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Git for Windows VS GitHub CLI

Compare Git for Windows VS GitHub CLI and see what are their differences

Git for Windows logo Git for Windows

We bring the awesome Git SCM to Windows

GitHub CLI logo GitHub CLI

Official CLI tool for using GitHub from the command-line.
  • Git for Windows Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-02
  • GitHub CLI Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-23

Git for Windows features and specs

  • Familiarity
    Git for Windows offers users familiar with Unix-like environments the ability to use Git in a similar fashion via Git Bash, providing a seamless transition.
  • Integration
    Git for Windows integrates well with IDEs like Visual Studio Code and other development tools, streamlining the development process for Windows users.
  • GUI Options
    The inclusion of tools like Git GUI provides a graphical interface for users who prefer not to use command-line tools, making Git more accessible to beginners.
  • Portable Git
    Git for Windows offers a portable version, which allows users to carry Git on a USB stick and use it on any Windows machine without installation.
  • Performance
    Optimized for Windows, Git for Windows takes advantage of platform-specific enhancements and performs efficiently in Windows environments.

Possible disadvantages of Git for Windows

  • Learning Curve
    New users might face a steep learning curve when first using Git Bash, especially if they are not familiar with Unix-like command-line interfaces.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running Git for Windows may use more system resources compared to native Git on Unix-like systems, which can be a concern on older or less powerful hardware.
  • Inconsistent Experience
    There can be minor inconsistencies and differences in behavior between Git for Windows and Git on Unix-like systems, which may cause confusion for users working in mixed environments.
  • Tool Maintenance
    Managing and keeping up-to-date with tools like Git Bash and Git GUI can add additional maintenance overhead for users and administrators.
  • Limited Support
    While Git for Windows is well-supported, some third-party tools and scripts designed for Git on Unix-like systems might not work properly or require adaptation, leading to potential compatibility issues.

GitHub CLI features and specs

  • Seamless Integration
    GitHub CLI allows for seamless integration with GitHub, enabling users to perform repository and organization management tasks directly from the command line.
  • Automation
    Enables automation of workflows such as pull requests, issues, and CI/CD pipelines, which can save time and reduce errors.
  • Scriptability
    Command line tools can be scripted, allowing for batch processing and the inclusion of GitHub operations in larger automated scripts and processes.
  • Environment Consistency
    Consistent environments across different development systems can be maintained since command line interfaces are less susceptible to changes than GUI-based tools.
  • Lightweight
    As a CLI tool, GitHub CLI is lightweight and consumes minimal system resources compared to graphical interface alternatives.
  • Offline Access
    Some operations can be prepared or queued up offline and then executed when connectivity is restored, allowing for flexibility in workflows.

Possible disadvantages of GitHub CLI

  • Learning Curve
    Understanding and using a CLI can be challenging for users new to command line operations, requiring them to learn syntax and commands.
  • Limited Visuals
    Command line interfaces lack the visual appeal and ease-of-use provided by graphical user interfaces, potentially making complex operations harder to manage.
  • Manual Errors
    Manual input of commands can lead to human error, such as mistyping commands or arguments, which can result in unintended actions.
  • Feature Parity
    Some advanced features and integrations available in the GitHub web interface may be missing or less accessible in the CLI version.
  • Dependency Management
    Requires users to manage dependencies and versions of other command-line tools and scripting environments, which may add complexity for some setups.

Git for Windows videos

No Git for Windows videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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GitHub CLI videos

NEW GitHub CLI 1.0 is here! | GitHub CLI Tutorial - Demo & Commands

More videos:

  • Review - New GitHub CLI Crash Course - First Look
  • Demo - GitHub CLI demo

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Git for Windows and GitHub CLI)
Code Collaboration
64 64%
36% 36
Git
50 50%
50% 50
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100
SSH
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

GitHub CLI might be a bit more popular than Git for Windows. We know about 120 links to it since March 2021 and only 86 links to Git for Windows. 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 for Windows mentions (86)

  • How to Set Up Your Git Workspace on a PC
    Download Git Bash. This is a tool developers use to write Git commands on a PC. I use this on my computer. Just go to gitforwindows.org and click the download button to start downloading the file. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • Linux as co-operative Windows process
    At work when I work on Windows (currently stuck using Mac for the first time in my career at work), but on Windows I would use https://gitforwindows.org/ which also uses msys2 and that is a very popularly supported free product using msys2 on Windows. If you ever forget the URL, search for "git bash for windows". - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Azure DevOps: Version Control Using Git and VS Code
    Git installed and configured on your machine. For Windows, For Mac. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Streamline Your Smart Contract Development with Foundry
    How to install?? Before going further make sure you have installed GIT BASH because these commands will not work on windows terminal. Before installing foundry we need to install latest version of the rust. To install rust run below command in your bash terminal. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Solving the Worst Problem in Programming Education: Windows
    I use windows, mac and linux basically interchangeably for coding. For windows, I install the Git Bash package [https://gitforwindows.org/] and then just use chocolatey as a package manager for stuff like python and node.js. Bash gives me a completely functional commandline with my C drive mounted as `/c`, and I can write code using VSCode. I don't really have issues. With this setup, it operates indistinguishably... - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
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GitHub CLI mentions (120)

  • Time and Truth: Lessons from Tracking My Work with Watson
    Here is a hack that I am proud of: I wrote a small script as a GitHub CLI extension:. - Source: dev.to / 6 days ago
  • Using Checkout Action in GitHub Actions Workflow
    A GitHub account and basic familiarity with GitHub actions are requirements for using GitHub actions. Additionally, you will need the GitHub CLI to follow along with the hands-on demo later in this post. - Source: dev.to / 10 days ago
  • Easing the start at a new company with glab or gh
    I wanted to look at another big platform that I use in my free time. GitHub does have a CLI-tool called gh. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • Getting Started with Go and the Web: Deploy to Railway
    Git and the GitHub CLI should be installed on your machine. Download and install Git from here: Downloads - Git. Download and install the GitHub CLI from here: Download and Install GitHub CLI. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • How to Use Two GitHub Profiles on One Machine
    GitHub CLI is a command-line tool that allows you to interact with GitHub from the terminal. You can install GitHub CLI by following the instructions on the GitHub CLI website. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Git for Windows and GitHub CLI, you can also consider the following products

Xfce-Terminal - Terminal is a modern terminal emulator for the Unix/Linux desktop - primarily for the Xfce desktop...

Mac CLi - OS X command line tools for developers

Kitty terminal - Super fast, GPU and OpenGL based terminal emulator with tiling support

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.

Cool Retro Term - Terminal emulator which mimics the look and feel of the old cathode tube screens, designed for...

Homebrew - The missing package manager for macOS