GitLab CI vs TeamCity: What are the differences?
Introduction
GitLab CI and TeamCity are both popular continuous integration (CI) tools that automate the process of building, testing, and deploying applications. While they share some similarities, there are several key differences between the two.
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Deployment Flexibility: GitLab CI provides built-in deployment capabilities, allowing you to deploy your application to various environments directly from your CI pipeline. In contrast, TeamCity does not have native deployment features and requires additional plugins or custom scripts to achieve the same level of deployment flexibility.
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Hosted vs. Self-hosted: GitLab CI is part of the GitLab platform, which offers a hosted solution where all components, including the CI/CD, are bundled together. On the other hand, TeamCity is a self-hosted tool that needs to be set up and managed on your own infrastructure or servers.
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Built-in Code Review: GitLab CI tightly integrates with its code repository, providing built-in code review features. Developers can request code reviews directly within the GitLab platform, allowing for a streamlined and collaborative review process. TeamCity, being primarily a CI tool, does not have this native code review functionality and relies on external code review tools.
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Extensibility and Plugin Ecosystem: TeamCity has a vast ecosystem of plugins that can be leveraged to extend its capabilities and integrate with various tools and technologies. It supports a wide range of integrations out of the box and has a mature plugin development ecosystem. GitLab CI, while also extensible, has a relatively smaller plugin ecosystem compared to TeamCity.
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Built-in Container Registry: GitLab CI provides a built-in container registry, enabling you to conveniently store and manage Docker images for your applications. This integration simplifies the process of building and deploying containerized applications. TeamCity does not have a built-in container registry and relies on external solutions for managing Docker images.
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Pricing Model: GitLab CI is part of the GitLab platform, which offers a range of pricing options, including a free version. The pricing for GitLab is based on user seats and additional features. TeamCity, on the other hand, has a license-based pricing model, where you need to purchase licenses based on the number of build agents and users.
In summary, GitLab CI offers a more integrated solution with built-in deployment capabilities and code review features. It also includes a built-in container registry and provides flexible pricing options. TeamCity, on the other hand, has a robust plugin ecosystem and allows for self-hosting, making it a popular choice for organizations that require extensive customization and control over their CI infrastructure.