Azure DevOps vs Gerrit Code Review: What are the differences?

Introduction

Here, we will discuss the key differences between Azure DevOps and Gerrit Code Review.

1. Integration with CI/CD Pipelines: Azure DevOps provides seamless integration with CI/CD pipelines by offering a built-in pipeline feature called Azure Pipelines. This allows for automated build, test, and deployment processes. On the other hand, Gerrit Code Review primarily focuses on code review and collaboration, lacking native support for CI/CD pipelines.

2. Collaboration and Code Review Features: Gerrit Code Review is primarily designed for code review, offering features such as open/close tracking, inline commenting, and conflict resolution. It provides a streamlined process for reviewing and approving code changes. In contrast, while Azure DevOps does provide some code review and collaboration features, they are not as extensive as Gerrit's, as it also focuses on other aspects of the development workflow.

3. End-to-End Development Lifecycle Management: Azure DevOps offers a comprehensive suite of tools covering the entire development lifecycle, including planning, development, testing, and deployment. It provides features such as Agile project management, version control, build and release management, and testing capabilities. Gerrit Code Review, on the other hand, is primarily focused on the code review aspect of the development lifecycle, lacking integrated features for project management, testing, and deployment.

4. Version Control System Integration: Azure DevOps supports multiple version control systems, including Git and Team Foundation Version Control (TFVC). It provides advanced version control features such as branch policies, pull requests, and code branching and merging. Gerrit Code Review, on the other hand, is tightly integrated with Git and specifically designed to work with Git repositories, offering powerful features for reviewing and managing Git-based code changes.

5. Extensibility and Integration: Azure DevOps is highly extensible and offers a wide range of integration options with various tools and services. It provides a rich set of APIs, allowing developers to build custom extensions and integrations. Gerrit Code Review, while providing some extensibility options, does not offer the same level of integrations and extensibility as Azure DevOps.

6. Pricing Model: Azure DevOps offers both free and paid tiers, allowing individuals and organizations to choose the plan that best fits their needs. The free tier offers limited features and functionality, while the paid tiers provide access to additional features and resources. Gerrit Code Review, on the other hand, is open-source and free to use, without any licensing costs. However, additional infrastructure and setup may be required for running the Gerrit server.

In summary, Azure DevOps provides a comprehensive suite of tools covering the entire development lifecycle, with native support for CI/CD pipelines and integration with multiple version control systems. Gerrit Code Review, on the other hand, primarily focuses on code review and collaboration, offering extensive features for managing code changes in Git repositories.