Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

GitHub VS Hashicorp Terraform

Compare GitHub VS Hashicorp Terraform and see what are their differences

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GitHub logo GitHub

Originally founded as a project to simplify sharing code, GitHub has grown into an application used by over a million people to store over two million code repositories, making GitHub the largest code host in the world.

Hashicorp Terraform logo Hashicorp Terraform

Hashicorp Terraform is a tool that collaborate on infrastructure changes to reduce errors and simplify recovery.
  • GitHub Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-05
  • Hashicorp Terraform Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-02

GitHub

Website
github.com
$ Details
Release Date
2008 January
Startup details
Country
United States
State
California
Founder(s)
Chris Wanstrath
Employees
500 - 999

GitHub features and specs

  • collaboration
    GitHub provides a platform for multiple developers to work on the same project concurrently, facilitating collaboration through features like pull requests, code reviews, and issues tracking.
  • integration
    GitHub integrates seamlessly with various third-party tools and services, such as CI/CD pipelines, project management tools, and many development environments, enhancing productivity and workflow efficiency.
  • version_control
    Utilizes Git for version control, allowing users to track changes, revert to previous versions if necessary, and manage different branches of development, ensuring code stability and history tracking.
  • community
    With millions of developers and a vast repository of open-source projects, GitHub fosters a robust community where users can contribute to projects, seek help, share knowledge, and collaborate broadly.
  • availability
    GitHub is a cloud-based platform, which means that projects are accessible from anywhere with an internet connection, providing flexibility and convenience to developers globally.
  • documentation
    GitHub allows for comprehensive project documentation through README files, wikis, and GitHub Pages, making it easier for users to understand project context and contribute effectively.

Possible disadvantages of GitHub

  • cost
    While GitHub offers free plans, more advanced features and private repositories come at a cost, which might be a barrier for some individuals or small teams.
  • steep_learning_curve
    For newcomers, especially those unfamiliar with Git, the learning curve can be quite steep, making it challenging to utilize all of GitHub's features effectively.
  • privacy_concerns
    Given its expansive, open nature, users must be cautious with sensitive or proprietary information. Even with private repositories, there is a latent concern over data privacy and security.
  • interface_complexity
    The user interface, while powerful, can be overwhelming and complex for beginners or those not deeply familiar with version control concepts.
  • performance_issues
    Occasionally, GitHub may experience downtime or performance issues, which can disrupt workflow and prevent access to repositories temporarily.
  • limited_storage
    GitHub imposes limitations on storage space and file size within repositories, which can be restrictive for projects requiring large datasets or binaries.

Hashicorp Terraform features and specs

  • Infrastructure as Code
    Terraform allows users to define infrastructure in a high-level configuration language, making infrastructure management more consistent and less error-prone.
  • Multi-Cloud Support
    Terraform supports multiple cloud providers such as AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and others, enabling users to manage a hybrid cloud environment efficiently.
  • State Management
    Terraform maintains a state file that helps in tracking the state of the infrastructure, making it easier to detect changes and apply updates.
  • Modular and Reusable Configuration
    Terraform configurations can be broken down into reusable modules, promoting a DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself) approach and making complex infrastructure easier to manage.
  • Strong Community and Ecosystem
    Terraform has a large and active community, providing extensive documentation, sample code, and third-party modules through the Terraform Registry.
  • Plan Before Apply
    Terraform provides a 'terraform plan' command that allows users to preview changes before applying them, reducing the risk of unexpected modifications.
  • Declarative Language
    Terraform uses a declarative language (HCL - HashiCorp Configuration Language) that enables users to specify the desired end state of the infrastructure without having to define the exact steps to achieve it.

Possible disadvantages of Hashicorp Terraform

  • State File Management
    Managing state files can be challenging, especially in team environments. Locking mechanisms and remote backends need to be properly configured to avoid conflicts.
  • Learning Curve
    New users may find Terraform's learning curve steep, particularly if they are not familiar with infrastructure as code concepts and the specific syntax of HCL.
  • Limited Support for Certain Providers
    While Terraform supports a wide range of providers, the depth and quality of support may vary. Some less common providers may have incomplete or less reliable implementations.
  • Debugging Complexity
    Debugging Terraform configurations and state-related issues can be complex and time-consuming, requiring a good understanding of how Terraform works under the hood.
  • Versioning and Compatibility Issues
    Upgrading Terraform or its providers can sometimes lead to breaking changes. Keeping track of compatible versions and managing upgrades requires careful attention.
  • Performance
    Terraform can sometimes be slower than other infrastructure management tools, particularly when dealing with very large infrastructures or numerous resources.
  • Lack of Granular Control
    While Terraform's declarative approach simplifies many tasks, it may not provide the granular control needed for very complex or highly customized infrastructure scenarios.

Analysis of GitHub

Overall verdict

  • GitHub is considered an excellent choice for developers and teams looking for a reliable and efficient platform for version control and collaboration. Its community support, extensive documentation, and innovative features make it a preferred choice in the software development community.

Why this product is good

  • GitHub is a widely used platform for version control and collaboration, popular among developers and teams for its robust features, ease of use, and integration capabilities. It allows for streamlined project management, code review, and continuous integration, enhancing productivity and collaborative workflows.

Recommended for

  • Individual developers working on personal projects
  • Software development teams in need of collaborative tools
  • Open-source project maintainers and contributors
  • Organizations looking for scalable version control solutions

Analysis of Hashicorp Terraform

Overall verdict

  • Yes, HashiCorp Terraform is considered a highly effective tool for managing infrastructure as code, especially in multi-cloud environments. It is praised for its flexibility, scalability, and active open-source community which consistently contributes to its development and support ecosystem.

Why this product is good

  • HashiCorp Terraform is widely regarded as a robust Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tool, helping organizations automate and manage their infrastructure efficiently. It offers several advantages, such as a declarative configuration language, a vast ecosystem of providers, state management, and the ability to manage resources across multiple cloud providers and on-premises environments. It supports a variety of use cases from provisioning and managing compute instances to automating complex multi-cloud environments.

Recommended for

  • Organizations adopting or operating in multi-cloud environments.
  • Development and operations teams looking for a programmable and scalable infrastructure management solution.
  • Teams aiming to improve their DevOps practices with automated provisioning and management.
  • Consultants and specialists involved in cloud architecture or IT infrastructure projects.

GitHub videos

How to do coding peer reviews with Github

More videos:

Hashicorp Terraform videos

Best Practices of Infrastructure as Code with HashiCorp Terraform

More videos:

  • Review - HashiCorp Terraform Adoption Stages

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to GitHub and Hashicorp Terraform)
Software Development
100 100%
0% 0
Project Management
0 0%
100% 100
Code Collaboration
100 100%
0% 0
IT Management
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare GitHub and Hashicorp Terraform

GitHub Reviews

  1. Reinhard
    ยท Boss at CLOUD Meister ยท
    perfect 4 open Source

Best Forums for Developers to Join in 2025
GitHub Discussions is a communication forum for the community around an open source or internal project. Discussions enable fluid, open conversation in a public forum. Discussions are transparent and accessible, but they are not related to code.
Source: www.notchup.com
The Top 10 GitHub Alternatives
However, like any (human) product, the platform has its limits, downsides, and critics. GitHub has been barred by certain governments, and even if that isnโ€™t exactly the companyโ€™s fault, the users are the ones limited from pushing their code. Another criticism concerns the price tag: some users have pointed out that GitHubโ€™s pricing model is too inflexible. Moreover, some...
Top 10 Developer Communities You Should Explore
GitHub also has an extensive API that allows it to integrate workflows seamlessly. Continuous integration, code review tools, and project management features make GitHub an essential tool for any developer, and the community aspect adds a layer of connectivity that enriches the overall experience.
Source: www.qodo.ai
Top 7 GitHub Alternatives You Should Know (2024)
FAQs: Are there any cloud source repositories similar to GitHub?Is there a free alternative to GitHub?
Source: snappify.com
Best GitHub Alternatives for Developers in 2023
We may earn from vendors via affiliate links or sponsorships. This might affect product placement on our site, but not the content of our reviews. See our Terms of Use for details. Looking for an alternative to GitHub? Check out our in-depth list of the best GitHub competitors, covering their features, pricing, pros, cons, and more.

Hashicorp Terraform Reviews

5 Best DevSecOps Tools in 2023
There are multiple providers for Infrastructure as Code such as AWS CloudFormation, RedHat Ansible, HashiCorp Terraform, Puppet, Chef, and others. It is advised to research each to determine what is best for any given situation since each has pros and cons. Some of these also are not completely free while others are. There are also some that are specific to a particular...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, GitHub seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 2320 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.

GitHub mentions (2320)

  • A Guide on how to run a Complete CI/CD Pipeline with Node.js, Docker, and Kubernetes.
    Sign up at: https://github.com You'll need this for hosting your code and CI/CD pipeline. - Source: dev.to / about 15 hours ago
  • Why TigerBeetle is the most interesting database in the world
    > AFAIK - the only reason FDB isn't massively popular is because no one has bothered to write good layers on top. I do know of a few folks writing a SQS, DynamoDB and SQLite layers. I started writing this comment: > It seems interesting, but considering what it's for, why aren't the hyperscalers using it? And while writing it I started searching for FoundationDB and found this: >... - Source: Hacker News / 3 days ago
  • Maximizing Your Development Skills: Proven Strategies for Continuous Learning
    Engaging with open-source projects on platforms like GitHub allows you to work on real-world problems alongside experienced developers. Itโ€™s a great way to learn while contributing to the community. Plus, you can showcase these contributions in your portfolio! - Source: dev.to / 6 days ago
  • 5 Python Automation Scripts to Supercharge Your Productivity
    Import requests Import time From datetime import datetime Def check_website(url, timeout=5): """Check if a website is accessible""" try: start_time = time.time() response = requests.get(url, timeout=timeout, headers={ 'User-Agent': 'Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit/537.36' }) response_time = round((time.time() - start_time) * 1000, 2) ... - Source: dev.to / 12 days ago
  • An NPM dependency check list
    7 If hosted in GitHub, check how many issues there are and how frequently issues are being resolved. - Source: dev.to / 15 days ago
View more

Hashicorp Terraform mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Hashicorp Terraform yet. Tracking of Hashicorp Terraform recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing GitHub and Hashicorp Terraform, you can also consider the following products

GitLab - Create, review and deploy code together with GitLab open source git repo management software | GitLab

Setapp - Your shortcut to prime apps on Mac, an App Store alternative

BitBucket - Bitbucket is a free code hosting site for Mercurial and Git. Manage your development with a hosted wiki, issue tracker and source code.

Metavine Platform - Metavine Platform is a comprehensive Platform-as-a-Service that help businesses build agility and compete effectively in the digital world by enabling them to iterate and create apps quickly.

VS Code - Build and debug modern web and cloud applications, by Microsoft

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