Software Alternatives & Startups

GitHub CLI VS lazygit

Compare GitHub CLI VS lazygit and see what are their differences

GitHub CLI

Official CLI tool for using GitHub from the command-line.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
lazygit

Simple terminal UI for git commands.

Rating
0 reviews

Which is more popular?

GitHub CLI might be a bit more popular than lazygit. We know about 144 links to it since March 2021 and only 121 links to lazygit.

social mentions
144 vs 121
Git popularity
38% vs 62%
alternatives listed
121 vs 95

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

GitHub CLI
lazygit
Website cli.github.com github.com
Pricing
Open source
—
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

GitHub CLI 6 features
lazygit 5 features
  • 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

  • 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.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Lazygit provides an intuitive terminal user interface (TUI) for managing git repositories. It simplifies complex git tasks and makes them more accessible for users who are not comfortable with the command line.
  • Speed and Efficiency
    With keybindings and an efficient layout, lazygit can significantly speed up git workflows. Common tasks like staging, committing, and switching branches can be performed more quickly.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Lazygit is available for multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it versatile for users across different platforms.
  • Interactive UI
    The interactive UI of lazygit allows users to visualize changes, diffs, and logs in a more comprehensible way compared to traditional command-line interfaces.
  • Ease of Installation
    Lazygit is straightforward to install, often requiring just a few commands, making it accessible even for those with limited technical knowledge.

Possible disadvantages

  • Learning Curve
    Despite its user-friendly design, lazygit introduces a new set of keybindings and interfaces that users must learn, which could be a barrier for some.
  • Limited Customization
    Lazygit may lack the deep customization options available in other git clients or command-line tools, potentially limiting power users who need highly specific configurations.
  • Dependent on Terminal
    Since lazygit operates within a terminal, it might not fully integrate with other graphical development tools some users prefer, reducing its appeal for those who favor all-in-one solutions.
  • Feature Parity
    Lazygit might not support all the advanced features found in more comprehensive GUI-based git clients, potentially requiring users to fall back to command-line git for specific tasks.
  • Resource Consumption
    As a terminal-based tool, lazygit might consume more system resources compared to purely CLI-based git operations, which could be a concern for users on less powerful machines.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

GitHub CLI
lazygit

No analysis of GitHub CLI yet.

Overall verdict

  • Lazygit is highly regarded among developers who prefer working from the command line but want a more user-friendly interface than the traditional Git CLI. Its lightweight nature and efficient functionality make it a great tool for those looking to streamline their version control workflow.

Why this product is good

  • Lazygit is a simple, yet powerful terminal UI for Git commands. It allows users to manage their Git repositories with ease through an intuitive interface, reducing the need to remember complex command line options. Users have praised it for improving productivity and making Git processes more visually accessible.

Recommended for

    Lazygit is recommended for developers and software engineers who frequently use Git for version control and prefer a terminal-based user interface. It's particularly useful for those who want a quick and efficient way to perform Git operations without leaving their terminal environment.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

GitHub CLI 3 videos + Add
lazygit 1 video + Add

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

More videos

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

15 Lazygit Features In Under 15 Minutes

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
GitHub CLI
lazygit
38% 38%
Git
62% 62%
72% 72%
28% 28%
43% 43%
57% 57%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using GitHub CLI and lazygit. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

GitHub CLI 144 mentions
lazygit 121 mentions
  • gitsmith: A Terminal UI for Both GitLab and GitHub
    Requirements: glab authenticated for GitLab repos, and/or gh authenticated for GitHub repos. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Rebuilding my terminal from a git clone
    Step two is the whole bootstrap surface: chezmoi, the Bitwarden CLI and the GitHub CLI. Step four clones the repo, installs the Brewfile, applies the macOS defaults and renders every dotfile including the secrets. It takes as long as... - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • AI Agent Attempted to Social Engineer Open Source Maintainer to Merge Malware
    It’s worth pointing out that if you’re not aware of it, you can install the github cli[1] and view, merge, close etc prs and issue from the command-line. As well as (for me at least) being a significant step up in terms of productivity... - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago

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  • .gitignore Everything by Default
    Lazygit[0] is ideal for quickly selecting files or lines you want to include in your commit. There are probably countless others. And `--patch` is also not that hard. [0] https://github.com/jesseduffield/lazygit. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • Git rebase -I is not that scary
    I'm a big fan of https://github.com/MitMaro/git-interactive-rebase-tool on the terminal. I also use git absorb (https://github.com/tummychow/git-absorb) and lazygit a lot (https://github.com/jesseduffield/lazygit). - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • The Git Commands I Run Before Reading Any Code
    Navi is good for generating personal cheatsheets: https://github.com/denisidoro/navi But for Git, I can't recommend lazygit enough. It's an incredible piece of software: https://github.com/jesseduffield/lazygit. - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago

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Alternatives to GitHub CLI and lazygit

When comparing GitHub CLI and lazygit, you can also consider the following products.