Atlassian Stash vs GitLab: What are the differences?

Introduction:

Atlassian Stash and GitLab are both popular tools used for version control and collaboration in software development projects. While they share similarities in terms of functionality, there are several key differences between the two platforms. This article will highlight the main distinctions between Atlassian Stash and GitLab.

1. Deployment and Hosting: Atlassian Stash is primarily designed to be deployed on-premises, allowing organizations to have complete control over their repositories and infrastructure. On the other hand, GitLab offers both on-premises deployment as well as a cloud-hosted version, providing users with the flexibility to choose the hosting option that best suits their needs.

2. Scalability and Team Size: GitLab is known for its scalability and ability to handle large enterprise projects with thousands of users. It provides robust support for high availability, clustering, and load balancing, making it ideal for organizations with a large number of developers. In contrast, while Atlassian Stash can handle smaller team sizes effectively, it may not be as suitable for larger projects with extensive collaboration requirements.

3. Built-in CI/CD: GitLab stands out with its comprehensive built-in continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) capabilities. It offers a complete DevOps platform, allowing developers to automate the entire software development lifecycle from code testing to deployment. Atlassian Stash, however, lacks the integrated CI/CD features that GitLab provides, requiring users to integrate with external CI/CD tools for similar functionality.

4. Third-party Integration Ecosystem: GitLab has a rich ecosystem of integrations and extensions that seamlessly integrate with other popular tools and services. It offers a wide range of plugins, allowing users to connect GitLab with project management tools, issue trackers, and other developer tools. While Atlassian Stash does offer integrations, the breadth and depth of the integration ecosystem in GitLab are often more extensive.

5. Container Registry: GitLab includes a built-in container registry that allows users to store and manage Docker images within their repositories. This feature simplifies the process of packaging and deploying applications in containers and streamlines the overall development workflow. Atlassian Stash, unfortunately, does not provide a built-in container registry, necessitating the use of additional tools for container management.

6. Pricing Model: When it comes to pricing, GitLab offers a free, open-source version with many essential features included. It also provides several paid tiers with additional features and support options for enterprise customers. Atlassian Stash, on the other hand, follows a traditional licensing model, where users need to purchase licenses based on the number of users. This can make GitLab a more cost-effective option, particularly for small to medium-sized organizations.

In summary, Atlassian Stash and GitLab have distinct differences. While Atlassian Stash provides more control over infrastructure and licensing options, GitLab offers superior scalability, integrated CI/CD, a broader third-party integration ecosystem, and a built-in container registry. These differences make GitLab a compelling choice for organizations that prioritize scalability, automation, and extensive collaboration capabilities.