Gerrit Code Review vs Upsource: What are the differences?

Introduction:

Gerrit Code Review and Upsource are both code review tools used in software development for improving code quality and collaboration among team members. Despite having similar functionalities, there are key differences that set them apart.

1. Integration with Version Control System: Gerrit Code Review is tightly integrated with Git, providing a seamless code reviewing experience within the Git workflow. On the other hand, Upsource supports multiple version control systems such as Git, Mercurial, and Subversion, offering flexibility to teams using different VCS platforms.

2. Code Search Capabilities: Upsource offers advanced code search functionalities, allowing developers to search through the codebase with precision and speed. In contrast, Gerrit Code Review lacks robust search capabilities, which can be a limitation when trying to locate specific code snippets or changes.

3. Built-in Code Intelligence Tools: Upsource provides built-in code intelligence tools such as code navigation, code insight, and code analysis, enhancing the code review process with additional insights and context. Gerrit Code Review, on the other hand, primarily focuses on code review functionality without extensive code intelligence features.

4. Scalability and Performance: Gerrit Code Review is known for its scalability and performance, especially in large-scale projects with a high volume of code changes. It can handle massive codebases and large teams effectively. While Upsource offers decent performance, it may face challenges with scalability in extremely large projects.

5. Ease of Use and User Interface: Upsource is praised for its intuitive user interface and ease of use, making it appealing to developers and reviewers. Its clean and modern design improves the overall user experience during code reviews. Gerrit Code Review, although functional, may have a steeper learning curve and a less visually appealing interface compared to Upsource.

6. Community and Support: Gerrit Code Review has a strong community of users and contributors who actively support and enhance the platform with plugins and extensions. Upsource, while also backed by a dedicated team, may not have as extensive a community-driven ecosystem, which can impact the availability of additional features and support.

In Summary, Gerrit Code Review is tightly integrated with Git, lacks advanced code search and intelligence tools, excels in scalability and performance, may have a steeper learning curve, while Upsource supports multiple VCS, offers advanced code search and intelligence tools, focuses on ease of use, but may lack extensive community support.