Github Vs Gitlab: What you Need to Know Before Choosing One over Another?

When it comes to Github Vs. Gitlab, you can find numerous similarities and differences between these two version control systems. Both the platforms are web-based repositories for developers to help them with source code management.

During the software development life cycle (SDLC), all the developers require version controls to review codes, modify the existing codes, and add new coding information. For this purpose, they rely on version control systems and development platforms like Github and Gitlab for collaboration and seamless deployment. However, the choice between Github and Gitlab becomes tough as they both are part of Git technology. In this article, we will compare Github and Gitlab platforms to highlight their differences to help developers pick the platform that can work better for them.

Let’s dive into the difference between Github and Gitlab to help you understand them better. But before that, let’s see what Git is all about!

What Is Git?

It’s crucial to understand the concept of Git before jumping on the difference between Github and Gitlab. Git is the tool that keeps track of the changes made to a program. It is a version control system that manages the changes and revisions happening to the source code.

It becomes different from other version controls because developers can work on its different branch versions at the same time and manage them together. Git gives you the liberty to work on various branch versions at once. You can merge and integrate the data in the final version.

This version control system is executable on a local network or hosting service providers. Git is an open-source and free tool today. It comes with unlimited cloud-based storage for repositories. In the repository, you can upload the corresponding source code and manage the software program.

Now, let’s look at the two most popular repositories — Github and Gitlab — based on Git technology!

What Is Github?

Github is the largest Git version control system platform that developers can use. It allows developer teams to collaborate and manage their projects. It gives access to remote work, and developers can monitor and review codes at once from different places.

It is an independent open-source tool that helps mold every change and view all the activities across the repository in one glance. Developers can collaborate from different parts of the world, track the changes, and manage the projects. It has the largest storage cloud and allows networking for large software development teams.

What Is Gitlab?

Gitlab is a web-based DevOps platform and cloud-based Git that focuses on collaborative work and provides developers an operational dashboard for any code files. The entire team can collaborate, access, monitor, review, and manage projects. Its functionality is so robust that even those people who aren’t related to development can use it. It is open-sourced, and you can integrate it easily into your current system.

Gitlab offers a significant wide range of DevOps features, such as security, continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD), and app deployment tools. It offers a flawless automation experience and an essential project management tool.

Github Vs. Gitlab: Key Differences

Github and Gitlab are both web-based repositories for developers to help them manage source code files and track changes remotely. They are both version control systems and allow development teams to collaborate on projects. Although these two platforms have many features in common, as they are based on Git, some differences between Github and Gitlab set them apart. Now, we will compare Github and Gitlab and check out their key differences!

Continuous Integration And Continuous Delivery

The most noteworthy difference between Github and Gitlab is that Github doesn’t offer its own continuous integration tools. Gitlab is more focused on continuous integration and continuous delivery, and DevOps work tools. Gitlab allows you to create, monitor, and deploy codes automatically without relying on custom-built integrations. It has an automated testing tool that scans the codes for any security risks on its own.

However, you will have to work with third-party continuous integration tools when you set up work with Github. It does not have CI features that integrate the Github repository directly.

Licenses And Installation On A Local Network

Both Github and Gitlab have free versions and paid enterprise versions. The enterprise versions offer more features to companies upon subscription. You can install both platforms on your local network, but self-hosting is only possible on the paid version of Github. Gitlab is an open-source control system, and its self-hosted version is free for users. However, the server stability on Gitlab is not better than the Github. That is why installation on a private server is recommended.

Import And Export Of Data

Developers can export more projects on the other systems with Github. On the other hand, Gitlab is capable of importing projects from different resources. The import and export can work for files, issues, project uploads, and other features.

Open Source

Github is a platform that is accessible, free to use, and shares codes publicly. While Gitlab is a version control system that only permits the development teams to collaborate and work on codes.

Github Vs. Gitlab: User Rights

The free version of Gitlab offers numerous free repositories as compared to the free version of Github. Github platform is more restrictive and allows only three developers to work on a private repository. It allows fewer user permissions, and role-based permissions are only possible with a paid enterprise version subscription. On the other hand, Gitlab allows role-based permission management as its core feature.

All the Differences Between Github and Gitlab

Inner Source

Software development teams can work well when they have an opportunity to collaborate and code in real-time. That is why the inner source is the best option for software teams to adopt open sources and version control systems for effective collaboration. The team can use inner sources to increase visibility, review codes, strengthen collaboration, and work together on projects.

Github doesn’t allow the developers to implement the process of open-source culture within an organization. On the other hand, Gitlab allows you to promote the inner sourcing of your internal repositories.

Authentication

Both Github and Gitlab have different ways of handling permissions. With Github, you can decide who gets access to read or write on the repository. The developers have the authority to grant access to users.

With Gitlab, you have the authority to decide who gets to access the repository and who does not. Also, it gives you an option to restrict the people’s access as per their roles and positions based in the company. So, you will find different levels of access in Gitlab.

Comment Tracking

With Github, you get a comprehensive comment tracking function. It offers complete support to track the history of updated comments. You can view, edit, add, or remove any comments containing sensitive details. Gitlab does not offer this feature.

Workflow

The features of the Github and Gitlab version control systems are identical and shared. Still, their workflow is not even close to each other. Github emphasizes work speed and focuses on a fast development approach to merge the new branch versions. You can quickly view the previous changes and the current status of the project. Also, the files are ready for deployment when needed.

In Gitlab workflow, the emphasis is on reliability. It adds multiple branches at different stages, such as pre-production, production, and release. That means a process with multiple steps is not workable for a single code review. Developers can work on the codes freely without worrying about minute code changes. However, its process slows down whenever a new feature is added to the production.

Milestone

With Gitlab, you can create milestones to keep track of problems and their solutions. It also aids in setting up due dates for different tasks and helps you accomplish a target in a specific time. Github does not have this feature.

Deployment

Gitlab has a more streamlined deployment function with its in-built service integration. It offers unified code deployment experiences for a single app with Kubernetes. On the other hand, Github does not offer a deployment framework as it relies on third-party platforms. It deploys applications with the help of third-party vendors like Heroku.

Conclusion

Cloud-based repositories such as Github and Gitlab have become essential for developers in the current age. Software development organizations and developers use these tools to collaborate on projects and ensure that every source code is reviewed and monitored carefully. The difference between Github and Gitlab provides developers a choice to pick the platform that works best for them.

Github is focused on higher availability, and issues can be tracked on multiple repositories. Github is the first choice for larger teams as it delivers excellent collaboration and produces codes faster. While Gitlab has more emphasis on the features and allows you to deploy code without having to use third-party platforms. It has an integrative system for the users. Also, when it comes to DevOps lifecycle, Gitlab tops the rank.

For more insights, familiarize yourself with both version control systems and then decide what works best for you!

Note: This article first appeared at: Github Vs. Gitlab: Key Differences Between The Two Version Control Systems