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Apache Maven vs Git: What are the differences?
Apache Maven and Git are two popular tools used in software development. While both serve different purposes, they are often used in conjunction with each other to aid in the development process. Understanding the key differences between the two is crucial for developers looking to leverage their capabilities effectively.
Version Control System vs Build Tool: One of the main differences between Apache Maven and Git is their primary purpose. Git is a distributed version control system that allows developers to track and manage changes to source code, while Apache Maven is a build tool used for managing and automating the build process of a software project.
Centralized vs Distributed: Another significant difference is the way they handle repositories. Git is a distributed version control system, meaning each developer has their own local repository that contains the entire project's history. This allows for easy branching, merging, and working offline. On the other hand, Apache Maven relies on a centralized repository where all project dependencies and plugins are stored. Developers can download these dependencies from the central repository when needed.
Branching and Merging: Git provides powerful branching and merging capabilities. Developers can create multiple branches to work on separate features, bug fixes, or experiments, and easily merge them back into the main codebase. Apache Maven, being a build tool, does not have built-in branching and merging capabilities. It focuses on resolving dependencies and building artifacts based on the project configuration.
Dependency Management: Apache Maven excels in dependency management. It allows developers to define project dependencies, such as external libraries or modules, in a declarative manner. Maven can automatically download the required dependencies from the central repository, ensuring that the project builds successfully without manually managing dependencies. Git, on the other hand, does not have native dependency management capabilities.
Build Lifecycle and Plugins: Apache Maven provides a predefined build lifecycle with various phases, such as compiling source code, running tests, packaging artifacts, and deploying. Developers can configure plugins to customize and extend the build process according to their project requirements. Git does not have a built-in build lifecycle or plugin system, as it primarily focuses on version control.
Collaboration and Code Review: Git offers strong collaboration features that enable developers to work together on a project efficiently. It allows for easy sharing of changes, reviewing code, and resolving conflicts. Apache Maven, being a build tool, does not have these collaboration features built-in.
In Summary, Apache Maven is a build tool primarily used for automating the build process and managing project dependencies, while Git is a distributed version control system used for tracking changes to source code and facilitating collaboration among developers.
Pros of Git
- Distributed version control system1.4K
- Efficient branching and merging1.1K
- Fast959
- Open source845
- Better than svn726
- Great command-line application368
- Simple306
- Free291
- Easy to use232
- Does not require server222
- Distributed28
- Small & Fast23
- Feature based workflow18
- Staging Area15
- Most wide-spread VSC13
- Disposable Experimentation11
- Role-based codelines11
- Frictionless Context Switching7
- Data Assurance6
- Efficient5
- Just awesome4
- Easy branching and merging3
- Github integration3
- Compatible2
- Possible to lose history and commits2
- Flexible2
- Team Integration1
- Easy1
- Light1
- Fast, scalable, distributed revision control system1
- Rebase supported natively; reflog; access to plumbing1
- Flexible, easy, Safe, and fast1
- CLI is great, but the GUI tools are awesome1
- It's what you do1
- Phinx0
Pros of Apache Maven
- Dependency management138
- Necessary evil70
- I’d rather code my app, not my build60
- Publishing packaged artifacts48
- Convention over configuration43
- Modularisation18
- Consistency across builds11
- Prevents overengineering using scripting6
- Runs Tests4
- Lot of cool plugins4
- Extensible3
- Hard to customize2
- Runs on Linux2
- Runs on OS X1
- Slow incremental build1
- Inconsistent buillds1
- Undeterminisc1
- Good IDE tooling1
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Cons of Git
- Hard to learn16
- Inconsistent command line interface11
- Easy to lose uncommitted work9
- Worst documentation ever possibly made8
- Awful merge handling5
- Unexistent preventive security flows3
- Rebase hell3
- Ironically even die-hard supporters screw up badly2
- When --force is disabled, cannot rebase2
- Doesn't scale for big data1
Cons of Apache Maven
- Complex6
- Inconsistent buillds1
- Not many plugin-alternatives0