Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Visual Studio Live Share VS SmartGit

Compare Visual Studio Live Share VS SmartGit and see what are their differences

Visual Studio Live Share logo Visual Studio Live Share

Real-time collaborative development

SmartGit logo SmartGit

SmartGit is a front-end for the distributed version control system Git and runs on Windows, Mac OS...
  • Visual Studio Live Share Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-04
  • SmartGit Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-24

Visual Studio Live Share features and specs

  • Real-Time Collaboration
    Allows multiple developers to work on the same codebase in real-time, facilitating immediate feedback and pair programming.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Supports both Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code, and can be used across different operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • Shared Debugging
    Enables shared debugging sessions where both parties can inspect variables, set breakpoints, and step through code together.
  • Seamless Integration
    Integrates well with existing projects and workspaces without the need for additional configuration or setup.
  • Supports Live Share Guest Machines
    Guests can join a Live Share session without needing to clone the repository or set up a development environment identical to the host.
  • Instantaneous Sharing
    Starts sharing immediately with just a few clicks, without needing complex VPNs or file sharing setups.
  • Focused Sessions
    Allows hosts to specify read-only or read/write access, and focus participants' cursors on specific lines of code.

Possible disadvantages of Visual Studio Live Share

  • Performance Issues
    Real-time collaboration can sometimes introduce latency or performance issues, especially over slower internet connections.
  • Limited IDE Support
    Currently, it primarily supports Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code, which may limit its use for teams utilizing other IDEs.
  • Dependency on Internet Connection
    Requires a stable internet connection, making it less reliable in low-bandwidth or unstable network conditions.
  • Security Concerns
    Sharing code and debugging sessions over the internet may pose security risks if not properly managed, especially for sensitive projects.
  • Learning Curve
    New users may face a learning curve to understand all the features and effectively integrate it into their workflow.
  • Privacy Issues
    In collaborative debugging or editing, inadvertent exposure of sensitive information like API keys or passwords can occur.

SmartGit features and specs

  • User-friendly Interface
    SmartGit provides an intuitive and graphical interface that is user-friendly, which makes it accessible for beginners as well as efficient for experienced users.
  • Cross-Platform
    Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it versatile for different development environments.
  • Rich Feature Set
    Includes a comprehensive set of features for Git version control, such as commit history, branch management, and conflict resolution tools.
  • Integrations
    Supports integration with popular platforms like GitHub, Bitbucket, and GitLab, facilitating smooth workflow management.
  • SVN Support
    Includes support for Subversion (SVN) repositories, making it easier for teams transitioning from SVN to Git.
  • Professional Support
    Offers commercial support options, ensuring that professional teams can get timely assistance when needed.

Possible disadvantages of SmartGit

  • Cost
    While it offers a free version for non-commercial use, the commercial license can be expensive, potentially being a barrier for smaller teams or solo developers.
  • Complexity for Basic Users
    The rich feature set might be overwhelming for users who are only looking for basic Git functionalities.
  • Performance
    Can be resource-intensive and slower to load compared to some lightweight Git clients.
  • Learning Curve
    New users, particularly those unfamiliar with Git, may find there is a significant learning curve to fully leverage all features.
  • Limited Free Version
    The free version is only for non-commercial use, which limits its utility for professionals and businesses who are looking for a zero-cost solution.

Analysis of Visual Studio Live Share

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Visual Studio Live Share is considered to be a good tool for collaborative development.

Why this product is good

  • Visual Studio Live Share allows developers to collaborate in real-time on the same codebase without needing to clone repositories or perform any setup. It supports instantly sharing your code, debugging sessions, and terminal with peers, which enhances productivity and fosters teamwork. Additionally, Live Share supports a range of IDEs and code editors, including Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code, making it versatile for different development environments. This functionality is particularly valuable for remote work scenarios and educational purposes.

Recommended for

  • Remote development teams looking for seamless collaboration.
  • Developers who frequently engage in pair programming.
  • Educators and students involved in programming courses.
  • Open-source project contributors who need to quickly sync ideas and code.
  • Teams using both Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code who require interoperability.

Analysis of SmartGit

Overall verdict

  • Yes, SmartGit is considered a good choice for both beginners and advanced users due to its user-friendly interface and extensive feature set.

Why this product is good

  • SmartGit is a popular Git client known for its robust set of features that support both basic and advanced Git operations. It offers an intuitive interface, making it easier to manage repositories, compare branches, and resolve conflicts. Additionally, SmartGit integrates with popular platforms like GitHub, Bitbucket, and GitLab, and offers powerful tools such as conflict solving, file history, and SSH support.

Recommended for

    SmartGit is ideal for software developers, DevOps professionals, and anyone who frequently works with Git version control systems. It is particularly useful for those who need a GUI-based solution to manage and visualize their repository workflows.

Visual Studio Live Share videos

Collaboration made easy with Visual Studio Live Share

More videos:

  • Review - Introduction to Visual Studio Live Share

SmartGit videos

SmartGit's Distributed Reviews

More videos:

  • Review - Getting Started with SmartGit
  • Review - SmartGit's GitHub Integration

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Visual Studio Live Share and SmartGit)
Code Collaboration
34 34%
66% 66
Git
0 0%
100% 100
Programming Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Git Tools
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Visual Studio Live Share and SmartGit

Visual Studio Live Share Reviews

We have no reviews of Visual Studio Live Share yet.
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SmartGit Reviews

Best Git GUI Clients of 2022: All Platforms Included
The tool lets you compare or merge files and edit them side-by-side. It can resolve merge conflicts by using the Conflict Solver. SmartGit also provides SSH client, an improved rebase performance and Git-Flow that allows you to configure branches without additional tools.
Boost Development Productivity With These 14 Git Clients for Windows and Mac
If you are looking for a cross-platform git GUI, you can try SmartGit. You can easily install the software on macOS, Linux, or Windows computers. Moreover, the tool runs smoothly on your device without slowing it down.
Source: geekflare.com
Best Git GUI Clients for Windows
The SmartGit free Git GUI allows users to perform all the tasks required to work with their repositories. It provides the possibility to view and edit files side-by-side and allows resolving merge conflicts automatically. With Git-Flow support, you can configure branches directly in the tool. There is no need to use any additional software.
Source: blog.devart.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Visual Studio Live Share seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 22 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.

Visual Studio Live Share mentions (22)

  • Top 5 Code Collaboration Tools for Remote Work
    Visual Studio Live Share is an extension for the popular Visual Studio Code IDE that allows developers to bring their peers into their editor. You can send an invite link to let your colleagues write, edit, and debug code as if they were in the same physical location as you. This removes the challenges of working remotely when it comes to pair programming and brainstorming together. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Me after trying to use Git with Eclipse
    Have you checked out Live Share? It's included in VS and there's an extension for VS Code. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Are there any Azure platforms/apps for collaborative coding for startups?
    Visual Studio has collaboration tools. Source: about 2 years ago
  • The Benefits of Pair Programming for Problem-Solving
    Pair programming is when two developers work together at one workstation. Not necessarily on the same computer, but they work together on the same programming task. In remote work I love to use Visual Studio Live Share ❤️. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • IDE with concurrent users
    But there's also an extension that MS put out called Live Share. They have a version for both VS and VS Code. I've used the VSC one myself, to great effect. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

SmartGit mentions (0)

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

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Visual Studio Live Share and SmartGit, you can also consider the following products

CodeShare.io - Realtime code sharing for developers

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

CodeTogether - Live share IDEs and coding sessions. See changes in real time.

SourceTree - Mac and Windows client for Mercurial and Git.

Teletype for Atom - Collaborate in real time in Atom

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