishlist service, you're trusting someone with your data, what you want, who you're gifting to, when celebrations happen. With Lieblings-Wunschliste, we believe trust should be earned, not assumed. That's why every line of code powering this platform is open source, licensed under AGPL, and available for anyone to inspect on GitLab.
What Does "Open Source" Mean Here?
Open source means the source code of our website and browser extension is publicly accessible. You can read it, study it, suggest improvements, or even run your own copy. No black boxes, no secret algorithms, no hidden data collection. What you see is exactly what runs on our servers.
We chose the AGPL (Affero General Public License) because it goes further than typical open source licenses. It ensures that even when the software is used as a web service, like our hosted version at lieblings-wunschliste.de, the source code must remain available to users. This closes the "ASP loophole" and guarantees lasting transparency.
Why Does Open Source Protect Your Privacy?
A closed-source service can claim anything in its privacy policy. But without verifiable code, those claims are just promises. Open source turns promises into proof:
- No Hidden Trackers: You can verify we don't embed Google Analytics, Facebook pixels, or any third-party tracking.
- No Data Sales: The code proves we never send your data to data brokers or advertisers.
- Real Encryption: You can confirm how your wishlist data is encrypted, it's not just a checkbox on a marketing page.
- Auditable History: Every change is recorded in Git history. Nothing happens behind closed doors.
You Can Run It Yourself
Open source gives you the ultimate privacy guarantee: self-hosting. The same Docker image we deploy to our production servers is available for you to run on your own infrastructure. Point your domain at it, connect your database, and you have a fully functional wishlist platform where zero data ever touches our servers.
We've designed the application to be easy to deploy, a single docker-compose.yml file and a few environment variables are all you need. The project README on GitLab includes everything to get started.
Built in the Open, for Everyone
Beyond privacy, open source builds a better product. Community contributors spot bugs, suggest features, and help shape the roadmap. The development happens transparently, you can follow along, comment on issues, or submit pull requests.
We believe the best gift platform is one that respects your privacy, gives you control, and invites you to be part of its growth. That's the open source way.
Ready to see for yourself? Visit our GitLab repository, explore the code, and create your first wishlist, no registration, no tracking, just open source.