composer is zip or git faster

when using composer, is zip or git faster?

When using Composer to install dependencies for a PHP project, the choice between using a zip archive or Git repository as the source for the dependencies can impact installation speed in certain circumstances.

In general, using a Git repository can be faster than downloading a zip archive because Composer can take advantage of Git's incremental updates. This means that if the dependencies have already been installed using a Git repository and there are updates available, Composer can quickly download and install only the changes. In contrast, if a zip archive is used, Composer must download and extract the entire archive, even if only a few files have changed.

However, there are some cases where using a Git repository may be slower than using a zip archive. For example, if the Git repository is large and contains a lot of history, it may take longer to clone and update than it would to download and extract a zip archive. Additionally, if the Git repository is hosted on a slow or unreliable server, the download and installation process may be slower overall.

Ultimately, the best choice between using a zip archive or Git repository for dependencies will depend on the specific project and its requirements. In most cases, using a Git repository is a good choice because it can provide faster installation and better dependency management, but there may be situations where a zip archive is more appropriate.