What is Git?
First created by Linus Torvalds in 2005, Git is a version control system tool for programmers that helps them in coordinating their work – especially when the developing team comprises of a number of individuals. As software is being developed, Git allows programmers to keep a track of changes in the source code. The main focus of Git includes fast-tracking, data integrity, and compatibility and functionality with nonlinear workflows. These days, Git is being maintained by Junio Hamano. It is free software that is authorized to be used by anyone in the world.
You could categorize Git as a version control repository that serves as an important DevOps tool and not just any DevOps tool, Git occupies around 87% of the total market for Version Control Systems. A Version control system stores, tracks and handles informational changes to a software project. You can read more here about the advantages of using version control systems and how they do what they do. You might also find an in-depth analysis for both the major gits, GitLab and GitHub.
What is GitHub?
GitHub is essentially a store of projects that allows you to host your open source codes. GitHub has a very friendly user interface with its features that motivate collaboration and many inbuilt tools to manage your software. Moreover, it allows for effective debugging in software and is one of the most used repositories around the world.
What is GitLab?
GitLab, on the other hand, can be divided between the two options that it gives its users. You can choose a free community edition or a paid enterprise edition. GitLab can work perfectly on any operating system and allow for great features at the lowest price.
Key Differences and Suitability of GitLab and GitHub?
· Customized authorization
When it comes to collaborations, GitHub and GitLab work on authorizations in different ways. Where GitLab works on permissions with effect to their role in a project, GitHub allows the options to allow either a read or write access to the repository. This makes a huge difference in collaborations and helps either to dictate roles or allow flexibility.
· CI and CD solutions
Continuous Integrations and Continuous Delivery is one of the most important differences in GitLab and GitHub and one where each sets themselves apart. Where GitHub does not offer free CI and CD while GitLab does. As a result, GitLab is preferred for projects that do not require proprietary frameworks and are not high on budget. On the other hand, GitHub requires high costs as it relies on 3rd parties to work while GitLab focuses on internal developers to collaborate on projects and make them better.
· Moving Between the Two
GitLab is very strong in allowing features to shift between important and usual repositories like GitHub or Bitbucket. It will also allow documentation procedures to achieve import and export. On the other hand, GitHub is not very receptive in this regards. So, if you are completely sure that the project will not need to change platforms when growth occurs, you should definitely use GitHub, but in most cases, people do want to have that flexibility in the near future and as a result, quote GitLab as their preferred Git platform.
· Focus
GitHub is one of the platforms that focuses more on infrastructure customization. On the other hand, GitLab is more focused on maintaining a uniform and well-integrated system for a centralized DevOps process. This is exactly why GitHub provides you access to several repositories and source code management while GitLab allows for the best Continuous integration and Delivery.
Conclusion
Of course, all the above-mentioned features make a huge difference in which of the two platforms you use, it must be said that the final choice depends on the nature of the project in question. Where similarities are innumerable between the two, the differences mark a sharp contrast between the major functions that each platform can achieve. It is therefore important to consider the differences, not the similarities between the two projects, that will guide your choice between the two platforms. Both of the systems, however, present world-class features, which is why Git is one of the best repositories across platforms.
