GitKraken vs Sublime Merge: What are the differences?

Introduction

GitKraken and Sublime Merge are two popular tools used for version control and managing code repositories. While both tools serve similar purposes, there are key differences between them that set them apart from each other. In this article, we will explore these differences and understand how they can impact your development workflow.

1. Interface: The interface of GitKraken is designed to be visually appealing and user-friendly, with an emphasis on providing a visual representation of the Git history, branches, and commits. On the other hand, Sublime Merge has a more minimalist and text-focused interface that is optimized for speed and efficiency. It provides a command-line-like experience with powerful search capabilities and keyboard shortcuts.

2. Integration with Text Editors: GitKraken offers seamless integration with popular text editors like Visual Studio Code, Atom, and Sublime Text. This allows you to perform common Git operations directly from your editor. In contrast, Sublime Merge is a standalone tool and does not have built-in editor integration. However, it provides powerful diff and merge tools that can be used alongside any text editor.

3. Ease of Getting Started: GitKraken aims to provide an intuitive and beginner-friendly experience for users who are new to Git. It offers a step-by-step setup process and provides helpful tooltips and explanations throughout the interface. Sublime Merge, on the other hand, assumes a certain level of familiarity with Git and requires the user to have prior knowledge of Git commands and workflows.

4. Advanced Features: GitKraken offers several advanced features like Git flow support, interactive rebasing, built-in merge conflict resolution, and a fully-featured undo system. These features are designed to streamline complex Git workflows and make them more accessible to users. Sublime Merge, on the other hand, focuses on providing a fast and lightweight tool for everyday Git tasks and does not offer some of the more advanced features found in GitKraken.

5. Customizability: GitKraken provides a high level of customizability, allowing users to personalize their working environment with themes, layouts, and keyboard shortcuts. It also offers extensive preferences and configuration options to tailor the tool to individual preferences and workflows. Sublime Merge, on the other hand, has a more limited set of customization options and focuses on providing a consistent and efficient experience out of the box.

6. Pricing: GitKraken offers both free and paid versions, with the paid version providing additional features like integrations with project management tools and team collaboration features. Sublime Merge, on the other hand, follows a different pricing model and offers a single-user license for a one-time payment.

In summary, GitKraken is a visually appealing and beginner-friendly tool that offers advanced features and extensive customization options. On the other hand, Sublime Merge focuses on speed, efficiency, and a command-line-like interface, making it a great choice for experienced Git users who value performance and simplicity.