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Mercurial SCM VS GitHub

Compare Mercurial SCM VS GitHub and see what are their differences

Mercurial SCM logo Mercurial SCM

Mercurial is a free, distributed source control management tool.

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.
  • Mercurial SCM Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-17
  • GitHub Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-05

GitHub

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

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 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.

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

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

Mercurial SCM videos

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GitHub videos

How to do coding peer reviews with Github

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Mercurial SCM and GitHub)
Git
14 14%
86% 86
Software Development
0 0%
100% 100
Code Collaboration
8 8%
92% 92
Git Tools
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

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

Mercurial SCM Reviews

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GitHub Reviews

  1. Reinhard
    · Boss at CLOUD Meister ·
    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 isn’t exactly the company’s fault, the users are the ones limited from pushing their code. Another criticism concerns the price tag: some users have pointed out that GitHub’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.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, GitHub seems to be a lot more popular than Mercurial SCM. While we know about 2272 links to GitHub, 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.

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

GitHub mentions (2272)

  • Is GitHub Down?
    More than US. From EU I can't even reach https://github.com//. - Source: Hacker News / about 24 hours ago
  • 6 Ways AI Can Improve Your Python Code(Tested!)
    Enterprise surveys confirm this benefit: developers report that AI tools help them deliver more secure software with higher quality. For instance, the GitHub/Accenture research found 90% of developers saw an improvement in code security and quality when using AI-assisted coding tools. In practice, you might configure an AI scanner to run on every pull request, ensuring that even minor security or reliability... - Source: dev.to / 1 day ago
  • 7 Ways AI Code Review Can Save Hours of Developers' Effort
    Enterprise teams can roll out AI reviewers with minimal friction by simply connecting tools to their GitHub/GitLab instances. Once integrated, the AI does the first pass of code review as part of the normal CI/CD pipeline. Anecdotally, teams report merges happening up to 89% faster after enabling AI review agents, since the automated feedback avoids multiple back-and-forth cycles. By aligning with existing... - Source: dev.to / 5 days ago
  • Deploying a NestJS and VueJS App with Dokploy
    Focusing on the image step, -f let's you specify the Dockerfile you want to use while -t is for the image tag. ${{ secrets.DOCKER_USERNAME }} is pulled from your actions' secrets. To set your secrets and variables, head to https://github.com/{username}/{repo_name}/settings/secrets/actions. You should see options for repository secrets and environment secrets. Environment secrets allow you to override your default... - Source: dev.to / 26 days ago
  • How to Use GitHub Copilot for Free (Student Discount Guide)
    If you don’t have one already, go to https://github.com and sign up for a free account. Be sure to use your school-issued email address if you have one—it helps GitHub verify your student status faster. - Source: dev.to / 21 days ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Mercurial SCM and GitHub, 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.

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

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

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

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

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