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GitHub vs. GitLab:

Web platforms that host remote Git repositories + add powerful collaboration tools.

GitHub

  • Focus: Social coding and open source. The world's largest code host.
  • Key Feature: Pull Requests are the core of its collaboration model.
  • Community: Massive public community. The default portfolio for developers.
  • vibe: "The social network for code."

GitLab

  • Focus: DevOps lifecycle and enterprise features. "Single application for entire DevOps lifecycle."
  • Key Feature: Built-in CI/CD (automated testing/deployment) is free and integrated.
  • Deployment: Offers both cloud (SaaS) and self-hosted options (install on your own server).
  • vibe: "The all-in-one DevOps platform."

The Core Similarity

Both provide the essential Git hosting services:

  • git push, git pull, git clone
  • Code browsing
  • Issue tracking
  • Code review

In short:

  • Use GitHub for its massive community and as your coding portfolio.
  • Use GitLab for its powerful, integrated DevOps and CI/CD tools, especially if you need self-hosting.