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Fork vs GitUp vs SourceTree: What are the differences?
Differences Between Fork, GitUp, and SourceTree
Fork, GitUp, and SourceTree are popular Git client software that provide graphical interfaces to interact with Git repositories. While all three tools serve the same purpose of facilitating version control and collaboration, there are key differences that set them apart:
Usability and Interface: Fork provides a simplified and user-friendly interface, making it easier for beginners to understand and use. GitUp, on the other hand, offers a minimalist interface with a focus on simplicity and speed. SourceTree offers a comprehensive interface with a wide range of features, making it suitable for both beginners and advanced users.
Cross-platform Availability: Fork is compatible with Mac and Windows operating systems, while GitUp is available only for Mac users. SourceTree is a cross-platform tool available for both Mac and Windows operating systems.
Workspace Management: Fork allows users to work with multiple repositories simultaneously, switching between them easily. GitUp also supports multiple repositories, but its focus is on a single repository at a time. SourceTree offers a similar workspace management feature to Fork, allowing users to handle multiple repositories efficiently.
Branching and Merging: Fork provides seamless branching and merging functionalities, allowing users to create and merge branches with ease. GitUp, although providing branching and merging capabilities, focuses more on visualization and history exploration. SourceTree offers comprehensive branching and merging features with a visually appealing interface.
Conflict Resolution: Fork simplifies the process of resolving conflicts by providing a user-friendly conflict resolution tool. GitUp has a similar conflict resolution feature but with a more minimalist approach. SourceTree offers a robust conflict resolution feature with advanced options and tools.
Third-party Integration: Fork and SourceTree both provide integration with popular third-party services like GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket, allowing seamless collaboration with remote repositories. GitUp, however, does not offer built-in third-party integration.
In Summary, Fork excels in its usability and simplicity, GitUp focuses on speed and minimalism, while SourceTree offers comprehensive features with a visual interface.
I explored many Git Desktop tools for the Mac and my final decision was to use Fork. What I love about for that it contains three features, I like about a Git Client tool.
It allows * to handle day to day git operations (least important for me as I am cli junkie) * it helps to investigate the history * most important of all, it has a repo manager which many other tools are missing.
Pros of Fork
- One of the easiest and fastest git GUIs19
- Nice UX14
- Does the job way better than others13
- Fast, Great support, Does-it-all, blazing fast13
- Dark theme11
- Intuitive interactive rebase and conflict resolution UI9
- Gitflow support9
- Excellent commit history tree view7
- This even looks the same as SourceTree5
- Repository Manager4
- Built-in developer feedback3
- Countless quality of life features3
- Github Notifications2
- Not buggy, works smoothly2
- Keyaboard-only2
- Visual branch history2
- Reflog support2
- Git ammend1
- Smart 'Open in' menu; e.g. explorer, bit, giithub .1
- Interactive rebase window1
- Native application1
- Intuitive merge conflict resolution1
- Unique Activity Manager shows current/past operations1
Pros of GitUp
- Fast6
- Can edit commit messages6
- Simple interface5
- Native OSX App5
- Easy rebase3
- Great branch visualization3
- Search commit messages2
- Beautiful UI2
- Visual history and branch view2
- Incredibly easy squash2
Pros of SourceTree
- Visual history and branch view205
- Beautiful UI164
- Easy repository browsing134
- Gitflow support87
- Interactive stage or discard by hunks or lines75
- Great branch visualization22
- Ui/ux and user-friendliness18
- Best Git Client UI/Features8
- Search commit messages7
- Available for Windows and macOS5
- Log only one file1
- Search file content1
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Cons of Fork
- Poorly written license2
- Stability is fragile when looking deeply into history1
- Merges that require interactive user decision1
Cons of GitUp
Cons of SourceTree
- Crashes often12
- So many bugs8
- Fetching is slow sometimes7
- No dark theme (Windows)5
- Extremely slow5
- Very unstable5
- Can't select text in diff (windows)4
- Freezes quite frequently3
- Can't scale window from top corners3
- UI blinking2
- Windows version worse than mac version2
- Installs to AppData folder (windows)2
- Diff makes tab indentation look like spaces2
- Windows and Mac versions are very different2
- Diff appears as if space indented even if its tabs2
- Doesn't have an option for git init2
- Useless for merge conflict resolution2
- Doesn't differentiate submodules from parent repos2
- Requires bitbucket account2
- Generally hard to like1
- No reflog support1
- Bases binary check on filesize1
- Can't add remotes by right clicking remotes (windows)1
