Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

GitHub CLI VS Mercurial SCM

Compare GitHub CLI VS Mercurial SCM and see what are their differences

GitHub CLI logo GitHub CLI

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

Mercurial SCM logo Mercurial SCM

Mercurial is a free, distributed source control management tool.
  • GitHub CLI Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-23
  • Mercurial SCM Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-17

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.

Mercurial SCM features and specs

  • Performance
    Mercurial is known for its speed and performance, especially with large repositories and complex histories. It is designed to be fast and efficient, which makes it suitable for large-scale projects.
  • Simplicity
    Mercurial has a simpler command set compared to other SCMs like Git. The straightforwardness of its commands can make it easier to learn and use, particularly for new users.
  • Cross-platform Support
    Mercurial is a cross-platform tool that works well on a variety of operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux. This makes it versatile for development teams using different environments.
  • Strong Documentation
    Mercurial offers comprehensive and well-structured documentation which can be very helpful for both beginners and advanced users. The documentation covers a wide range of topics from basics to more complex usage.
  • Branching Model
    Mercurial uses a simpler and more intuitive branching model compared to Git. This can make branch handling more straightforward, reducing the complexity for developers.

Possible disadvantages of Mercurial SCM

  • Smaller Community
    Mercurial has a smaller user base and community compared to Git. This might result in fewer third-party tools, plugins, and resources available for Mercurial.
  • Market Share
    Git has largely dominated the market share for SCM tools. This might make Mercurial less attractive for enterprises and developers who prefer widely-adopted tools with broad industry support.
  • Tool Integration
    Some software tools and services offer better integration with Git than with Mercurial. This can limit the choices for CI/CD pipelines or other development tools that are often built with Git compatibility first.
  • Complex History Management
    While Mercurial’s simpler commands are an advantage, it can make some complex history management tasks more challenging compared to Git, which has a more powerful set of tools for such purposes.
  • Feature Lag
    New features and updates in source control management tend to appear in Git before they make their way to Mercurial, if at all. This lag can be a disadvantage for teams looking to use the latest advancements in SCM.

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

Mercurial SCM videos

No Mercurial SCM videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to GitHub CLI and Mercurial SCM)
Git
34 34%
66% 66
Developer Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Code Collaboration
23 23%
77% 77
Productivity
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, GitHub CLI seems to be a lot more popular than Mercurial SCM. While we know about 120 links to GitHub CLI, we've tracked only 2 mentions of Mercurial 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.

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 / about 10 hours 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 / 5 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 / 4 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
View more

Mercurial SCM mentions (2)

  • Why so rude?
    Many people have asked me to write a blog post on my preference of Mercurial over Git and so far I've refused and will continue doing so for the foreseeable future. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Mercurial Paris Conference will take place on April 05-07 2023 in Paris France. Call for papers are open!
    Mercurial Paris Conference 2023 is a professional and technical conference around mercurial scm, a free, distributed source control management tool. Source: over 2 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing GitHub CLI and Mercurial SCM, you can also consider the following products

Mac CLi - OS X command line tools for developers

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.

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

Homebrew - The missing package manager for macOS

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

GitHub Actions - Automate your workflow from idea to production