TeamCity vs. Github Actions
Which CI/CD tool should you choose in 2023?
In today's fast-paced software development environment, having a reliable and efficient continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipeline is critical. Many tools are available for developers to choose from, but two popular options are TeamCity and Github Actions. In this article, we will compare these two tools and help you make an informed decision on which one to use for your CI/CD pipeline.
TeamCity
TeamCity is a Java-based CI/CD tool developed by JetBrains. It has been around since 2006 and is widely used by enterprises and small businesses alike. TeamCity is known for its ease of use, flexibility, and scalability. It supports a wide range of programming languages, build tools, and version control systems, making it a versatile choice for any software development team.
Github Actions
Github Actions is a relatively new player in the CI/CD space, having been launched in 2018 by Github. It is a cloud-based CI/CD tool that is tightly integrated with Github, making it an attractive choice for teams already using Github for version control. Github Actions is built on top of Docker containers, which makes it easy to customize and scale.
Features and Capabilities
TeamCity
Powerful build configuration management
Extensive plugin ecosystem
Built-in support for multiple build agents
Advanced build triggering options
Advanced test reporting and analytics
Customizable build pipelines
Github Actions
Native integration with Github
Simple YAML-based configuration
Support for multiple operating systems and programming languages
Ability to run workflows on events such as pull requests or pushes to a specific branch
Integration with Docker containers for easy customization
Ability to create custom actions and share them with the community
Ease of Use
TeamCity
TeamCity is generally considered easy to set up and use, thanks to its intuitive web interface and extensive documentation. However, setting up a complex build pipeline may require some expertise and a learning curve.
Github Actions
Github Actions is also straightforward to set up and use, with a simple YAML-based configuration language. The tight integration with Github makes it easy to manage and maintain workflows, especially if you're already familiar with Github's interface.
Pricing
TeamCity
TeamCity offers both a free version and a commercial version with advanced features. The free version is limited to three build configurations and 100 build configurations per month.
Github Actions
Github Actions offers a generous free tier that includes 2000 build minutes per month, which is sufficient for most small to medium-sized projects. Additional build minutes can be purchased if needed.
Integration with Other Tools
TeamCity
TeamCity has an extensive plugin ecosystem that allows for integration with a wide range of third-party tools such as Jira, Slack, and Github.
Github Actions
Github Actions has native integration with Github and can easily integrate with other third-party tools via custom actions or Github Marketplace.
Conclusion
If you are already using GitHub as your primary code repository, then GitHub Actions may be the best choice for you. It is fully integrated with the GitHub ecosystem, making it easy to manage workflows and automate tasks.
If you require more advanced functionality and customization options, then TeamCity may be the better choice. It offers a range of powerful features that can help you streamline your development process and improve the overall efficiency of your team.
Cheers,
Joe
References:
GitHub Actions. (n.d.). GitHub. Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://github.com/features/actions
TeamCity. (n.d.). JetBrains. Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://www.jetbrains.com/teamcity/
Great summary!