Table of contents

• Architectural foundations and approach
• Core differentiators
• Example scenarios
• Summary
• Frequently asked questions

Sapling is a next-generation version control system (VCS) originally developed at Meta (Facebook) to handle massive codebases efficiently. It is designed to be a fast, scalable, and user-friendly VCS with a modern CLI and advanced features, particularly suited for large and monorepo-style codebases.

Graphite, on the other hand, is a platform built atop Git that provides a powerful, opinionated workflow for incremental code review via “stacked” branches. Rather than replacing Git, Graphite augments it, enhancing developer productivity, encouraging smaller, more frequent changes, and improving the code review process.

Both tools aim to optimize developer workflows, but they come at the problem from different angles and with different architectural approaches. In this guide, we'll explore these differences in detail.

Architectural foundations and approach

Sapling:

• Standalone VCS: Sapling is its own version control system, though it can interoperate with Git. It is not simply an add-on or plugin; it presents an alternative core to the Git data model.
• Performance and scale: Sapling is built to handle extremely large repositories. Its architecture includes built-in support for features like sparse checkouts and efficient scaling, making it well suited for monolithic codebases where Git operations may become sluggish.
• Data model differences: While Sapling has Git interoperability, its internal data model and commands may differ, allowing for optimizations that aren’t always possible with pure Git.

Graphite:

• Layered on top of Git: Graphite does not replace Git. Instead, it integrates seamlessly with existing Git workflows. This means you can continue using your existing Git remotes, CI/CD pipelines, and hosting platforms (like GitHub) while adding Graphite’s capabilities on top.
• Stacked branch paradigm: Graphite introduces a workflow based on stacked branches, where each branch builds on top of the previous one. This approach encourages developers to break down large, complex changes into smaller, reviewable increments.
• Interactive tooling and reviews: Graphite focuses on improving the code review experience, providing a web UI and CLI for splitting changes into stacks, creating pull requests, and maintaining clarity over the progression of dependent commits.
• AI-powered code review: Graphite Agent provides immediate, context-aware feedback on pull requests, identifying bugs, security vulnerabilities, and performance issues while offering one-click fixes and customizable rules.
• Automation and workflow rules: Graphite enables teams to create sophisticated automation rules triggered by pull request attributes, including auto-assignment of reviewers, labeling, notifications, and custom actions based on file changes, authors, or other criteria.
• Merge queue and stack-aware merging: Graphite's merge queue automates the rebase process, runs CI checks, and merges PRs or PR stacks efficiently with parallel processing and fast-forward merges, ensuring the main branch stays stable.
• Pull request inbox and insights: Graphite provides a unified dashboard for managing all pull requests across repositories, with customizable sections, advanced search capabilities, and analytics on development metrics like time-to-merge, reviewer workload, and PR throughput.

Core differentiators

1. Workflow philosophy:

   • Sapling: Primarily aims to improve the fundamentals of version control performance, scalability, and usability. While it introduces certain workflow enhancements (like a more intuitive CLI), its primary differentiator is a better, more scalable VCS core.
   • Graphite: Focuses almost exclusively on workflow and review process improvements. Graphite transforms how developers manage branches and submit changes. Its design encourages smaller, more incremental changes and streamlines the code review lifecycle, without overhauling the underlying version control system.

2. Integration vs. replacement:

   • Sapling: Can be used standalone in place of Git. While it has Git interoperability, adopting Sapling often means migrating to a new VCS or using it alongside Git as a bridge. You might consider Sapling if you’re looking to move beyond Git’s architectural limitations.
   • Graphite: Is complementary to Git. It adds capabilities to your existing Git workflow. With Graphite, you don’t have to leave Git behind. Instead, you elevate your Git experience with better branch management and code review tooling.

3. Hosting and ecosystem:

   • Sapling: While Sapling can integrate with common code hosting providers (like GitHub) through interoperability, it does not natively come with a hosted review platform. Its primary offering is a local VCS tool.
   • Graphite: Offers a comprehensive hosted platform with advanced developer tools. Through Graphite's web UI, you get visual branch stack management, AI-powered code review with Graphite Agent, automated merge queues, pull request inbox with analytics, and sophisticated workflow automation. Graphite provides a complete development environment that enhances GitHub workflows with enterprise-grade features for code review, collaboration, and project management.

4. Learning curve:

   • Sapling: Requires learning a new VCS tool with some conceptual differences from Git. For teams with large monorepos or performance issues, this can pay off, but it involves adjusting to some Sapling-specific commands and workflows.
   • Graphite: If you know Git, you can easily adapt to Graphite’s CLI and web interface. The main conceptual change is learning to think in terms of stacked branches rather than a linear commit history, but your underlying Git knowledge remains directly applicable.

5. Use cases:

   • Sapling: Ideal for massive monorepos, teams experiencing slow Git operations, and organizations needing a scalable, modern VCS with improved performance characteristics. If your bottleneck is Git performance and manageability at scale, Sapling can be the solution.
   • Graphite: Perfect for teams looking to improve code reviews, encourage smaller PRs, and streamline incremental change delivery without leaving the Git ecosystem. If your main pain point is a messy pull request workflow or difficulty reviewing incremental changes, Graphite addresses that directly.

6. Modern development capabilities:

   • Sapling: Focuses on core VCS performance improvements and scalability. While it provides a modern CLI and some workflow enhancements, it doesn't include AI-powered features or advanced automation capabilities.
   • Graphite: Embraces modern development practices with AI-powered code review (Graphite Agent), intelligent automation rules, advanced analytics and insights, and sophisticated merge queue management. Graphite is designed for teams that want to leverage AI and automation to accelerate development while maintaining code quality.

Example scenarios

Scenario 1: Monorepo with performance issues

• Problem: Your Git monorepo is enormous, and simple operations like git status are slow. Developers struggle with branch checkouts and sparse operations.
• Solution: Sapling is a strong candidate. By leveraging its efficient data handling, you can maintain developer velocity even in very large repositories.

Scenario 2: Complex code reviews in a Git-based team

• Problem: Your team uses Git and GitHub extensively. Pull requests are often large and unwieldy, making reviews slow and error-prone. Context for incremental changes is lost in large, monolithic PRs.
• Solution: Graphite enhances your existing Git setup. Introduce stacked branches and benefit from Graphite’s CLI and UI to guide reviewers through incremental changes, improving clarity and productivity in code reviews.

Scenario 3: Incremental adoption

• Problem: You want a better workflow, but you can’t migrate off Git and GitHub. You need a tool that layers on top of what you already have.
• Solution: Graphite is the natural fit—no need to replace your VCS. Just start organizing your branches into stacks and use Graphite's platform to handle PR creation and review flow.

Summary

• Sapling is an advanced VCS that can replace or complement Git in extremely large, complex scenarios. It shines as a scalable, performant, and modern alternative to Git at the core version control level.
• Graphite is a comprehensive developer platform that enhances Git workflows with modern AI-powered tools, automation capabilities, and advanced project management features. Beyond stacked branches, Graphite offers AI code review, intelligent automation rules, merge queue management, analytics dashboards, and a unified PR inbox—making it a complete solution for teams seeking to modernize their development workflow.

In choosing between them, consider whether your primary challenge lies in the fundamental performance and scaling limitations of Git (Sapling's domain) or in improving the review process, leveraging AI for code quality, and streamlining collaboration within your current Git-based ecosystem (Graphite's specialty).

Frequently asked questions

Can I use Sapling and Graphite together?

While technically possible, it's not recommended. Sapling is designed to replace Git as your primary VCS, while Graphite is built specifically to enhance Git workflows. Using both would create unnecessary complexity and potential conflicts. Choose one based on your primary needs: Sapling for VCS performance improvements, or Graphite for workflow and code review enhancements.

Does Graphite work with existing GitHub repositories?

Yes, Graphite integrates seamlessly with existing GitHub repositories. You don't need to migrate or change your repository structure. Graphite simply adds its workflow tools on top of your existing Git setup, allowing you to continue using GitHub's features while benefiting from Graphite's stacked PRs, AI code review, and automation capabilities.

Is Sapling compatible with GitHub and other Git hosting platforms?

Sapling has Git interoperability, meaning it can work with Git repositories and hosting platforms like GitHub. However, the integration isn't as seamless as with native Git tools. You may need to use Sapling's Git bridge features or convert repositories to Sapling's native format for optimal performance.

Which tool is better for large teams?

Both tools can benefit large teams, but in different ways:

• Sapling excels for large teams dealing with massive monorepos where Git performance becomes a bottleneck. It's particularly valuable when simple Git operations become slow and impact developer productivity.

• Graphite is ideal for large teams focused on improving code review processes and collaboration. Its AI-powered features, automation rules, and analytics help teams scale their review processes and maintain code quality as they grow.

Do I need to learn new commands to use Graphite?

Graphite builds on your existing Git knowledge. While you'll learn some new commands for managing stacked PRs (like gt stack or gt submit), most of your Git commands remain the same. The main conceptual shift is thinking in terms of stacked branches rather than linear commits.

Can Sapling handle the same workflows as Git?

Sapling can handle most Git workflows, but with some differences. It has its own command set and data model optimizations that may require workflow adjustments. While it offers Git interoperability, teams typically need to adapt their processes to take full advantage of Sapling's performance benefits.

What's the learning curve for each tool?

• Sapling: Requires learning a new VCS with different commands and concepts. The learning curve is steeper but can pay off significantly for teams with performance issues.

• Graphite: Has a gentler learning curve since it builds on Git knowledge. The main learning involves understanding stacked PRs and using Graphite's web interface and CLI tools.