Game Of Codes: Reasons Why Developers Use Only Three Repositories
Those who write code on a daily basis understand like no one else that archiving this code in a code repository can save the developer lots of time. Generally speaking, source code repositories are a real gift for those who work in large teams. Since a lot of code repositories hosts emerge every day, it is necessary to understand which of them are the most reliable ones. So, a large quantity of these hosts gives users much space for making a choice. But people may get confused with choosing the best one.
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Reading this article, you will have a clear idea regarding the main hosting sites available. Beyond any doubt, they will become your best online assistants in your software development service.
What is GitHub: first source code repository
GitHub - a social repository for open source code projects that use Git for source code versions control. This host site is a distributed file version management systems. Linus Torvalds created this project for Linux kernel development control. Such projects like Chromium, jQuery, PHP, MediaWiki etc. use Git. Good news - this free software is released under GNU GPL license version 2!
See top Android libraries on GitHub. Read Top 10 GitHub open source Android libraries to speed up development
The mission of GitHub is to make the development process quick and captivating, especially when a few individuals simultaneously are working on the same task. Apart from being a good tool, GitHub is a large educational source. This service includes more than 21 million of code hosts. So let's take a look at GitHub features.
GitHub benefits
GitHub is gaining the lead, in our opinion. And you should check out it's strong sides to find out why.
Bug tracking
GitHub integrates this feature to simplify search and bugs fixing. To understand what should be done, a developer just opens the dashboard of each project and filters the information. Questions can also be sorted according to their popularity, update time and so forth. This software also has a convenient user interface that makes it source No.1 among the IT-developers. It can be an answer to your question 'Why should I use GitHub?'
Find your project easily
GitHub allows finding easily open source code projects. Also, you can find an information concerning learning and searching of open source code projects and making them into groups. In addition, GitHub shows trend repositories and sort them by days, weeks, or months.
Meet new developers
Some thousands of new developers worldwide join the large network of GitHub users to share their experience and express ideas.
Share your experience
Gists allows users to share code, text fragments, or any information with other developers. It can be used for text exchange, and gists work as git repositories, therefore you can just bifurcate them and update their versions. So if you use it in open source code website, it can be a real alternative.
Coordinate your projects together
GitHub has effective and clear features for team management. Thus, that the efforts of people engaged in working on the project are easily coordinated through this source. In this case, the outcome of the work is high.
Integrated code search
GitHub supports code search whether it be from a specific project or a website. Moreover, this platform has a perfect SEO, so users can find any code string located in public repositories.
High compatibility
Most cloud hosting services perfectly match GitHub. Any project located on this source code hosting can be customized for these services within a few seconds.
Weak sides
- Only premium users can use all GitHub repositories. The price for using this service is rather high. Nevertheless, the quality of service it provides is worth the candle.
- Restrictions on file size. The repository can host information up to 1 Gb and file size cannot exceed 100 Mb.
GitHub page: find the code you need
What is GitLab: it's meaning and features
Developed on the basis of Git version control system, GitLab is one of the best web platforms for hosting project source codes. Although GitLab is similar to GitHub in terms of functionality, it seems to be a better choice for teamwork than it's famous counterpart and GitLab features may be different somewhat.
GitLab exists in two forms. The first one is SAAS - website with open registration, and the second one is an individual solution GitLab Community Edition. They both can be perfectly customized to any service.
GitLab benefits: reasons to use GitLab
What's interesting can you find on GitLab?
Free service
Users can find an unlimited number of private repositories in GitLab. This service is completely free. Nevertheless, there is a notification that users will have to pay for storing files that exceed 10 Gb in their size.
Open source code repository
GitLab software is available under the license with an open source code.
Free hosting
There is a Community Edition - free source code repository for Debian, Ubuntu and CentOS computers. Enterprise Edition is a paid solution that adds proprietary features over Community Edition, improving integration with other online tools, server options management, workflow management as well as authentication and integration with authorization.
Bug tracking mechanism
GitLab has an effective integrated bug tracking mechanism. Users can create tasks, comment and close them.
Files editing in the web interface
Editing of files is possible directly in the web interface and you can do it without loading of the repository. So if you need to make small changes in an open source code websites, this way is that what you need.
LDAP integration
Full integration with LDAP. Lightweight Directory Access Protocol is an app protocol for access and support of distributed directories services around the Internet. GitLab EE adds additional features such as support of several LDAP servers and group synchronization.
It's drawbacks
- The interface is rather slow - switching from one page to another takes some time.
- Technical problems with repositories are quite frequent.
GitLab platform to use source code hosting
What is BitBucket: third participant in a race
BitBucket can be called as a real worthy competitor to GitHub. Why BitBucket? Different operating systems support this platform. You just need to create to register on the official website and then you can create your personal account. In fact, it is based on a source code management mechanism. You can simultaneously use the code with integrated comments, and also make requests, manage and share your Git repositories. It is possible to create a flexible deployment model for any team. Moreover, you can get access to private and public repositories without any difficulties.
BitBucket advantages
And, finally, BitBucket comes into play!
Free for small teams
If your team includes no more than 5 individuals, you can get an unlimited number of free private repositories. So, this source code repository hosting doesn't charge a fee for each private repository, it charges a fee only for a number of repositories in total.
Query management system
BitBucket is provided with an integrated system of query management.
Authentication via GitHub
BitBucket supports social media and authentication via GitHub.
Integrated JIRA tool
Bug tracking tool JIRA is developed by Atlassian. You may be acquainted with the previous result of their work - BitBucket service. When the components of bug tracking are integrated, JIRA automatically updates information about problems when a new commit is performed in a BitBucket repository and here BitBucket benefits are obvious.
Repositories importing
Importing of existing repositories. Great feature, isn't it?
Discounts for students and teachers
Atlassian suggests student licenses for students and teachers for Atlassian products developed for educational purposes. BitBucket is included, therefore students and teachers can have unlimited private repositories with an unlimited number of participants.
Check out advantages of using open source software. Read Why should you use open source libraries in your projects?
Disadvantages
- Private repositories are free for a team with 5 members and fewer. If the team is larger, it will be necessary to pay for each additional team member.
- The only way of search is to launch repository and find it locally or use external apps.
- Not so stable as GitHub. Some problems during a work session may slow down the process.
Use Atlassian BitBucket for team work
GitHub vs BitBucket vs GitLab: main similarities and differences
In fact, services are similar to each other since they serve the same goals and implement the same methods. And each of three platforms has a few similar features like:
- Pull request;
- Code review;
- Integrated editing;
- Bug tracking; Markdown support;
- Two-factor authentication;
- API with extended features;
- Forks/clones of repositories;
- Snippets;
- Integration of the 3rd party developers.
Which one of them with open source code?
Only GitLab has an open source code version among the three repositories service management. GitLab Community Edition source code is available on their website, corporate version is their property.
GitHub is famous for it's open source software but is not an open source itself. To use it, you will have to pay a specific amount of money and in this case you can get GitHub new features.
BitBucket is not an open source code host, but when you buy an autonomous version, a full source code is submitted with product configuration options.
Import of repositories
When you try to decide what system is better to use, the ability to import and use previous projects is a crucial characteristic. BitBucket stands out of other three competitors because it is the only of source code hosting sites that support different repositories.
Both GitHub and BitBucket provide the import of repositories on the basis of several different VCS. GitLab supports Git platform only. Although the latter one is the most popular VCS, switching to GitLab can be complicated if you use Mercurial or SVN. GitLab repository import feature is focused on other users to help them switch from other platforms.
GitHub supports:
- Git, SVN, HG, TFS import.
GitLab supports:
- Git import;
- Easy import from the most popular services.
BitBucket supports:
- Git, CodePlex, Google Code, HG, SourceForge, SVN import.
We cannot state that any of these services overcome others since they are multipurpose services. Pay attention to the following scenarios.
- Need an open source code solution? Choose GitLab.
- A fan of Atlassian products (Confluence, Jira etc.)? BitBucket is your choice.
- GitHub is the best option for those who work on an open source code project.
Learn how Cleveroad works with customers. Read How we coordinate our customer when building solutions at Cleveroad
As you can see, there is some difference between GitHub and GitLab as well as between BitBucket. Although GitHub is not an open source, it has the largest number of public open source projects. Due to a free public projects hosting, it is a social network for professional developers. Moreover, a captivating active account will help you find a good job since in most cases recruiters prefer candidates with an active profile on GitHub. Besides, our company also has some open source libraries that you may find on GitHub, where Cleveroad is in the top list of IT companies in Ukraine, and we took a 2nd place there!
We will help you to look deeper into these services, just contact us.
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GitHub - a social repository for open source code projects that use Git for source code versions control. This host site is a distributed file version management system. Linus Torvalds created this project for Linux kernel development control. Such projects like Chromium, jQuery, PHP, MediaWiki etc. use Git.
Developed on the basis of the Git version control system, GitLab is one of the best web platforms for hosting project source codes. Although GitLab is similar to GitHub in terms of functionality, it seems to be a better choice for teamwork than it's famous counterpart and GitLab features may be different somewhat.
BitBucket can be called as a real worthy competitor to GitHub. It is based on a source code management mechanism. You can simultaneously use the code with integrated comments, and also make requests, manage and share your Git repositories.
- Free for small teams
- Query management system
- Integrated JIRA tool
- Repositories importing
- Authentication via GitHub
- Free service
- Open source code repository
- Free hosting
- Bug tracking mechanism
- Bug tracking
- Ability to find open-source project easily
- A big developers community
- Opportunity to share your experience
- High compatibility
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