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Github Actions vs Visual Studio App Center: What are the differences?
Introduction
GitHub Actions and Visual Studio App Center are both popular tools used in software development to automate tasks and improve productivity. However, they have key differences that set them apart from each other. In this article, we will explore and highlight these differences.
Platform Compatibility: GitHub Actions is specifically designed for GitHub repositories and seamlessly integrates with the GitHub ecosystem. On the other hand, Visual Studio App Center is a more versatile solution that supports multiple platforms including GitHub, Bitbucket, GitLab, and Azure DevOps. This makes Visual Studio App Center a better choice if you work with repositories hosted on different platforms.
Supported Workflows: GitHub Actions is optimized for CI/CD workflows and provides native support for building, testing, and deploying software. It allows developers to define their workflows as code using YAML files. Visual Studio App Center, on the other hand, provides a comprehensive mobile app lifecycle management solution. It not only supports CI/CD workflows but also provides tools for distribution, crash reporting, and analytics. If you are primarily focused on mobile app development, Visual Studio App Center provides a more specialized set of features.
Community Support: GitHub Actions benefits from the large and active GitHub community. Developers can easily find and share pre-defined workflows, actions, and integrations through the GitHub Marketplace. Visual Studio App Center also has a community, but it may not be as extensive as the GitHub ecosystem. If community support and the availability of ready-to-use workflows are important to you, GitHub Actions is the way to go.
Customizability: GitHub Actions provides a flexible and customizable environment. Developers can use any programming language, runtime, or tool to build their workflows. They can also leverage the vast collection of actions available in the GitHub Marketplace or create their own custom actions. Visual Studio App Center, on the other hand, provides a more opinionated approach with built-in support for popular programming languages, frameworks, and platforms. If you prefer a more customized and flexible setup, GitHub Actions offers more options.
Pricing Model: GitHub Actions offers a generous free tier with a certain limit on usage, and additional paid plans for higher usage requirements. Visual Studio App Center has a similar model, providing a free tier and paid plans based on usage and additional features. The specifics of pricing may vary, so it's important to evaluate the pricing structure of each tool to determine which one is more cost-effective for your specific needs.
Maturity and Integration: GitHub Actions has been around since 2019 and has gained significant adoption in the developer community. It has matured over time and continuously introduces new features and improvements. Visual Studio App Center has a longer history, starting as Xamarin Test Cloud before being integrated into Visual Studio. It has a strong integration with Azure services and Microsoft ecosystem, making it an attractive choice for organizations heavily invested in Microsoft technologies.
In summary, GitHub Actions is more focused on CI/CD workflows for GitHub repositories with extensive community support and customizability, while Visual Studio App Center offers a broader mobile app lifecycle management solution supporting multiple platforms and stronger integration with Azure and Microsoft technologies. The choice between the two tools depends on your specific requirements, platform compatibility, and the level of customization needed.
Pros of GitHub Actions
- Integration with GitHub8
- Free5
- Easy to duplicate a workflow3
- Ready actions in Marketplace3
- Configs stored in .github2
- Docker Support2
- Read actions in Marketplace2
- Active Development Roadmap1
- Fast1
Pros of Visual Studio App Center
- Show error issues for mobile devices1
- Slack integration1
- Bug tracking integration1
- For Mobile apps diagnostics and tracking1
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Cons of GitHub Actions
- Lacking [skip ci]5
- Lacking allow failure4
- Lacking job specific badges3
- No ssh login to servers2
- No Deployment Projects1
- No manual launch1