Alternatives to Git.
Tags: git, javascript, beginners, productivity
Published: 2022-12-26 20:12:20

Git is a popular version control system that is widely used by software developers to track changes to their code and collaborate with other team members. However, there are several alternative version control systems available that offer similar functionality to Git. Here are a few examples:

## Mercurial: 
Mercurial is a free, open-source version control system that is similar to Git in many ways. It is known for its simplicity and speed, and is popular among developers who prefer a lightweight tool. The official website for Mercurial is https://www.mercurial-scm.org/. Some basic commands in Mercurial include:

    

```
hg init: Initializes a new Mercurial repository.
hg clone: Makes a copy of an existing repository.
hg add: Adds a new file to the repository.
hg commit: Saves changes to the repository.
hg push: Sends changes to a remote repository.
```

## Subversion: 
Subversion (also known as SVN) is another popular version control system that is similar to Git. It is known for its reliability and simplicity, and is often used in large organizations. The official website for Subversion is https://subversion.apache.org/. Some basic commands in Subversion include:

    

```
svn checkout: Downloads repository from a remote server.
svn add: Adds a new file to the repository.
svn commit: Saves changes to the repository.
svn update: Downloads latest changes from a remote repository.
```

## CVS:
CVS (Concurrent Versions System) is an older version control system that is still used by some developers today. It is known for its simplicity and ease of use, but lacks some of the more advanced features found in newer systems like Git and Mercurial. The official website for CVS is https://www.nongnu.org/cvs/. Some basic commands in CVS include:

```
cvs checkout: Downloads repository from a remote server.
cvs add: Adds a new file to the repository.
cvs commit: Saves changes to the repository.
cvs update: Downloads latest changes from a remote repository.
```

## Comparison of Git, Mercurial, Subversion, and CVS

**1. Speed:**
Git is generally considered the fastest version control system, as it utilizes a decentralized model and stores data in the form of hashed values, allowing for faster data transfer and retrieval. Mercurial is also known for its speed, as it utilizes a similar decentralized model and stores data in a similar manner. Subversion and CVS are both centralized systems and may not be as fast as Git and Mercurial in terms of data transfer and retrieval.

**2. Flexibility:**
Git and Mercurial are both highly flexible version control systems, as they allow for the creation of multiple branches and merging of changes easily. Subversion is also flexible, but may not be as user-friendly in terms of branching and merging compared to Git and Mercurial. CVS is not as flexible as the other version control systems, as it does not support branching and merging as easily.

**3. Security:**
Git and Mercurial both utilize a decentralized model, which means that there is no central repository for data. This makes it more difficult for data to be lost or compromised. Subversion also has good security measures, as it uses SSL/TLS encryption for data transfer and has options for authentication and authorization. CVS has weaker security measures compared to the other version control systems, as it does not utilize encryption for data transfer and has limited options for authentication and authorization.
 
**4. Ease of use:**
Git and Mercurial can both be somewhat difficult for new users to learn, as they utilize a command-line interface and have a steep learning curve. Subversion is more user-friendly, as it has a GUI interface and is easier to understand for new users. CVS is also user-friendly, as it has a simple command-line interface and is easy to learn for new users.