Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

SourceTree VS GitHub CLI

Compare SourceTree VS GitHub CLI and see what are their differences

SourceTree logo SourceTree

Mac and Windows client for Mercurial and Git.

GitHub CLI logo GitHub CLI

Official CLI tool for using GitHub from the command-line.
  • SourceTree Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-23
  • GitHub CLI Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-23

SourceTree features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    SourceTree offers an intuitive GUI for Git and Mercurial version control, making it easier for users who may not be comfortable with command-line operations.
  • Rich Feature Set
    Supports various Git functionalities like branching, merging, stash, rebase, and also offers visualizations of repository history and changes.
  • Integration with Bitbucket and GitHub
    Seamlessly integrates with popular repositories like Bitbucket and GitHub, providing enhanced features for working within these platforms.
  • Free to Use
    SourceTree is available for free, making it accessible for individual developers and small teams without any financial investment.
  • Cross-Platform
    Available for both Windows and macOS, providing versatility for users across different operating systems.

Possible disadvantages of SourceTree

  • Performance Issues
    Some users report slow performance, especially with large repositories or when performing complex Git operations.
  • Steep Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While basic operations are straightforward, mastering the more advanced functionalities can be challenging for new users.
  • Occasional Bugs and Stability Issues
    Users have occasionally encountered bugs or crashes, affecting the stability of the application.
  • Lacks Some Advanced Git Features
    Although it covers a broad range of functionalities, some advanced Git features may still require command-line operations.
  • Limited Support and Documentation
    Compared to some other tools, users might find the support and documentation less comprehensive, potentially making problem-solving harder.

GitHub CLI features and specs

  • Seamless Integration
    GitHub CLI allows for seamless integration with GitHub, enabling users to perform repository and organization management tasks directly from the command line.
  • Automation
    Enables automation of workflows such as pull requests, issues, and CI/CD pipelines, which can save time and reduce errors.
  • Scriptability
    Command line tools can be scripted, allowing for batch processing and the inclusion of GitHub operations in larger automated scripts and processes.
  • Environment Consistency
    Consistent environments across different development systems can be maintained since command line interfaces are less susceptible to changes than GUI-based tools.
  • Lightweight
    As a CLI tool, GitHub CLI is lightweight and consumes minimal system resources compared to graphical interface alternatives.
  • Offline Access
    Some operations can be prepared or queued up offline and then executed when connectivity is restored, allowing for flexibility in workflows.

Possible disadvantages of GitHub CLI

  • Learning Curve
    Understanding and using a CLI can be challenging for users new to command line operations, requiring them to learn syntax and commands.
  • Limited Visuals
    Command line interfaces lack the visual appeal and ease-of-use provided by graphical user interfaces, potentially making complex operations harder to manage.
  • Manual Errors
    Manual input of commands can lead to human error, such as mistyping commands or arguments, which can result in unintended actions.
  • Feature Parity
    Some advanced features and integrations available in the GitHub web interface may be missing or less accessible in the CLI version.
  • Dependency Management
    Requires users to manage dependencies and versions of other command-line tools and scripting environments, which may add complexity for some setups.

SourceTree videos

SourceTree and Mercurial Version Control

More videos:

  • Review - Getting step up with git, GitBucket and SourceTree - Joomla Beat

GitHub CLI videos

NEW GitHub CLI 1.0 is here! | GitHub CLI Tutorial - Demo & Commands

More videos:

  • Review - New GitHub CLI Crash Course - First Look
  • Demo - GitHub CLI demo

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SourceTree and GitHub CLI)
Git
78 78%
22% 22
Code Collaboration
83 83%
17% 17
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Git Tools
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using SourceTree and GitHub CLI. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

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

SourceTree Reviews

Best Git GUI Clients of 2022: All Platforms Included
Sourcetree is a free Git GUI client and can work on both Windows or Mac. This tool is simple to use yet powerful, making it perfect for both beginners and advanced users. The clean and elegant interface makes it effortless and enjoyable to navigate through.
Boost Development Productivity With These 14 Git Clients for Windows and Mac
Sourcetree is a git GUI tool from the house of Atlassian, the IT tech company that also developed Bitbucket and Jira. Compared to other similar tools, Sourcetree offers a more powerful graphical user interface (GUI.)
Source: geekflare.com
Best Git GUI Clients for Windows
You can easily perform all the necessary Git-related tasks, such as cloning repositories (including the remote ones), pushing, pulling, committing, and merging changes. Both experienced users and beginners can work successfully with Sourcetree, tracking all changes, actions, and actors.
Source: blog.devart.com

GitHub CLI Reviews

We have no reviews of GitHub CLI yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, GitHub CLI seems to be a lot more popular than SourceTree. While we know about 119 links to GitHub CLI, we've tracked only 2 mentions of SourceTree. 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.

SourceTree mentions (2)

  • Git as a Beginner
    I think a gui will be helpful, eg bitbucket sourcetree https://sourcetreeapp.com/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • WHAT IS SOURCETREE? HOW TO INSTALL IT?
    Now Let's Download Sourcetree: Go to https://sourcetreeapp.com/ then download the installer. - Source: dev.to / over 3 years ago

GitHub CLI mentions (119)

  • Using Checkout Action in GitHub Actions Workflow
    A GitHub account and basic familiarity with GitHub actions are requirements for using GitHub actions. Additionally, you will need the GitHub CLI to follow along with the hands-on demo later in this post. - Source: dev.to / 3 days ago
  • Easing the start at a new company with glab or gh
    I wanted to look at another big platform that I use in my free time. GitHub does have a CLI-tool called gh. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • Getting Started with Go and the Web: Deploy to Railway
    Git and the GitHub CLI should be installed on your machine. Download and install Git from here: Downloads - Git. Download and install the GitHub CLI from here: Download and Install GitHub CLI. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • How to Use Two GitHub Profiles on One Machine
    GitHub CLI is a command-line tool that allows you to interact with GitHub from the terminal. You can install GitHub CLI by following the instructions on the GitHub CLI website. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • Detecting and Analyzing Comment Quality Using Vector Search
    Navigate to this GitHub repository in your web browser and clone the repository to your computer. If you have the GitHub CLI you can run the following from your command line:. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing SourceTree and GitHub CLI, you can also consider the following products

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

Mac CLi - OS X command line tools for developers

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

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.

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

Homebrew - The missing package manager for macOS