GitHub Polls vs LGTM: What are the differences?

Introduction

GitHub Polls and LGTM are two different platforms used for different purposes within the realm of software development collaboration and code review. Here are the key differences between GitHub Polls and LGTM:

1. Scalability:

GitHub Polls are limited in scalability as they are mainly used for simple voting on specific issues or topics within a GitHub repository. On the other hand, LGTM (Looks Good To Me) is a code reviewing tool that allows developers to comment, approve, or suggest changes on individual lines of code, making it more scalable for detailed code review processes.

2. Integration:

GitHub Polls are specifically integrated within the GitHub platform, making it easy for users to create and participate in polls directly within a GitHub repository. LGTM, on the other hand, can be integrated with various version control systems such as Git, allowing for code review processes across different platforms and repositories.

3. Collaboration:

While GitHub Polls primarily focus on gathering feedback through simple voting mechanisms, LGTM is designed for collaborative code review processes. LGTM enables developers to leave detailed comments, suggest changes, and approve or reject code changes, fostering a more interactive and collaborative environment for code review.

4. Automation:

LGTM offers more automation features compared to GitHub Polls. With LGTM, developers can set up rules and configurations to automatically trigger code review processes based on certain criteria, streamlining the review process and ensuring consistent code quality standards across projects.

5. Granularity:

GitHub Polls provide a basic level of interaction and feedback through simple voting mechanisms, making it suitable for quick decision-making on issues or topics. In contrast, LGTM offers a more granular approach to code review, allowing reviewers to provide feedback on specific lines of code, facilitating more detailed and thorough review processes.

6. Focus:

GitHub Polls are primarily aimed at gathering feedback or making simple decisions within a GitHub repository. In contrast, LGTM focuses on the code review process, providing tools and features to facilitate in-depth analysis, constructive feedback, and approval workflows for code changes.

In Summary, GitHub Polls and LGTM differ in scalability, integration, collaboration, automation, granularity, and focus within the context of software development collaboration and code review.