SCP vs FTP

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 meets developers should learn ftp for scenarios involving simple, direct file transfers between systems, such as deploying web applications to hosting servers, sharing large files in legacy environments, or automating batch file operations in scripts. Here's our take.

SCP

Nice Pick

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

FTP

Developers should learn FTP for scenarios involving simple, direct file transfers between systems, such as deploying web applications to hosting servers, sharing large files in legacy environments, or automating batch file operations in scripts

Pros

• It is particularly useful in contexts where security is not a primary concern or when interacting with older systems that lack support for more modern protocols
• Related to: tcp-ip, network-protocols

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

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

The Bottom Line

SCP wins

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