Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

darcs VS GitLab

Compare darcs VS GitLab and see what are their differences

darcs logo darcs

Darcs is an advanced revision control system, for source code or other files.

GitLab logo GitLab

Create, review and deploy code together with GitLab open source git repo management software | GitLab
  • darcs Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-23
  • GitLab Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-17

darcs

Website
darcs.net
Pricing URL
-
Release Date
-

GitLab

Release Date
2014 January
Startup details
Country
United States
State
California
Founder(s)
Dmitriy Zaporozhets
Employees
1,000 - 1,999

darcs features and specs

  • Interactive Workflow
    Darcs allows users to interactively choose which patches to apply, amend, or record, enabling a more fine-grained control over changes. This feature is beneficial for developers who prefer to review patches as they manage them.
  • Patch-based System
    Darcs is based on a powerful patch theory which offers a flexible way to handle changes, making it easier to manage complex merge scenarios and re-organize change history.
  • Simple and Intuitive Interface
    The command interface of Darcs is straightforward, providing simplicity for users in common version control tasks.
  • Peer-to-peer Capabilities
    With Darcs, each repository is complete with its own history, which allows for efficient peer-to-peer collaboration without the need for a central server.

Possible disadvantages of darcs

  • Performance Issues
    Darcs can exhibit slower performance, especially with very large repositories or a massive number of patches, which could be limiting compared to newer version control systems like Git.
  • Limited User Base
    The user base for Darcs is relatively small compared to more popular systems like Git, leading to less community support, fewer third-party tools, and potentially slower development of new features.
  • Complex Concepts
    The underlying patch theory and some of the advanced features can be complex, which might overwhelm new users who are used to traditional snapshot-based systems.
  • Limited Integrations
    Darcs lacks extensive integrations with popular development tools and services compared to other version control systems, which might impact its usability for some development workflows.

GitLab features and specs

  • Integrated DevOps Platform
    GitLab provides a single application for the entire DevOps lifecycle, which simplifies the workflow and reduces the need for multiple tools.
  • CI/CD Capabilities
    It offers powerful Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) features, enabling automated testing and deployment.
  • Self-Hosted and SaaS Options
    GitLab can be hosted on your own servers or used as a cloud-hosted service, providing flexibility depending on your needs.
  • Strong Security Features
    GitLab includes various security features such as code quality analysis, vulnerability management, and compliance management.
  • Robust Community and Support
    There is a large community and extensive documentation available, along with professional support options.

Possible disadvantages of GitLab

  • Complexity for New Users
    The extensive features and functionalities can be overwhelming for newcomers, requiring a steep learning curve.
  • Resource Intensive
    Self-hosting a GitLab instance requires substantial server resources, which can be costly.
  • Price
    While there is a free tier, the advanced features are part of the paid plans, which can be expensive for small teams or startups.
  • User Interface
    Some users find the interface less intuitive and harder to navigate compared to other platforms like GitHub.
  • Performance Issues
    Large repositories or high usage can sometimes lead to performance issues, especially on self-hosted instances.

darcs videos

Darcs Destiny Review (Re-uploaded)

More videos:

  • Review - DARC SPORT MARCH 2022 LAUNCH TRY ON/REVIEW #darcsport #tryonhaul #gymclothes #gymfavorites
  • Review - P & DARCS CLUB : AIRCRAFT AIRSHOW

GitLab videos

Introduction to GitLab Workflow

More videos:

  • Review - GitLab Review App Working Session

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to darcs and GitLab)
Git
6 6%
94% 94
Code Collaboration
6 6%
94% 94
Git Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Software Development
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare darcs and GitLab

darcs Reviews

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GitLab Reviews

  1. Reinhard
    · Boss at CLOUD Meister ·
    perfect for Freelancers!

The Top 11 Static Application Security Testing (SAST) Tools
GitLab’s in-context testing solution simplifies the development process by automating both application and infrastructure management on a single platform.Why We Picked GitLab: We like GitLab’s automation of testing and compliance across development workflows. Its in-context testing minimizes license costs and reduces the learning curve.
The Top 10 GitHub Alternatives
GitLab is a web-based DevSecOps (take that, Call of Duty) platform that allows software development teams to plan, build, and ship secure code all in one application. GitLab offers a range of features and tools to support the entire software development lifecycle, from project planning and source code management to continuous integration, delivery, and deployment.
The Best Alternatives to Jenkins for Developers
CI/CD GitLab, as a complete DevOps platform, provides an integrated CI/CD solution along with its other features. If your team is already using GitLab for controlling versions and managing projects, the addition of GitLab CI/CD can be very smooth. The offering in CI/CD by GitLab is quite customizable and it backs up many programming languages as well as application test...
Source: morninglif.com
Top 7 GitHub Alternatives You Should Know (2024)
Most of the listed alternatives offer free tier plans for individuals or small teams. Tools like GitLab and Bitbucket allow users to host unlimited repositories without cost.
Source: snappify.com
Best GitHub Alternatives for Developers in 2023
While GitLab features an extensive set of capabilities, this can also serve as a weakness since beginners may find the developer tool overwhelming to begin with. The user interface compounds this issue by being outdated and unintuitive. GitLab could benefit from more third-party integrations, and its performance tends to struggle when dealing with large repositories or CI/CD...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, GitLab seems to be a lot more popular than darcs. While we know about 132 links to GitLab, we've tracked only 4 mentions of darcs. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

darcs mentions (4)

  • Introduction to Loro's Rich Text CRDT
    Darcs [0] patch theory was a predecessor to OTs/CRDTs (and a predecessor to git as well; in some ways it is the "smart" to which git was named "dumb"). When it works and performs well it is still sometimes version control magic. Pijul [1] is an interesting experiment to watch, trying to keep the patch theory flag flying and also trying to bring in updates from OTs and CRDTs as it can. [0] https://darcs.net [1]... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: Can we do better than Git for version control?
    Perforce. As for DVCS, the best one I've used is Darcs: https://darcs.net/ There are some sticky wickets (specifically, exponential-time conflict resolution) that hindered its adoption. Thankfully, there's Pijul, which is like Darcs but a) solves that problem; and b) is written in Rust! The perfect DVCS, probably! https://pijul.org/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Is it time to look past Git?
    Well technically one alternative I am going to bring up predates Git by several years, and that's DARCS. Fans of DARCS have written plenty of material on Git's perceived weaknesses. While DARCS' Haskell codebase apparently had some issues, its underlying "change" semantics have remained influential. For example, Pijul is a Rust-based contender currently in beta. It embraces a huge number of the paradigms,... - Source: dev.to / almost 3 years ago
  • Quite excited by [Pijul beta] tbh. Git feels like the "C of version control" - ubiquitous, reliable, but old and not very user friendly. I'm hoping we'll get the "Rust of version control" soon enough! :D
    We already have the "haskell of version control", darcs, i.e. Nobody uses it. Source: over 3 years ago

GitLab mentions (132)

  • Open Source Funding: Strategies, Case Studies, and Best Practices
    In this article, we explore funding methods that empower projects such as Red Hat, GitLab, and Blender. Our discussion focuses on overlaying robust financial models with community-led efforts while incorporating advanced technologies like blockchain and smart contracts for secure, transparent fund distribution. With clear definitions, tables, bullet lists, and real-world examples, we aim to provide a holistic view... - Source: dev.to / 27 days ago
  • The Hidden Challenges of Building with AWS
    💡** My Take:** If you’re not ready to spend hours debugging AWS configurations, you might want to consider other cloud options, such as DigitalOcean or Gitlab for CI/CD. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Understanding Open Source Developer Support Networks
    The foundation of OSS is its community. OSDSNs offer platforms like GitHub and GitLab that encourage communication and collaboration, creating a sense of belonging among developers. These platforms are essential for managing projects and enhancing motivation within the community. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • Navigating the Financial Landscape of Open Source Projects
    The open core model involves offering a core open-source product while providing premium features as part of a separate, paid product. This model encourages community involvement by allowing free access to the foundational version. Meanwhile, it supports sustainability by charging for advanced features tailored to specific market needs. GitLab exemplifies this model, offering a free version alongside premium... - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • Navigating Financial Models for Open Source Projects
    Projects can also monetize by selling complementary products, such as plugins or premium add-ons. Platforms like GitLab leverage this model by offering advanced features for a fee. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing darcs and GitLab, you can also consider the following products

Mercurial SCM - Mercurial is a free, distributed source control management tool.

GitHub - Originally founded as a project to simplify sharing code, GitHub has grown into an application used by over a million people to store over two million code repositories, making GitHub the largest code host in the world.

Git - Git is a free and open source version control system designed to handle everything from small to very large projects with speed and efficiency. It is easy to learn and lightweight with lighting fast performance that outclasses competitors.

BitBucket - Bitbucket is a free code hosting site for Mercurial and Git. Manage your development with a hosted wiki, issue tracker and source code.

Pijul - Pijul is a free and open source distributed version control system based on a sound theory of...

Gitea - A painless self-hosted Git service