Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

GitZip VS SelfControl

Compare GitZip VS SelfControl and see what are their differences

GitZip logo GitZip

Download or create a download link for a GitHub project folder/sub-folder or file.

SelfControl logo SelfControl

V2 updates! - Custom time interval for distraction free mode - Ability to turn off ' always on' mode - Improved UI -- Self Control -- A simple app to keep you focused online by blocking sites that you spend way too much time on.
  • GitZip Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-09-02
  • SelfControl Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-19

GitZip features and specs

  • Selective Download
    GitZip allows users to download specific files or folders from a GitHub repository instead of cloning the entire repository, which is especially useful for large projects.
  • Ease of Use
    The extension provides a simple and intuitive interface to select and download files directly from GitHub, making it accessible for users with varying levels of technical expertise.
  • Browser Integration
    GitZip integrates directly with the browser, enabling users to download files without needing to switch to another tool.
  • Time Efficiency
    By allowing users to download only the necessary parts of a repository, GitZip helps in saving time that would otherwise be spent on downloading and processing unnecessary files.
  • Bandwidth Savings
    Avoiding the download of the entire repository helps in conserving bandwidth, particularly beneficial for users with limited internet resources.

Possible disadvantages of GitZip

  • Limited to GitHub
    GitZip is specifically designed for GitHub and does not support other Git hosting services, limiting its use to only GitHub repositories.
  • Browser Dependency
    As a browser extension, GitZip's functionality may be limited by browser-specific restrictions or lack of support in certain browsers.
  • Complexity with Large Repositories
    While GitZip is useful for downloading specific parts, navigating and selecting files in extremely large repositories can become cumbersome and less efficient.
  • Security Concerns
    Using third-party browser extensions may pose security risks, as they can potentially access sensitive data on GitHub.
  • Potential for Bugs
    As with many third-party tools, there is a possibility of encountering bugs or issues, especially following updates to GitHubโ€™s interface or API.

SelfControl features and specs

  • Effective Website Blocking
    SelfControl blocks access to distracting websites based on a customizable blocklist, helping users stay focused.
  • Timer Functionality
    Users can set a timer for how long they want websites to remain blocked, ensuring focused work periods without distraction.
  • Free to Use
    SelfControl is open-source and free to download and use, making it accessible to anyone without financial barriers.
  • Easy to Use
    The interface is straightforward and user-friendly, allowing users to quickly set their preferences and get started.

Possible disadvantages of SelfControl

  • Mac-Only
    SelfControl is only available for macOS, excluding Windows and Linux users from using the application.
  • No Undo Option
    Once the block period is set and started, it cannot be undone even by restarting the computer, which could be an issue if access to blocked sites is needed unexpectedly.
  • Limited Feature Set
    The app primarily focuses on website blocking, lacking additional productivity tools or features like app blocking or usage analytics.
  • No Scheduled Blocking
    SelfControl does not offer the ability to schedule block sessions in advance, meaning users must manually start each session.

Analysis of SelfControl

Overall verdict

  • Overall, SelfControl is a highly recommended tool for individuals looking to enhance their productivity by minimizing digital distractions. Its open-source nature and no-nonsense approach make it a popular choice among students, freelancers, and professionals alike.

Why this product is good

  • SelfControl is considered a good application because it effectively blocks distracting websites, helping users focus on their tasks without getting sidetracked by online distractions. It's simple to use, efficient, and highly customizable, allowing users to specify which sites to block and for how long, ensuring a tailored productivity experience.

Recommended for

    SelfControl is ideal for students who need to concentrate on studying, remote workers who want to avoid procrastination, freelancers who require discipline in managing their time, and anyone who needs a simple solution to reduce digital distractions during focused work periods.

GitZip videos

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SelfControl videos

How to block websites that distract you ? Selfcontrol [Mac App review and tutorial]

More videos:

  • Review - SelfControl Review - Block distracting websites

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to GitZip and SelfControl)
Development
100 100%
0% 0
Time Tracking
0 0%
100% 100
Tool
100 100%
0% 0
Time Management
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SelfControl seems to be a lot more popular than GitZip. While we know about 79 links to SelfControl, we've tracked only 2 mentions of GitZip. 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.

GitZip mentions (2)

  • How to only downlaod GFM without its submod on Github?
    If you don't want to trust a link from a stranger then you could use https://kinolien.github.io/gitzip/ where you can put the URL of a github folder and it'll give you a zip of the contents, so if you want the belle dark sub mod then you would paste in: https://github.com/Historical-Expansion-Mod/Greater-Flavor-Mod/blob/master/GFM%20Belle%20Dark.mod. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • WASD + mouse position movement on Isometric 2D
    Yeah, on GitHub there's no download directory button or something like this. You could for example use GitZip to download it zipped, just paste URL to that directory in there and download. Source: about 5 years ago

SelfControl mentions (79)

  • Oregon School Cell Phone Ban: 'Engaged Students, Joyful Teachers'
    A combination of https://selfcontrolapp.com/ and Hammerspoon automation and you can lock yourself out of pretty much everything. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Kiki โ€“ The accountability monster for people who are easily distracted
    Happy to see it still exists, and free https://selfcontrolapp.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • How do you fight YouTube addiction and procrastination? I'm struggling with it
    I have found that a useful method for getting distractions off my work laptop has been https://selfcontrolapp.com/ (if you're on mac). - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • Using an $8 smart outlet to avoid brainrot
    Pro tip for macos/ios folks: - Macos: Install https://selfcontrolapp.com/, add every website and their alternatives you know, set it to 24 hours. Really hard to bypass this even if you know networking stuff - iOS: Enable downtime 24/7 ask someone else to set the password. I'm down to about 35 minutes a day of mobile usage, and laptop usage is only work related things. You really need two or three days to clear... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • My 30-Year Quitting Addiction
    There is a free and open source app called SelfControl for macOS. It allows one to block access to any site one adds to the list in the app for the amount of time the user chooses. Attempt to use multiple browsers, restarting one's machine, deleting the app, etc. won't get around the block either. It's been super helpful for me, so I thought I'd just throw it out there. https://selfcontrolapp.com. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing GitZip and SelfControl, you can also consider the following products

Refined GitHub - Browser extension that makes GitHub cleaner & more powerful

Cold Turkey - Cold Turkey is a free productivity program that you can use to temporarily block distractions so that you can get your work done!

GitHub Hovercard - GitHub Hovercard provides neat hovercards for GitHub.

Freedom.to - Freedom is a productivity hack that lets you block apps, websites or the entire Internet on iPhones, iPads, Windows and Mac computers.

Enhanced GitHub - :rocket: Chrome extension to display size of each file, download link and copy file contents directly to clipboard - softvar/enhanced-github

Focus App - New Tab page that gives you a moment of calm and inspires you to be more productive.