Gerrit Code Review vs Jenkins: What are the differences?

Key Differences between Gerrit Code Review and Jenkins

Gerrit Code Review and Jenkins are two popular tools used in the software development process. While both serve different purposes, they have distinct differences that set them apart.

1. Architecture: Gerrit Code Review is a web-based code collaboration tool that provides a platform for code review and change management. It is built on top of Git version control system, allowing developers to submit changes for review. On the other hand, Jenkins is an open-source automation server that is used primarily for continuous integration and delivery. It helps in automating the build, test, and deployment processes.

2. Code Review vs Automation: Gerrit Code Review specifically focuses on the code review process. It provides a platform for developers to review and approve changes made to the codebase before merging them. Jenkins, on the other hand, is aimed at automating the entire development lifecycle. It supports various plugins and integrations to automate tasks such as building, testing, and deploying the code.

3. Workflow: Gerrit Code Review follows a pre-submit workflow, where changes are reviewed and approved before they can be merged into the main codebase. It enforces a strict code review process, ensuring that only high-quality code gets merged. Jenkins, on the other hand, follows a post-submit workflow, where changes are built, tested, and deployed after they have been merged. It focuses on automating the development pipeline and providing feedback on the build and test results.

4. User Interface: Gerrit Code Review has a dedicated web-based user interface specifically designed for code review and change management. It provides features such as inline commenting, side-by-side diff view, and review dashboard. Jenkins, on the other hand, has a web-based user interface that provides a dashboard for managing and monitoring the builds and jobs. It offers various views and plugins to visualize the build and test results.

5. Integration: Gerrit Code Review integrates tightly with Git, allowing developers to push changes for review directly from their Git client. It also provides integration with popular code hosting platforms such as GitHub and GitLab. Jenkins, on the other hand, can be integrated with various version control systems, build tools, and deployment platforms. It supports plugins that enable seamless integration with tools like Git, Maven, Docker, etc.

6. Scope: Gerrit Code Review is primarily focused on the code review process and change management. It provides a platform for collaboration between developers and a central place for reviewing and approving code changes. Jenkins, on the other hand, has a wider scope and can be used for automating various aspects of the development process, including building, testing, and deploying the code.

In summary, Gerrit Code Review is a specialized tool for code review and change management, while Jenkins is an automation server that focuses on continuous integration and delivery. Gerrit Code Review enforces a pre-submit workflow and provides a dedicated user interface for code review, while Jenkins automates the development pipeline and offers a wide range of integrations.