FTP vs SCP

Developers should learn FTP for scenarios involving manual file transfers, such as deploying web applications to hosting servers, managing content on legacy systems, or exchanging large files in environments where more modern protocols are unavailable meets developers should learn scp when they need to securely copy files in environments where ssh is already configured, such as deploying code to servers, backing up data, or transferring configuration files in devops workflows. Here's our take.

FTP

Nice Pick

Developers should learn FTP for scenarios involving manual file transfers, such as deploying web applications to hosting servers, managing content on legacy systems, or exchanging large files in environments where more modern protocols are unavailable

Pros

• It remains relevant for tasks like automated backups, batch processing, and integration with older enterprise systems that rely on FTP for data exchange, though it should be used cautiously due to security limitations
• Related to: tcp-ip, network-protocols

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

SCP

Developers should learn SCP when they need to securely copy files in environments where SSH is already configured, such as deploying code to servers, backing up data, or transferring configuration files in DevOps workflows

Pros

• It is particularly useful for automation scripts, remote server management, and scenarios where GUI-based tools are unavailable or inefficient, offering a simple and reliable method for file transfers with minimal setup
• Related to: ssh, sftp

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. FTP is a protocol while SCP is a tool. We picked FTP based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

FTP wins

Based on overall popularity. FTP is more widely used, but SCP excels in its own space.