Dynamic

Carthage vs Git Submodules

Developers should use Carthage when they need a lightweight, non-intrusive dependency manager for Swift or Objective-C projects, especially in environments where they want to avoid modifying Xcode project files or prefer decentralized dependency management meets developers should use git submodules when they need to incorporate external libraries, frameworks, or shared components into their main project while keeping those dependencies as separate repositories with their own version history. Here's our take.

🧊Nice Pick

Carthage

Developers should use Carthage when they need a lightweight, non-intrusive dependency manager for Swift or Objective-C projects, especially in environments where they want to avoid modifying Xcode project files or prefer decentralized dependency management

Carthage

Nice Pick

Developers should use Carthage when they need a lightweight, non-intrusive dependency manager for Swift or Objective-C projects, especially in environments where they want to avoid modifying Xcode project files or prefer decentralized dependency management

Pros

  • +It is ideal for projects that require binary frameworks for faster build times or when integrating with CI/CD pipelines that benefit from pre-built dependencies
  • +Related to: swift, objective-c

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Git Submodules

Developers should use Git Submodules when they need to incorporate external libraries, frameworks, or shared components into their main project while keeping those dependencies as separate repositories with their own version history

Pros

  • +Common use cases include managing third-party dependencies, sharing common code across multiple projects, or working on large, modular applications where different teams maintain separate repositories
  • +Related to: git, version-control

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Carthage if: You want it is ideal for projects that require binary frameworks for faster build times or when integrating with ci/cd pipelines that benefit from pre-built dependencies and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Git Submodules if: You prioritize common use cases include managing third-party dependencies, sharing common code across multiple projects, or working on large, modular applications where different teams maintain separate repositories over what Carthage offers.

🧊
The Bottom Line
Carthage wins

Developers should use Carthage when they need a lightweight, non-intrusive dependency manager for Swift or Objective-C projects, especially in environments where they want to avoid modifying Xcode project files or prefer decentralized dependency management

Disagree with our pick? nice@nicepick.dev