Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

GVfs VS TortoiseGit

Compare GVfs VS TortoiseGit and see what are their differences

GVfs logo GVfs

Git Virtual File System (by Microsoft)

TortoiseGit logo TortoiseGit

TortoiseGit is an easy to use client for the Git distributed revision control system.
  • GVfs Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-22
  • TortoiseGit Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-01-25

GVfs features and specs

  • Accessibility
    GVfs provides a uniform API for accessing different storage backends such as local files, SFTP, FTP, and more, allowing users and applications to work with remote and local files seamlessly.
  • Integration
    GVfs integrates well with the GNOME desktop environment, providing a native experience for file handling and making it easier for applications to interact with a variety of file systems.
  • Extensibility
    Developers can add support for new protocols and mount types thanks to GVfs's plugin-based architecture, which increases its flexibility and utility over time.
  • Network Transparency
    GVfs allows users to interact with files on remote servers as if they were local, abstracting away the complexity of the underlying network protocols.

Possible disadvantages of GVfs

  • GNOME Dependency
    GVfs is tightly integrated with the GNOME desktop environment, which may make it less attractive or harder to use in other environments or systems that do not rely on GNOME components.
  • Performance
    Some users report performance issues when handling large files or directories over network protocols, as the abstraction layer can introduce latency and overhead.
  • Complexity
    The abstraction provided by GVfs adds a layer of complexity to file handling, which can lead to challenges in debugging and understanding what is happening behind the scenes especially for less experienced users.
  • Stability
    As GVfs relies on various backends and network protocols, users may occasionally experience issues with stability, particularly with less commonly used protocols or server setups.

TortoiseGit features and specs

  • Integration with Windows File Explorer
    TortoiseGit integrates directly into the Windows File Explorer, allowing users to access Git commands via the context menu. This makes it convenient for users to manage repositories without the need for a separate Git client.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    It provides a graphical user interface that is easier for beginners to use compared to the command line, making Git operations more approachable for users who may not be comfortable with terminal commands.
  • Comprehensive Logging
    TortoiseGit offers detailed logs and history views, which can help users track changes, understand commits, and revert to previous states more intuitively.
  • Drag-and-Drop Support
    Users can perform various Git operations such as adding and moving files using simple drag-and-drop actions within the File Explorer.
  • Various Git Operations
    It supports a wide range of Git operations including diffing, merging, branch management, and more, all from the context menu in Windows Explorer.

Possible disadvantages of TortoiseGit

  • Windows Only
    TortoiseGit is designed specifically for Windows and does not run on other operating systems, which limits its use for developers working on macOS or Linux.
  • Complex Configuration
    Initial setup and configuration can be complex, especially for users who are not familiar with Git or Windows shell integration. This could be a barrier to entry for some users.
  • Performance Impact
    Because it integrates deeply with the Windows File Explorer, TortoiseGit can sometimes lead to slower performance or responsiveness issues in the Explorer, especially with large repositories.
  • Not Always Up-to-Date
    TortoiseGit may not always have the latest Git features as soon as they are released, potentially lagging behind the command-line Git client in terms of new functionalities.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While basic operations are user-friendly, more advanced features and Git commands may still require a steep learning curve and deeper understanding of Git principles.

Analysis of TortoiseGit

Overall verdict

  • TortoiseGit is considered a good tool for Windows users who need a straightforward, graphical interface for Git. It simplifies many of the complexities associated with Git while maintaining a robust set of features.

Why this product is good

  • TortoiseGit is a Windows shell interface for Git that integrates seamlessly into the Windows Explorer, making it convenient for users who prefer a graphical interface over command line. It offers a user-friendly interface, eases the process of version control, and supports most Git features. It is also customizable, allows for easy conflict resolution, and integrates with many development tools.

Recommended for

  • Windows users who prefer a graphical user interface.
  • Developers new to Git who want a more intuitive experience.
  • Teams who require a visual tool for version control and collaboration.
  • Users who work heavily in the Windows Explorer environment.

GVfs videos

Git at Enterprise Scale: (Part 2) An Introduction to GVFS and Why You Should Use It

More videos:

  • Review - Git at Enterprise Scale: (Part 1) An Introduction to GVFS and Why You Should Use It
  • Review - Introduction to GVFS

TortoiseGit videos

Reverting Incorrect Git Commits #2. Perform revert commit with TortoiseGIT. Review Changes

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to Install TortoiseGit..? What is TortoiseGit..? Why Use TortoiseGit..?
  • Tutorial - TortoiseGit Tutorial 3: git add (staging) , commit and push

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to GVfs and TortoiseGit)
Git
14 14%
86% 86
Development
53 53%
47% 47
Git Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Code Collaboration
18 18%
82% 82

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare GVfs and TortoiseGit

GVfs Reviews

We have no reviews of GVfs yet.
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TortoiseGit Reviews

Best Git GUI Clients of 2022: All Platforms Included
There are tools such as TortoiseGitMerge that help resolve conflicts and lets you see the changes you made to your files. It has a spell checker to log messages and auto-completion for keywords and paths. It’s also available in 30 different languages.
Boost Development Productivity With These 14 Git Clients for Windows and Mac
You are free to use TortoiseGit with any development programs that you prefer since it is not an IDE-specific integration for Eclipse, Visual Studio, and so on. It is perfect for large-scale DevOps projects since you can also integrate the tool with issue tracking systems.
Source: geekflare.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, TortoiseGit seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 32 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.

GVfs mentions (0)

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

TortoiseGit mentions (32)

  • I don't know why so many devs avoid a GUI for Git
    Sadly TortoiseGit[1] is only available for Windows :( git-cola[2] is a decent stand-in for TG's commit review window though. [1]: https://tortoisegit.org/ [2]: https://git-cola.github.io/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Suggestions for portfolio projects.
    TortoiseGit Sourcetree Git kraken Some times you need to compare to files you can do this with the notpad++ compare plugin or with Meld. Source: about 2 years ago
  • GIT GUI tool or command line?
    Instead on my PC I use TortoiseGit. Most useful for the git log (as a graph), diff with previous versions,, filter files to commit by directory and ability to exclude files from the current commit, and most of all; ease of splitting a commit for each single file into parts by ability to "restore after commit" which allows you to edit a file before the commit and have it automatically restored to the pre-commit... Source: about 2 years ago
  • TexStudio - git integration for easy committing?
    If running TeXStudio in Windows, my personal preference is to keep the automatic check-in disabled and to use the manual one (File -> SVN/git -> Check in); this allows an individual commit message with the briefer abstract line, empty line, and the longer report. Perhaps it is less exhaustive then a proper git client (in Windows e.g., tortoise), yet TeXStudio' GUI and integrated version control allows to resolve... Source: over 2 years ago
  • Git-SIM: Visually simulate Git operations in your own repos with a single termi
    > We now have a large selection of tools that allow you to visualize what's going on (I use git-kraken), as well as google for help on doing something that isn't in muscle memory. Git Kraken is excellent, though Git has a page on various GUIs, many of which are free with no restrictions: https://git-scm.com/downloads/guis Personally, on Windows I like SourceTree: https://www.sourcetreeapp.com/ Some that have... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing GVfs and TortoiseGit, you can also consider the following products

CodeHub - CodeHub is the most complete, unofficial, client for GitHub on the iOS platform.

SourceTree - Mac and Windows client for Mercurial and Git.

Working Copy - The powerful Git client for iOS

GitKraken - The intuitive, fast, and beautiful cross-platform Git client.

Diff So Fancy - Make Git diffs look good

SmartGit - SmartGit is a front-end for the distributed version control system Git and runs on Windows, Mac OS...