Laser line generators and DOEs serve different optical purposes. Line generators are best for stable and uniform inspection lines, while DOEs are best for custom and complex projection patterns. This article compares laser line generators and diffractive optical elements (DOE) for industrial pattern creation, with a focus on uniformity, flexibility, wavelength sensitivity, and OEM manufacturing considerations. It is written for machine vision, inspection, metrology, and custom optical system buyers who need a practical way to choose the right beam-shaping solution.