Comparing Sapling vs. Graphite

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.

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 hosted platform and CLI tools. Through Graphite’s web UI, you get a visual representation of branch stacks, PR creation tools, and workflow management features. Graphite provides a cohesive environment for developers to manage stacked branches, review code, and ensure a steady, continuous integration of changes.

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.

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 productivity and workflow enhancer that sits atop Git, refining the developer experience by introducing stacked branches and streamlining incremental code reviews.

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 and branching workflow within your current Git-based ecosystem (Graphite’s specialty).