TL;DR
Fossil and Git are both distributed version control systems with overlapping basics, but they differ sharply in architecture and bundled features. Fossil is a single self-contained executable with integrated project services and an SQLite-backed store; Git is a collection of tools focused on file versioning and typically expanded with third-party services.
What happened
A detailed comparison highlights practical differences between Fossil and Git that affect day-to-day use. Both systems provide distributed version control, local clones that start as full copies of a remote, and standard tools such as branching, merging, cherry-picking and bisecting. The comparison emphasizes that Fossil bundles a wiki, ticketing, embedded documentation, forums, chat and role-based access control into one self-contained binary that stores repository objects in a SQLite database. Git, by contrast, is presented as a federation of smaller programs that manages objects as files or pack-files and usually relies on external add-ons for the same services. The Fossil project argues this design makes it smaller to deploy, easier to self-host (even on low-cost VPS or a Raspberry Pi), and more able to perform cross-repository operations and working-directory undos, while Git’s modularity underpins its ecosystem and tooling choices.
Why it matters
- Integrated services mean self-hosters can run a full project site with fewer moving parts and lower resource needs.
- A single executable and SQLite storage simplify deployment inside containers or restrictive environments.
- Different storage models lead to different query capabilities (for example, descendant queries are harder in Git).
- Workflow differences (e.g., undoing local working-dir changes across repos) affect developer convenience and administrative overhead.
Key facts
- Both Fossil and Git are distributed version control systems that track a DAG of check-ins identified by cryptographic hashes.
- Fossil provides built-in wiki, ticketing, documentation, notes, forum, chat, web UI and role-based access control; Git relies on third-party add-ons for comparable features.
- Fossil is delivered as one self-contained executable; Git is a collection of many smaller programs and often installed via package managers.
- Fossil stores repository objects inside a SQLite database; Git stores objects as files in .git or in pack-files.
- Fossil supports inbound and outbound Git conversion features to move repository content between systems.
- Fossil includes commands that operate across local clones (e.g., 'fossil all sync' and 'fossil all changes').
- Fossil records prior working-directory state and provides an 'undo' facility for local non-committed changes; it intentionally does not allow undoing a commit.
- Fossil runs natively on POSIX and Windows; the project highlights small binary sizes and simple installation (single executable on Windows).
- The Fossil project asserts smaller hosting/resource requirements compared with comparable Git+service stacks (example: GitLab is presented as far larger).
What to watch next
- Fossil’s inbound/outbound Git conversion — useful for teams considering migration (confirmed in the source).
- Cost and resource differences when self-hosting full project sites — Fossil cited as lightweight enough for a $5/month VPS or a Raspberry Pi (confirmed in the source).
- Whether major open-source projects or enterprises adopt Fossil at scale — not confirmed in the source.
- Long-term ecosystem and tooling support relative to Git’s large third-party ecosystem — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Distributed Version Control System (DVCS): A version control system in which each user has a full copy of the repository history and can work offline, pushing and pulling changes with remotes.
- SQLite: A lightweight, file-based SQL database engine that supports ACID transactions and a high-level query language.
- Merkle tree: A tree of hashes where each node summarizes child data via cryptographic hashes, commonly used to identify commits or data blobs.
- ACID: A set of properties (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) that guarantee reliable processing of database transactions.
- Role-based access control (RBAC): An access-control approach that assigns permissions to roles rather than directly to individual users, simplifying management.
Reader FAQ
Can I move a repository between Git and Fossil?
Yes. The source states Fossil has inbound and outbound Git conversion features to move repository content.
Is Fossil easier to self-host than a Git-based stack?
According to the source, Fossil’s single executable and integrated services make self-hosting simpler and lighter-weight than assembling Git plus many external tools.
Can I undo a commit in Fossil the same way I undo local changes?
Fossil provides an 'undo' for working-directory changes but intentionally does not allow undoing a commit once made.
Does Fossil or Git provide better ways to find commit descendants?
The source says locating descendants is difficult in Git, whereas Fossil’s SQLite-backed storage makes descendant queries easier.
Are large-scale adoption trends for Fossil discussed?
not confirmed in the source
1.0 Don't Stress! The feature sets of Fossil and Git overlap in many ways. Both are distributed version control systems which store a tree of check-in objects to a local…
Sources
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