GitLab vs GitHub: Which One Suits Magento 2 E-Commerce Development Best?

As the landscape of e-commerce continues to expand, particularly on platforms like Magento 2, the need for efficient development workflows is more crucial than ever. Whether you’re integrating new payment methods, developing custom extensions, or managing continuous updates, selecting the right version control platform can make a big impact on your project’s efficiency and scalability. Two of the most prominent version control tools are GitHub and GitLab.

While both platforms offer excellent support for code collaboration and version control, they differ in key areas that can significantly influence your Magento 2 e-commerce development workflow. Let’s break down the distinctions between GitLab and GitHub to help you choose the best one for your Magento project.

I. Things you need to know about GitLab and GitHub 

In the ever-evolving world of software development, GitLab vs GitHub have emerged as titans, offering powerful platforms for version control and collaborative coding. Both provide a centralized haven for your codebase, allowing teams to track changes, manage versions, and work together seamlessly. 

GitHub and GitLab are two of the most popular Git repository management tools used by developers for version control and collaborative coding. While both platforms share similar core functionalities, they differ in how they approach CI/CD, security, and project management.

GitHub is known for its user-friendly interface and a vast developer community, making it a go-to for many developers, including those working on open-source projects. It was initially designed for simple code hosting and collaboration but has since expanded to include GitHub Actions for CI/CD and basic project management tools.

GitLab is an integrated DevOps platform that goes beyond version control, offering comprehensive features like built-in CI/CD pipelines, issue tracking, security testing, and project management. It’s particularly popular with enterprise teams who need an all-in-one solution for managing complex development workflows.

For instance, GitLab often provides more granular control over branching permissions, allowing for finer-grained access control and a wider array of merge strategies. GitHub, on the other hand, prioritizes a streamlined and intuitive interface, making it particularly appealing for those new to version control or seeking a frictionless experience for common workflows.

II. Why Magento 2 developers need GitLab vs GitHub?

When working on a Magento 2 store, you are often dealing with multiple complex aspects, such as custom modules, theme development, or integrating third-party APIs. Efficient version control ensures seamless collaboration across multiple developers, whether you’re working on a small project or a massive Magento multi-store setup.

It also provides essential tracking for any changes to code, allowing for efficient management of both the production and development environments. With both GitHub and GitLab providing centralized repositories for your Magento store’s code, choosing between the two depends on your project’s complexity, team size, and the required features.

III. GitLab vs GitHub: Key differences in Magento 2 development

At the core, both GitHub and GitLab are Git repository managers, designed to help developers manage changes, track versions, and collaborate on projects. However, when managing Magento 2 projects, the differences in their features can make one more suitable than the other.

3.1. Branching and Merging: Control for Magento versioning

Magento development usually involves multiple branches: one for the core store functionality, others for new features, extensions, or integrations (like payment gateways or PWA). GitLab provides granular control over branching and permissions, making it easier for teams to control access to specific branches. This level of control is critical when multiple teams are working on separate parts of a large Magento multi-store setup.

For example, if you’re working on an extensive Magento 2 marketplace site, where development involves both frontend and backend changes, GitLab allows you to control who can create, access, or merge code into critical branches. On the other hand, GitHub excels in providing a more intuitive, user-friendly interface that’s easy to navigate, but lacks the granular branching permissions that are often needed for complex Magento development projects.

3.2. Interface and Usability: Magento-level complexity or Shopify-like simplicity?

When it comes to usability, GitHub is streamlined and simple to navigate. It provides an intuitive interface, much like Shopify does for store owners who need a simple solution for basic commerce tasks. For smaller Magento agencies or developers, GitHub offers a clean experience that can get new users onboarded quickly.

However, GitLab is more feature-rich and therefore feels more complex, similar to how Magento 2 offers deeper functionality and customization options than Shopify. For Magento 2 development teams that require advanced DevOps tools, GitLab is the more comprehensive platform. It comes packed with additional features like continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, integrated issue tracking, and project management tools.

3.3. CI/CD Pipelines: Automating Magento 2 deployments

When developing a Magento 2 site, maintaining quality across multiple stages—such as development, testing, and production—is essential. Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Deployment (CD) enable developers to automate the process of testing code, running builds, and deploying new features or bug fixes to live environments with minimal manual intervention.

GitLab shines here with built-in CI/CD pipelines. This native integration allows Magento developers to automate testing, deployment, and even rollback processes after new extensions are installed, ensuring a more reliable update process for Magento sites. For example, GitLab’s tight integration with Docker allows developers to deploy Magento instances in isolated environments, reducing the risks of bugs and errors.

GitHub, while not originally designed with CI/CD in mind, has evolved with GitHub Actions, a modular tool that allows for the automation of workflows, including CI/CD. However, GitHub Actions requires more manual setup and is not as seamless as GitLab’s native solution. For teams managing complex Magento 2 integrations—such as syncing multiple third-party APIs for payment, shipping, or inventory systems—GitLab’s integrated approach can save significant time and effort.

3.4. Project Management: Magento code collaboration beyond version control

Magento development is about more than just writing code; it’s about managing a project that involves various teams, workflows, and timelines. Both GitHub and GitLab offer project management tools, but GitLab takes it a step further by offering advanced tools that can be invaluable for managing complex Magento 2 projects.

GitLab provides a full suite of project management tools. This includes issue tracking, milestones, time tracking, and burndown charts, all tightly integrated within the platform. For Magento 2 developers, GitLab’s Kanban boards and detailed reporting features allow for better visibility into development progress and timelines. This is particularly important when working on large-scale e-commerce projects, such as Magento multi-vendor marketplaces or integrating complex systems like Magento 2 PWA Studio.

GitHub, while providing basic project management tools like Kanban-style project boards, does not offer the same level of detail as GitLab’s native features. For simple Magento projects, GitHub’s lightweight project boards may be sufficient. However, for more complex development workflows involving multiple extensions, feature releases, and marketing campaigns, GitLab’s project management features offer more depth.

3.5. Security: Protecting your Magento source code

Magento stores handle sensitive customer information, so ensuring the security of your code is critical. Both GitHub and GitLab offer robust security features, but GitLab offers more comprehensive control.

GitLab provides granular access control, allowing you to define who can read, write, and deploy changes to your Magento 2 store. This is essential in enterprise-level Magento projects, where different teams or contractors may need access to specific features or areas of your store. Moreover, GitLab’s security scanning can help identify potential vulnerabilities in your Magento extensions or integrations before they are deployed live.

GitHub also offers role-based access control (RBAC) and supports integration with third-party security tools. While sufficient for smaller projects, GitHub lacks the built-in security scanning tools that make GitLab a more comprehensive solution for Magento teams focused on security.

3.6. Pricing models: Maximizing value for your Magento team

Both GitHub and GitLab offer free and paid tiers, but the scope of what you get differs. GitLab’s free tier includes built-in CI/CD, advanced project management, and security features, making it an excellent choice for Magento agencies or small businesses that need a comprehensive tool without the additional costs. GitHub, while free for public repositories, requires you to pay for private repositories and more advanced features.

For Magento developers managing private repositories, complex workflows, or requiring security features, GitLab’s free tier provides more value out of the box. However, for teams looking for a simpler setup, GitHub’s lower-cost premium tiers may be preferable.

Conclusion

When it comes to Magento 2 e-commerce development, both GitHub and GitLab are powerful tools, but they cater to different needs. GitHub is ideal for smaller teams or agencies that prioritize simplicity and ease of use. Its user-friendly interface makes it an excellent choice for straightforward version control and collaboration. On the other hand, GitLab is the more robust solution, offering deeper integration with DevOps tools, CI/CD pipelines, and advanced project management features.

Ultimately, your choice between GitHub and GitLab depends on your specific project requirements, team size, and whether you need advanced functionality to support complex development workflows.

FAQs

1. Which platform is better for a Magento 2 store with complex customizations?

If your Magento store involves custom extensions, complex themes, or multiple environments, GitLab is often the better choice due to its granular control over permissions and integrated CI/CD pipelines. GitHub is simpler to use, making it better for less complex Magento projects.

2. Can I use GitLab’s CI/CD for Magento 2 deployment?

Yes! GitLab’s built-in CI/CD pipelines are ideal for automating Magento 2 deployments, running tests on staging environments, and ensuring code integrity before pushing changes to production.

3. How do GitHub and GitLab help with Magento store security?

Both platforms offer solid security features, but GitLab has more comprehensive built-in security tools, such as static application security testing (SAST) and dependency scanning, which can help secure Magento projects before going live.

4. What’s the best option for small Magento agencies?

For smaller Magento teams focusing on quick, simple setups, GitHub is a great option because of its simplicity. For larger, more DevOps-heavy teams managing multiple features or stores, GitLab provides a richer feature set and more flexibility.

5. How does GitLab handle Magento multi-store development?

GitLab’s project management features are well-suited for multi-store Magento environments. You can manage code for different stores, branches, and teams, all while tracking specific customizations or updates across your e-commerce ecosystem.