Which git provider to choose#
User types
This page is useful for user type 4-5.
The setup of tools and URLs is dependent on agreements you’ve made on collaboration.
Choosing between GitHub and GitLab depends on multiple criteria. GitHub provides more functionalities, but you might prefer the TU Delft-closed GitLab system if you’re a TU Delft employee.
Book URL#
Github allows you to host your book on the GitHub server using GitHub pages (to be recognized by the <organization/username>.github.io/<book> url, for example the template book), which takes all the steps of hosting out of your hands. Next to GitHub-provided URLs, you can set up a custom owned URL, although this requires some additional skills on a domain which you should own.
If you’re part of TU Delft, you can put your book in the TUDelft-Book organisation, which allows you to host your book at oit.tudelft.nl/<book>. If you’ve a private book which is part of the GitHub Enterprise TU Delft and is using SSO, a random url is generated <random>.github.io/<book>. For courses we advise you to create a organization with the course name so that the URL represent that course.
On TU Delft’s GitLab you need a webserver, which was offered by TeachBooks in the past (to be recognized by the url teachbooks.tudelft.nl/<book>), and is still offered by the TU Delft OIT team (to be recognized by the url interactivetextbooks.tudelft.nl/<book>).
Real-time editing book#
Editing the book can happen both locally as online on GitHub/GitLab. If done locally, the book can be generated and viewed locally too (typically takes around 1 minute) but this requires you to be at least user type 4 or 5 depending on the book content. The built book can also be viewed online separate from the released version.
On GitHub we developed a automatic process which builds the book and publishes it online in a very flexible way (publication of multiple version of the book, insights in book building errors, parallel so fast build, custom urls in subdirectories). For a private repository, there is an extensive but limited amount of actions-minutes required for published your book. If this proves to be a limit, consider applying for Teacher benefits or joining the GitHub Enterprise of TU Delft.
On GitLab a webserver is required to process book-changes online. Both we and other people at TU Delft have a simplistic workflow which can be used when you’re set up on those Git environments and webservers. This simplistic workflow doesn’t build all branches, is not easily adaptable, doesn’t cache environments, doesn’t give a visual summary, and doesn’t allow for parallel processes (for every build a runner needs to be assigned for which there’s typically only one available). If you want to use GitLab but still want to make use of the GitHub workflow, you can mirror your repository to GitHub. For the TU Delft OIT webserver you’re required to publish your book more officially, it cannot be used for viewing your book online in an active editing-phase since constant copyright checks have to be performed. The amount of computing power available is dependent on how you set the server yourself.
Setting up book repository and website#
On GitHub you can start right away with a git environment and online book using our template without the need for any webserver setup!
On GitLab you can set up your own git environment, but you need to be given access by TU Delft OIT to view your build book online if you don’t have your own webserver-setup.
Book access with SSO#
When you’re releasing your book on a server on which you’re in control (connected to GitLab or GitHub), you can set up SSO login for visitors of the website. In the past, this was arranged for for TU Delft employees at teachbooks.tudelft.nl. However, this is depreciated.
If you want the same functionality with GitHub pages, your book should be part of the GitHub Enterprise of TU Delft. This SSO login is a bit different as you’re required to give access to specific accounts. Furthermore, the url of you’re book on GitHub pages is a random one, so you might consider using a custom URL.
Access to source code#
Both GitLab and GitHub allow for extensive options for visibility of the source code, both private, public or internally. On GitHub, public allows for collaboration with anyone. For SSO login, your book should be part of the GitHub Enterprise of TU Delft. If you’d like a private repo on GitHub, apply for a GitHub Team (free as a teacher as described in the github documentation) to make use of GitHub pages (for public repos GitHub pages is not restricted).
The TU Delft GitLab requires SSO login for editing the book. Although this is useful for TU Delft employees, it limits the collaboration with people outside of TU Delft.
Book size limits#
In GitLab, an artifact (the book export) can have a maximum size of 150 MB. In GitHub, the total GitHub pages may not exceed 1 GB (including all branches)
Integration with GitHub Desktop#
GitHub has a nice integration with the GitHub Desktop application. For GitLab it works as well, but has less functionality.
Intergration with Utteranc.es#
Utteranc.es requires a GitHub repository to host the discussions. If you’re using a GitLab repository, you need a separate GitHub repository and the discussions and book content is not at the same place.
Summary#
Here’s a table summarizing the information:
GitHub |
TU Delft GitLab |
|
|---|---|---|
Book url |
GitHub pages ( |
TU Delft OIT ( |
Real-time book editing |
Automated and flexible (multiple version of the book, building error insights, fast, custom urls) 🚀 |
Automated but simplistic (not easily adaptable, no caching environments, no visual summaries, no parallel processes) 🛵 For TU Delft OIT: restricted adaptations because of copyright checks 🚫 |
Setting up book website |
Immediate and automated with template ⚡️ |
Manual setup on personal webserver, or access required by TeachBooks or TU Delft OIT 🚧 |
Book access with SSO |
Only available for GitHub pages on GitHub Enterprise of TU Delft 🎓, optional with custom URL ✅ |
Optional ✅ |
Access to source code |
Private (if part of organization linked to educational account) /public / internally TU Delft (on GitHub Enterprise of TU Delft) 👥 |
Private / public (read-only) / internally TU Delft, editing requires requires SSO login 👥 👀 |
Book size limits |
1 GB for all branches 📚 |
150 MB per book 📕 |
GitHub Desktop |
Well integrated 😎 |
Basic integration 🙂 |
Can be linked to same repository 🏷️ |
Requires GitHub repository next to GitLab repository 🏷️🏷️ |
If you have doubt about this choice, we advise you to start on GitHub. Moving/duplicating your content to GitLab or hosting to a custom URL is always possible at a later stage.