Difference Between Mercurial vs Git
The following article provides an outline for Mercurial vs Git. The mercurial is an open-source version control tool that is used for version management of the software. The mercurial tool supports various operating system like Linux, Windows, MAC and many more. The tool is preferred when the size of team is smaller and there is requirement that no conflicts is there in application. The git is also another open-source version management tool that is used for sharing the project, modify the project. The git platform is accessible using the official website GitHub. This platform is mostly preferred when there is requirement of large team and working in an organization.
Head to Head Comparison Between Mercurial vs Git(Infographics)
Below are the top 7 differences between Mercurial and Git:
Key Difference Between Mercurial vs Git
Let us discuss some of the major key differences between Mercurial and Git:
- The one of the major difference between Mercurial tool and Git tool is ease of use of the tool. The mercurial tool is comparatively easy to use tool compared to Git tool. The less experience can also use the mercurial tool very easily but the Git tool needs proper experienced user to use. The user can more easily learn the Mercurial tool features and can learn to use the tool much more easy compared to the Git tool.
- The other major difference between Git and Mercurial tool is flexibility. The Git tool is more flexible compared to Mercurial tool. There are many features offered by the Git tool that are not present ion Mercurial tool. The Git tool is also more powerful when it is compared to Mercurial tool. The Git tool offers low-level command to the user however, this functionality is not present in Mercurial tool and many features are hidden in the Mercurial tool by default.
- The other difference between two is push and pull feature. Both the version management tools offer the functionality of push and pull feature. The pull feature is more easy to execute in Git tool compared to Mercurial tool. The push feature is comparatively easy in Mercurial tool compared to Git tool. In Git tool the programmers have the option to change local repository and can use pull feature. However, in Mercurial tool the user can do the external push in local repository.
- The other difference between two is need of duplicate repository. In Git tool the risk of errors is always present in working repository thus, there is always a requirement of the working repository duplicacy. On other hand, no such requirement is there in Mercurial tool to make the duplicate working repository.
- The other major difference between two tools is the preference of tool. The Mercurial tool is mostly preferred in that case where there is requirement of very small team so that time can be save and less risk of work lost. The Git tool is mostly preferred when there is requirement of working in open environment and user can do the push, pull or commit from any place and there is no breakage of code for the application.
- The other difference is method of commit in tool. In the Git tool when there is requirement to commit the code the tool provide one extra layer named as “layer of indirection”. However, in the Mercurial tool no extra layer is present for code commit and the tool offers the simple interface for the code commit.
Mercurial vs Git Comparison Table
Let’s discuss the top comparison between Mercurial vs Git:
| Feature | Mercurial | Git |
| Definition | The Mercurial is type of version management tool that is used by the developers to manage the application. The tool is mostly preferred when there is requirement of small team for project. | The Git is another version management tool that is used for controlling and modifying the changes in the application and used for maintaining the software development cycle. |
| Developer | The Mercurial tool was developed by the developer named Matt Mackall. The programming language used for development of the mercurial tool was python and C. | The developer that develops the Git was Linux Torvalds. The programming language used for the development of Git platform was C, Python, Tcl, Shell and Perl programming language.
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| Flexibility in version history | In Mercurial tool the user does not has the access to change the version history. Although, user has the permission to change last commit but no version history. | In Git tool the user has the complete access to change version history. The user can go to settings and change the version history as per the requirements. |
| Support for staging area | No such functionality is present in mercurial tool. From initial only there was no such concept present in this tool. | The Git platform provides the functionality of staging area. The staging area is the part where files can be seen that will be there for the next commit. |
| Branching | The Mercurial tool provides the support for branching. The structure of branching is complex and not so strong compared to Git tool. | The Git tool provides the strong branching mechanism and user can easily create branch for one single project. |
| Ease of use | The user can use the Mercurial platform much more easy compared to Git tool. The user has better experience when the mercurial tool is used. | The structure of Git tool is more complex compared to Mercurial tool and the user need to first understand the basics of tool before using the Git tool. |
| Target audience | The Mercurial tool are mostly preferred by the small team cap. The tool is mostly used by the users that are beginners. For less experience individual the tool is useful and easy to understand. | The Git tool is mostly preferred by the large size organization as the employee cap is larger for the large size organization. The Git tool is mostly used by the experienced users. Before using the tool, the user needs to do proper hands-on. |
Conclusion
The Mercurial tool and Git tool are both version management tool that is used for controlling the version of software and used by the developers. The Git tool is little more advanced tool when it is compared to Mercurial tool. The Git tool is used by experienced developers while the Mercurial tool is used by the beginners and also the people which are from non-technical background.
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