CSC/ECE 517 Fall 2010/ch1 1a mh

work in progress:

Introduction

A version control system is used to manage files and directory structures and updates made to them in a software development, web development etc. projects.

Any coding project is a dynamic and fast paced environment.In a typical setting, code development for a project is performed in parallel by many developers. Thus, incorporating all the changes made, either simultaneously or at different times, poses a new type of challenge.

This chapter focuses mainly on the development history of different version control systems.

Why version control system is needed?

The major issues in a dynamic development environment can be described as:

• Obviously, merging of a lot of files. If we consider somebody to do merging manually, The sheer volume of communication required is overwhelming. This communication can be among the developers themselves in a small team or between the team leader in charge of merging and the rest of the group.

• Accountability: if one of the developer breaks the code during development, It is tough to detect and naturally nobody steps forward to take the blame. A version control system can precisely indicate who caused the break in the code.

• If a certain code implementation doesn't work as expected, Reverting to last satisfactory state may be required.

• Code loss due to development on stale code. for example, two developers downloaded a certain file at 10AM. One of the developers modified foo_1() method and uploaded modified file at 10:30AM.The other developer modified foo_2() method and uploaded the same file at 10:45AM. Since the functions are in the same file, the second upload will overwrite the file uploaded by first developer at 10:30AM causing loss of his part of work.