Buildkite vs Visual Studio Team Services: What are the differences?

Introduction

1. Integration with other tools: Buildkite provides seamless integration with various tools like GitHub, Bitbucket, Slack, JIRA, etc., making it easy to incorporate it into existing development workflows. On the other hand, Visual Studio Team Services (VSTS) offers integration with Microsoft tools and services such as Azure DevOps, Visual Studio IDE, and Microsoft Teams, which can be advantageous for teams heavily invested in the Microsoft ecosystem.

2. Self-hosted runners: Buildkite allows for self-hosted runners, enabling users to run builds on their own infrastructure, providing more control over the build environment. In contrast, VSTS does not currently support self-hosted runners, leading to potential limitations in customizing the build environment.

3. Pricing model: Buildkite offers a flexible pricing model based on the number of build minutes used per month, which can be cost-effective for smaller teams or projects with varying build requirements. VSTS, on the other hand, follows a tiered pricing structure based on the number of users, potentially making it more suitable for larger organizations with stable or predictable build needs.

4. Community and support: Buildkite has a strong community presence, with active forums, documentation, and support channels, providing users with a wealth of resources and assistance. VSTS, being a Microsoft product, benefits from Microsoft's extensive support network, including official documentation, tutorials, and dedicated support services, ensuring users have access to comprehensive assistance.

5. Customization and extensibility: Buildkite offers a high level of customization through its extensive API, allowing users to tailor the platform to meet specific requirements or integrate with other tools seamlessly. While VSTS also supports extensions and integrations, the scope of customization may be limited compared to the flexibility provided by Buildkite.

6. Deployment options: Buildkite focuses primarily on Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) workflows, providing robust support for build automation and deployment pipelines. In contrast, VSTS offers a broader range of project management and collaboration tools beyond CI/CD, making it a comprehensive solution for teams looking for an all-encompassing development platform.

In Summary, Buildkite and Visual Studio Team Services differ in their integration capabilities, support for self-hosted runners, pricing models, community resources, customization options, and deployment focus, catering to diverse user needs and preferences.