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Git for Windows VS Plastic SCM

Compare Git for Windows VS Plastic SCM and see what are their differences

Git for Windows logo Git for Windows

We bring the awesome Git SCM to Windows

Plastic SCM logo Plastic SCM

Plastic SCM is a cross-platform commercial distributed version control tool.
  • Git for Windows Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-02
  • Plastic SCM Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-05

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.

Plastic SCM features and specs

  • Scalability
    Plastic SCM is designed to handle large projects with extensive histories and large binary files efficiently, making it suitable for enterprises and large development teams.
  • Branching and Merging
    Offers advanced branching and merging capabilities, including visualization tools that make it easier for developers to manage complex branches and understand changes over time.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Supports multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, which allows teams using diverse platforms to collaborate seamlessly.
  • GUI Tools
    Provides intuitive and powerful graphical user interfaces, which make it easier for users to interact with the system and manage repositories without deep command-line knowledge.
  • Large File Handling
    Plastic SCM is optimized for handling large binary files, which is often a limitation with other version control systems like Git.
  • Integrations
    Supports integrations with popular tools such as Unity, Jenkins, and JIRA, enabling smoother workflows in development environments.

Possible disadvantages of Plastic SCM

  • Learning Curve
    Users who are accustomed to Git or other systems may find it challenging to adapt to Plastic SCM’s unique interfaces and workflows.
  • Cost
    Plastic SCM is a commercial product, and its licensing fees can be prohibitive for small teams or hobby projects when compared to free options like Git.
  • Limited Community Support
    Compared to more widespread systems like Git, the community around Plastic SCM is smaller, which can lead to fewer third-party resources, plugins, and community-driven support options.
  • Non-Standard Command Line Interface
    The command line interface is not standard, which might be less convenient for developers used to standard Git commands and operations.
  • Server Requirements
    Requires centralized server setups, which can introduce additional infrastructure complexity and costs for smaller teams.

Analysis of Git for Windows

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Git for Windows is generally considered a reliable and effective tool for managing Git repositories on Windows operating systems. It is frequently updated, well-documented, and supports the majority of workflows needed by developers using Git.

Why this product is good

  • Git for Windows provides a native set of tools that bring the full feature set of the Git SCM (Source Control Management) to Windows while providing new and appropriate user interfaces. It's particularly beneficial because it includes a BASH emulation for Git command line, which is vital for users accustomed to Unix-like systems, making it easier to follow tutorials and use scripting. Additionally, it handles large repositories and integrates well with Windows' compatibility layers and shell.

Recommended for

  • Windows users who need a robust Git client
  • Developers transitioning from Unix/Linux environments to Windows
  • Users who require an integrated BASH experience on Windows
  • Programmers who manage large repositories and require Git LFS support

Git for Windows videos

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

Add video

Plastic SCM videos

Plastic SCM - The version control for Unity

More videos:

  • Review - What is Plastic SCM - a short intro to the key concepts
  • Review - Get started with Plastic SCM – from zero to merge hero

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Git for Windows and Plastic SCM)
Code Collaboration
64 64%
36% 36
Git
63 63%
37% 37
SSH
100 100%
0% 0
Version Control
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Git for Windows seems to be a lot more popular than Plastic SCM. While we know about 86 links to Git for Windows, we've tracked only 2 mentions of Plastic SCM. 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 / 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 / 4 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 / 4 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 / over 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 / 11 months ago
View more

Plastic SCM mentions (2)

  • Plastic SCM stuck on Step 1
    I decided to set up Plastic but I can't even get past step 1. I press login or Sign Up but it just opens a window saying "You correctly signed up to plasticscm.com!" I already have an organization set up as well as Dev Ops. I am not sure what to do now. Thanks in advance. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Best way to manage version control?
    I use http://plasticscm.com hosted in their cloud. A few bucks a month for a pretty good VCS capable of handling large files. Source: almost 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Git for Windows and Plastic SCM, you can also consider the following products

Konsole - Konsole is a free terminal emulator which is part of KDE Software Compilation.

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.

xterm - You can download and use MobaXterm Home Edition for free.

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

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

Atlassian Bitbucket Server - Atlassian Bitbucket Server is a scalable collaborative Git solution.