Deploying Your Site with FTP vs Git

Introduction

Deploying a website correctly is crucial for performance, reliability, and maintainability. Two of the most common methods are FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and Git-based deployments. Each approach has its own strengths, weaknesses, and ideal use cases. In this comprehensive article, we explore both methods in depth, compare them, and highlight best practices to ensure your deployments are secure, efficient, and scalable.

1. FTP Deployment Overview

FTP has been a longstanding standard for file transfers to web servers. It’s widely supported by hosting providers, easy to set up, and understood by many web developers.

1.1 How FTP Works

• Client–Server Model: An FTP client (e.g., FileZilla, WinSCP) connects to an FTP server on your hosting provider.
• Authentication: Username/password (or SSH key for SFTP) grants access to a specific directory.
• Transfer: Files are uploaded/downloaded over TCP ports (default 21 for FTP, 22 for SFTP).

1.2 Advantages of FTP

• Simplicity: No version control learning curve, file uploads in drag-and-drop fashion.
• Wide Hosting Support: Almost all shared and legacy hosting environments support FTP/SFTP.
• No Build Step: Deploys static and dynamic files as they are—no compilation or packaging required.

1.3 Disadvantages of FTP

• No Versioning: Overwrites files without history rollbacks require manual backups.
• Security Risks: Standard FTP is unencrypted SFTP/FTPS is safer but not universally configured.
• Manual Process: Prone to human error—missing files, orphaned assets, incomplete uploads.

2. Git-Based Deployment Overview

Git-based deployments leverage Git as a source-of-truth and integrate with hosting platforms or CI/CD pipelines.

2.1 How Git Deployments Work

• Version Control: Code resides in a repository, with commits tracking every change.
• Triggering Deploys: Pushing to a specific branch (e.g., main) triggers an automated deploy via webhooks or CI/CD.
• Build Deploy: Continuous Integration services (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, CircleCI) build, test, and deploy code to the server or CDN.

2.2 Advantages of Git Deployments

• Full Version History: Easy rollbacks, cherry-picks, and code audits.
• Automated Pipelines: Enforce linting, testing, and build steps before deployment.
• Collaborative Workflow: Branching strategies (Git Flow, trunk-based) enhance team productivity.
• Secure Encrypted: Transfers over SSH or HTTPS credentials stored in CI secrets.
• Atomic Releases: Deploys happen as a whole, reducing downtime and partial updates.

2.3 Disadvantages of Git Deployments

• Steeper Learning Curve: Requires familiarity with Git commands and branching models.
• Setup Complexity: Initial configuration of CI/CD, SSH keys, and build scripts can be time-consuming.
• Dependence on External Services: Outages in CI/CD platforms can delay deployments.

3. Direct Comparison

4. Best Practices

5. Choosing the Right Method

The ideal deployment method depends on project complexity, team size, and hosting environment:

• Small Static Sites: FTP may suffice if changes are infrequent and version control is not critical.
• Team-Based Projects: Git with CI/CD enhances collaboration, code quality, and consistency.
• Security-Sensitive Applications: Git deployments over SSH or HTTPS provide stronger security guarantees.
• High-Availability Services: Atomic, zero-downtime releases via Git-based pipelines minimize risk.

References

• Pro Git Book – Comprehensive Git documentation.
• MDN Web Docs: FTP – Overview of FTP and its secure variants.
• GitHub Actions Documentation – Automate software workflows directly in GitHub.
• GitLab CI/CD Docs – GitLab’s continuous integration and deployment guides.

Published by DevOps Insights, 2024