Mercurial vs SourceTree: What are the differences?

Introduction

Mercurial and SourceTree are both version control systems that are widely used in software development projects. While they serve the same purpose of managing and tracking changes to source code, there are key differences between the two.

1. Integration with other tools: Mercurial provides seamless integration with other tools commonly used in software development, such as bug tracking systems, continuous integration servers, and code review tools. SourceTree, on the other hand, has limited integration options and may require additional manual configuration for some integrations.

2. User interface: SourceTree offers a more visually appealing and user-friendly interface compared to Mercurial. It provides a graphical representation of branches, commits, and other repository data, making it easier for developers to understand and navigate the revision history. Mercurial, being a command-line based tool, requires users to have a good understanding of command-line commands.

3. Advanced features and flexibility: Mercurial supports a wide range of advanced features, such as named branches, bookmarks, and phased commits. These features provide more flexibility in managing complex codebases and allow for greater control over the versioning process. SourceTree, although user-friendly, lacks some of these advanced features and may not be suitable for more intricate version control scenarios.

4. Platform compatibility: Mercurial has excellent cross-platform compatibility, working seamlessly on Windows, Linux, and Mac operating systems. SourceTree, on the other hand, was primarily designed for macOS and Windows, with limited support for Linux.

5. Repository hosting options: While both Mercurial and SourceTree support hosting repositories on various platforms, Mercurial offers more options, such as self-hosting, as well as hosting on popular platforms like Bitbucket and Kiln. SourceTree, primarily being a client tool, relies on external hosting platforms like GitHub, Bitbucket, or GitLab.

6. Command-line support: Mercurial is primarily a command-line tool, offering a powerful and extensive set of commands for developers. SourceTree, while providing a graphical interface, also allows users to execute some basic command-line operations. However, it may not offer the same level of functionality and flexibility as using the command-line directly.

In Summary, Mercurial and SourceTree differ in terms of integration options, user interface, advanced features, platform compatibility, repository hosting options, and support for command-line operations.