Diffrences among Git GitHub GitLab
People often confuse these because they work together:
|
Term |
What it is |
Simple analogy |
|
Git |
A version control system |
A "save history" system for your project |
|
GitHub |
A cloud hosting platform for Git repositories |
Google Drive + collaboration for Git projects |
|
GitLab |
Another Git hosting platform with built-in DevOps
tools |
GitHub with stronger integrated CI/CD features |
1. Git
Git is a distributed version control system
created by Linus Torvalds.
It lets you:
- Track
changes to your code
- Undo
mistakes
- Create
branches to work on features
- Merge
changes together
- Work
offline
Example:
git init
git add .
git commit -m "Initial commit"
Git exists on your computer. You don't need the
internet to use it.
2. GitHub
GitHub is a website that hosts Git repositories
online.
It adds features like:
- Cloud
backup
- Pull
requests
- Code
reviews
- Issue
tracking
- Wikis
- Team
collaboration
- GitHub Actions (CI/CD)
Typical workflow:
Your Computer
│
│ git push
▼
GitHub Repository
You use Git commands like:
git clone
git push
git pull
GitHub stores the repository remotely.
3. GitLab
GitLab is another platform that hosts Git
repositories.
It offers everything GitHub does plus a strong focus
on:
- Built-in
CI/CD pipelines
- DevOps
- Security
scanning
- Deployment
automation
- Self-hosting
(run GitLab on your own servers)
Many companies choose GitLab because it includes many
DevOps features in one platform.
Relationship
Git
│
┌──────┴──────┐
│ │
GitHub GitLab
- Git
= the tool
- GitHub
= a service built around Git
- GitLab
= another service built around Git
Example workflow
Suppose you're building a website.
1.
Create a project
git init
2.
Save your work
git add .
git commit -m "Homepage completed"
3.
Upload it
git remote add origin
https://github.com/username/project.git
git push -u origin main
If using GitLab instead:
git remote add origin
https://gitlab.com/username/project.git
git push -u origin main
Notice that the Git commands are exactly the same.
Only the remote URL changes.
GitHub vs GitLab
|
Feature |
GitHub |
GitLab |
|
Repository hosting |
✅ |
✅ |
|
Pull/Merge Requests |
✅ |
✅ |
|
Issue tracking |
✅ |
✅ |
|
CI/CD |
✅
GitHub Actions |
✅
Built-in and comprehensive |
|
Self-hosting |
Limited options |
Excellent support |
|
Open-source community |
Very large |
Large, especially in enterprises |
|
Enterprise DevOps |
Good |
Excellent |
