Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Mercurial SCM VS Pro Git

Compare Mercurial SCM VS Pro Git and see what are their differences

Mercurial SCM logo Mercurial SCM

Mercurial is a free, distributed source control management tool.

Pro Git logo Pro Git

The Git Book is the official tutorial about Git.
  • Mercurial SCM Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-17
  • Pro Git Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-27

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.

Pro Git features and specs

  • Comprehensive Content
    Pro Git provides extensive coverage on a wide range of topics, from basic to advanced Git functionalities, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced users.
  • Free and Open Source
    The book is available for free to read online, which makes it accessible to everyone. It is also open source, allowing the community to contribute.
  • Official Resource
    Being authored by Scott Chacon and Ben Straub, who are well-known figures in the Git community, it serves as an authoritative resource for learning Git.
  • Multiple Formats
    Available in multiple formats including HTML, PDF, ePub, and Mobi, it offers flexibility for readers to choose their preferred reading format.
  • Practical Examples
    The book includes practical examples and use-cases, making it easier to understand how to apply Git features in real-world scenarios.

Possible disadvantages of Pro Git

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to its extensive coverage, some beginners might find the depth of content overwhelming, making it challenging to grasp all concepts initially.
  • Outdated Information
    Some parts of the book might become outdated over time due to the evolving nature of Git and associated technologies. Regular updates are needed to keep it current.
  • Lack of Interactivity
    As a traditional book, it lacks interactive elements like quizzes or hands-on exercises that might be found in online courses or interactive tutorials.
  • Assumes Some Prior Knowledge
    The book assumes a basic understanding of version control concepts, which might not be suitable for absolute beginners who are new to version control systems.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Mercurial SCM and Pro Git)
Git
47 47%
53% 53
Code Collaboration
60 60%
40% 40
Software Development
0 0%
100% 100
Git Tools
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Pro Git seems to be a lot more popular than Mercurial SCM. While we know about 287 links to Pro Git, 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 / about 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

Pro Git mentions (287)

  • Beej's Guide to Git
    One mistake that I see people making about Git is trying to learn more commands, more flags, more tricks, but not trying to really understand how it works. Perhaps it's your case. You know Git enough to use in your daily basis, so maybe it's time to dive into a lower level and then everything else will be natural. I strongly suggest reading Pro Git, the official Git book by Scott Chacon and Ben Straub, available... - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Common Workflows with Git
    I leaned this content in the Pro Git Book, which you can find here: https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • Learn New Skills
    Following this format: 1. Pro Git, by Scott Chacon and Ben Straub (https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2) - Skill: Git, covering both high-level aspects (commiting, branching, GitHub/GitLab, etc) and its internals (objects, references, packfiles, protocols, etc) - Kind of material: free e-book, book and website - Why is it good: easy to read, even when approaching the inner aspects. It's very unlikely that you won't... - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • My Open Source Journey: A Beginner-Friendly Guide to Collaboration and Growth
    Understanding version control is essential. Free resources like GitHub Docs and Pro Git Book can help you get started or you can go through this video. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • GitHub Basics: Creating Repository and Maintaining It
    "Pro Git" by Scott Chacon and Ben Straub (free online book): https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2. - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Mercurial SCM and Pro Git, 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.

Learn Git Branching - "Learn Git Branching" is the most visual and interactive way to learn Git on the web; you'll be challenged with exciting levels, given step-by-step demonstrations of powerful features, and maybe even have a bit of fun along the way.

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

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.

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

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