GitHub CLI vs Octokit: What are the differences?

## Key differences between GitHub CLI and Octokit

GitHub CLI and Octokit are two popular tools used to interact with GitHub repositories programmatically. Below are the key differences between the two:

1. **Purpose and Functionality**: GitHub CLI is a command-line interface tool that allows users to perform various GitHub operations, such as creating repositories, managing issues, and more, directly from the terminal. On the other hand, Octokit is a client library that provides a programmatic interface to interact with GitHub via APIs, enabling developers to build custom applications and scripts that interact with GitHub repositories.

2. **User Interface**: GitHub CLI provides a text-based interface in the terminal, making it well-suited for command-line enthusiasts and users who prefer working with commands. Octokit, being a client library, requires developers to write code in their preferred programming language to interact with GitHub, which may be more suitable for those comfortable with coding.

3. **Authentication**: GitHub CLI uses your GitHub credentials for authentication, allowing seamless access to repositories and information within your account. Octokit, being a client library, requires developers to handle authentication themselves, using methods like personal access tokens or OAuth tokens to access GitHub APIs securely.

4. **Customization and Extensibility**: With GitHub CLI, users can extend its functionalities using custom shell scripts or by creating plugins, allowing for tailored workflows and automation. In contrast, Octokit provides a more robust way to customize and extend GitHub interactions through its extensive APIs and options for integrating with various programming languages and frameworks.

5. **Dependency Management**: GitHub CLI is a standalone tool that can be easily installed and used without external dependencies, providing a straightforward way to interact with GitHub repositories. On the other hand, Octokit is typically used as a dependency in projects, requiring developers to manage package versions and dependencies in their codebase.

6. **Version Control Features**: GitHub CLI focuses primarily on repository management and operations related to version control, such as creating branches, pushing changes, and merging pull requests, providing a streamlined interface for common Git workflows. In contrast, Octokit offers more comprehensive access to GitHub's APIs, enabling developers to interact with various aspects of repositories, issues, pull requests, and more programmatically.

In Summary, GitHub CLI offers a command-line interface for GitHub operations, providing a convenient way to work with repositories directly from the terminal, while Octokit serves as a client library for building custom applications and scripts that interact with GitHub repositories via APIs, offering more extensive customization and integration options for developers.