Gerrit Code Review vs Plastic SCM: What are the differences?

Introduction

Gerrit Code Review and Plastic SCM are both popular tools used for version control and code collaboration. While they share some similarities, there are also key differences between the two. Below, I will outline six specific differences that set Gerrit Code Review and Plastic SCM apart.

1. Workflow Management: Gerrit Code Review is designed specifically for code review, providing a workflow management system that allows developers to submit changes for review and track their progress. On the other hand, Plastic SCM offers a more comprehensive version control system that includes features beyond code review, such as branch management and synchronization.

2. Integration with Git: Gerrit Code Review is tightly integrated with Git, allowing developers to leverage Git's powerful branching and merging capabilities. Plastic SCM, on the other hand, has its own version control system that supports both centralized and distributed workflows, providing more flexibility in the choice of version control model.

3. Access Control: Gerrit Code Review provides fine-grained access control, allowing administrators to define specific permissions for different groups of users. Plastic SCM also offers access control features, but with a simpler permission model that may not be as granular as Gerrit's.

4. User Interface: Gerrit Code Review has a web-based user interface that is optimized for code review activities, providing a streamlined and focused experience. Plastic SCM, on the other hand, offers a desktop client with a more comprehensive set of features, including file diffing, merging, and visualization.

5. Code Metrics and Analytics: Gerrit Code Review offers built-in code metrics and analytics, allowing teams to track code quality and identify potential issues early on. Plastic SCM does not have the same level of built-in analytics, although it does integrate with external tools for code analysis and visualization.

6. Community and Support: Gerrit Code Review has a large and active community, with extensive documentation and support resources available. Plastic SCM also has a supportive community, but it may be smaller in comparison to Gerrit's.

In summary, Gerrit Code Review and Plastic SCM differ in terms of workflow management, integration with Git, access control, user interface, code metrics and analytics, as well as community and support. Depending on specific requirements and preferences, one tool may be more suitable than the other for a given development team.