GitLab
GitLab is a Git-repository hosting service and manager that's based on portable Web technologies. Users won't have to run a program through a terminal emulator or even a graphical front end when they use GitLab, since it allows them to perform all management tasks inside of their browser. Those who need to access a version control system from a remote location should especially like this. It also should prove useful for those who are working with machines that have limited system resources. By not needing to install any complex software solutions, users can save a good deal of local storage space. This makes it attractive for those who want to manage a collaborative revision matrix from netbooks or tablets.
- Users can easily create an issue-tracking log that notes each time a bug has been discovered as well as possible solutions for it
- Allows for the creation of individual wiki pages for each software project a group is working on
- Developers can upload code from any file structure supported by their own system software
- Comes with an integrated text editor
- Doesn't lock developers into any specific IDE
- Works with nearly all modern Web browsers
- Allows users to bypass Unix permission problems that occur when sharing Git code on VFAT, exFAT or NTFS volumes
- Needs no installation
- Coded in Ruby and Go for maximum portability
- Supported by many top technology organizations including IBM, SpaceX, NASA, Alibaba, O'Reilly Media and CERN
- Offers little in the way of a real command line, which could make complex file management operations complicated
- Paid versions of the software aren't completely built using open-source components
- May require some users to register with the service
- Web software is generally slower than terminal-based Git solutions
- Suffers from typeface rendering problems on some devices
Most people work with their Git-repository hosting service through a command line. While this is easy enough for those who are working with Linux, FreeBSD or macOS, Microsoft Windows users have to perform some workarounds to get the job done. They might end up installing Cygwin to run Unix code on their Windows workstations. Windows Subsystem for Linux compatibility layers and the now antiquated Windows Services for UNIX package also provided some relief for those working with Git software, yet none of these provide genuine native support. GitLab works through a browser, so Windows users can bypass the need for any of these subsystems and work with their repositories without making any changes. Users who want to share information across platforms can use GitLab to host source code in a central location. Everyone working on it will then be able to access it as long as they have a modern browser. It won't matter if they're accessing it from a big iron server or an iPhone. GitLab was originally coded purely in Ruby, which means that most of the real work is done on the server end of the equation. Some parts have been rewritten in Go to further optimize some subroutines, but increasing support for Ruby means that there might be even more libraries written for GitLab in this portable programming language. The so-called Community Edition of GitLab comes with an open-source license, so it might be possible for those interested enough to fork their own Ruby and Go projects out of it.
Alternatives to GitLab
Assembla
Bitbucket
SourceForge
Launchpad
Ansible
Atlassian Stash
Kallithea
Buddy
RhodeCode
GitHub
Chef
Microsoft Team Foundation Server
Phabricator
Klocwork
Springloops
Beanstalk
Planio
Gerrit
Kiln
Deveo
Rudder
SaltStack
CodePlex
Gitweb
Gitea
Puppet
Review Board
Bonobo Git Server
GitColony
Collaborator
WorkMate
Gitblit
