Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Git Flow VS SourceTree

Compare Git Flow VS SourceTree and see what are their differences

Git Flow logo Git Flow

Git Flow is a very self-explanatory free software workflow for managing Git branches.

SourceTree logo SourceTree

Mac and Windows client for Mercurial and Git.
  • Git Flow Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-04
  • SourceTree Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-23

Git Flow features and specs

  • Structured Release Model
    Git Flow provides a well-defined structure with dedicated branches for development, feature work, releases, and hotfixes, which can help teams manage and track their work more effectively.
  • Parallel Development
    It supports parallel development by allowing multiple feature branches to be worked on simultaneously without interfering with each other.
  • Stable Releases
    The release branch allows for thorough testing and stabilization before a release, helping ensure that issues are minimized in production.
  • Isolated Environments
    By using long-lived branches like develop and master, it allows for clean separation of completed and in-progress work.

Possible disadvantages of Git Flow

  • Complexity
    The workflow can become quite complex, especially for small teams or projects, requiring discipline in branch management and merging.
  • Overhead
    Maintaining multiple long-lived branches and frequent merges can introduce significant overhead, particularly in less automated environments.
  • Not Ideal for Continuous Delivery
    Git Flow may not be the best fit for continuous delivery environments, as its focus on release branches could slow down the process of deploying small, frequent updates.
  • Delayed Integration
    Feature branches can stay open for extended periods, leading to larger, riskier merges into the develop branch if integration isn’t done regularly.

SourceTree features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    SourceTree offers an intuitive GUI for Git and Mercurial version control, making it easier for users who may not be comfortable with command-line operations.
  • Rich Feature Set
    Supports various Git functionalities like branching, merging, stash, rebase, and also offers visualizations of repository history and changes.
  • Integration with Bitbucket and GitHub
    Seamlessly integrates with popular repositories like Bitbucket and GitHub, providing enhanced features for working within these platforms.
  • Free to Use
    SourceTree is available for free, making it accessible for individual developers and small teams without any financial investment.
  • Cross-Platform
    Available for both Windows and macOS, providing versatility for users across different operating systems.

Possible disadvantages of SourceTree

  • Performance Issues
    Some users report slow performance, especially with large repositories or when performing complex Git operations.
  • Steep Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While basic operations are straightforward, mastering the more advanced functionalities can be challenging for new users.
  • Occasional Bugs and Stability Issues
    Users have occasionally encountered bugs or crashes, affecting the stability of the application.
  • Lacks Some Advanced Git Features
    Although it covers a broad range of functionalities, some advanced Git features may still require command-line operations.
  • Limited Support and Documentation
    Compared to some other tools, users might find the support and documentation less comprehensive, potentially making problem-solving harder.

Git Flow videos

Git Flow Is A Bad Idea

SourceTree videos

SourceTree and Mercurial Version Control

More videos:

  • Review - Getting step up with git, GitBucket and SourceTree - Joomla Beat

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Git Flow and SourceTree)
Git
12 12%
88% 88
Code Collaboration
14 14%
86% 86
Development
47 47%
53% 53
Git Tools
8 8%
92% 92

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Git Flow and SourceTree

Git Flow Reviews

We have no reviews of Git Flow yet.
Be the first one to post

SourceTree Reviews

Best Git GUI Clients of 2022: All Platforms Included
Sourcetree is a free Git GUI client and can work on both Windows or Mac. This tool is simple to use yet powerful, making it perfect for both beginners and advanced users. The clean and elegant interface makes it effortless and enjoyable to navigate through.
Boost Development Productivity With These 14 Git Clients for Windows and Mac
Sourcetree is a git GUI tool from the house of Atlassian, the IT tech company that also developed Bitbucket and Jira. Compared to other similar tools, Sourcetree offers a more powerful graphical user interface (GUI.)
Source: geekflare.com
Best Git GUI Clients for Windows
You can easily perform all the necessary Git-related tasks, such as cloning repositories (including the remote ones), pushing, pulling, committing, and merging changes. Both experienced users and beginners can work successfully with Sourcetree, tracking all changes, actions, and actors.
Source: blog.devart.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SourceTree seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 2 times since March 2021. 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.

Git Flow mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Git Flow yet. Tracking of Git Flow recommendations started around Apr 2022.

SourceTree mentions (2)

  • Git as a Beginner
    I think a gui will be helpful, eg bitbucket sourcetree https://sourcetreeapp.com/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • WHAT IS SOURCETREE? HOW TO INSTALL IT?
    Now Let's Download Sourcetree: Go to https://sourcetreeapp.com/ then download the installer. - Source: dev.to / over 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Git Flow and SourceTree, you can also consider the following products

Working Copy - The powerful Git client for iOS

GitKraken - The intuitive, fast, and beautiful cross-platform Git client.

CodeHub - CodeHub is the most complete, unofficial, client for GitHub on the iOS platform.

GitHub Desktop - GitHub Desktop is a seamless way to contribute to projects on GitHub and GitHub Enterprise.

Diff So Fancy - Make Git diffs look good

SmartGit - SmartGit is a front-end for the distributed version control system Git and runs on Windows, Mac OS...