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Mercurial SCM VS Atlassian Bitbucket Server

Compare Mercurial SCM VS Atlassian Bitbucket Server and see what are their differences

Mercurial SCM logo Mercurial SCM

Mercurial is a free, distributed source control management tool.

Atlassian Bitbucket Server logo Atlassian Bitbucket Server

Atlassian Bitbucket Server is a scalable collaborative Git solution.
  • Mercurial SCM Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-17
  • Atlassian Bitbucket Server Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-30

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.

Atlassian Bitbucket Server features and specs

  • Scalability
    Bitbucket Server can be scaled easily to support large and growing teams, making it suitable for enterprises.
  • Integration
    Seamlessly integrates with other Atlassian products like Jira and Confluence, enhancing productivity and collaboration.
  • Data Control
    Being self-hosted, Bitbucket Server allows organizations to have complete control over their data and security settings.
  • Customization
    Support for custom hooks and add-ons allows for high levels of customization to meet specific workflow requirements.
  • Performance
    Optimized for performance to handle large repositories and numerous concurrent users efficiently.

Possible disadvantages of Atlassian Bitbucket Server

  • Cost
    The cost for the data center edition can be high, especially for smaller teams or startups.
  • Maintenance
    Requires dedicated resources for server maintenance, updates, and troubleshooting, adding to the operational overhead.
  • Complexity
    Setup and configuration can be complex, often necessitating specialized knowledge or training.
  • Limited Cloud Features
    May lack some features and the ease of use found in cloud-based solutions, which can be a drawback for teams looking for a more straightforward setup.
  • Resource Intensive
    Can be resource-intensive, requiring powerful hardware to run efficiently, especially for larger installations.

Analysis of Mercurial SCM

Overall verdict

  • Mercurial SCM is a reliable and effective tool for version control, especially suited for teams and projects that need a straightforward yet powerful system. While it might not be as popular as Git, it excels in areas such as ease of learning and use, making it an excellent choice for developers who prioritize these qualities.

Why this product is good

  • Mercurial is a distributed version control system known for its simplicity, performance, and powerful branching capabilities. It is particularly favored for its ease of use, efficient handling of large codebases, and capability to work well within both small and large teams. Mercurial offers a consistent command-line interface and has robust support for concurrent development, making it a solid choice for many development environments.

Recommended for

  • Teams that need a simple and intuitive interface for version control
  • Projects requiring efficient handling of large or complex codebases
  • Developers new to version control systems who are looking for an easy-to-learn tool
  • Development environments where consistent and clear version control operations are critical
  • Organizations preferring an open-source solution with a strong focus on reliability and performance

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Mercurial SCM and Atlassian Bitbucket Server)
Git
62 62%
38% 38
Code Collaboration
62 62%
38% 38
Git Tools
68 68%
32% 32
Version Control
45 45%
55% 55

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Mercurial SCM seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 2 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.

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 / over 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

Atlassian Bitbucket Server mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Atlassian Bitbucket Server yet. Tracking of Atlassian Bitbucket Server recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Mercurial SCM and Atlassian Bitbucket Server, you can also consider the following products

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.

Apache Subversion - Mirror of Apache Subversion. Contribute to apache/subversion development by creating an account on GitHub.

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

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

Azure DevOps - Visual Studio dev tools & services make app development easy for any platform & language. Try our Mac & Windows code editor, IDE, or Azure DevOps for free.

Perforce - Self-hosted Version Control Software