Version Control System (VCS)
A Version Control System (VCS) is a software configuration management system that manages changes to a set of files over time, allowing multiple users to track and merge changes in a controlled and efficient manner.
- AKA: Source Control System, Software Revision Control System, Source Code Management System.
- Context:
- It facilitates codebase version control tasks.
- It can range from being a Centralized Version Control System to being a Distributed Version Control System.
- It can manage a Codebase Repository (with software commit records).
- It can handle multiple Software Development Branches simultaneously.
- It can assist developers in managing and tracking changes to the codebase.
- It can enable multiple developers to work on the same codebase concurrently, providing mechanisms to manage conflicts.
- It can provides the ability to revert and review changes, providing a historical record of codebase modifications.
- It can record every change made to a file or set of files, enabling developers to return to previous versions and collaborate on projects without conflicting changes.
- It can help prevent common problems like code conflicts between developers working on the same project, which can be resolved using features like branching and merging.
- It can be integrated into software development environments to enhance code quality through review processes and maintain a history of changes for audit purposes.
- It can support development practices such as Continuous Integration (CI) and DevOps, enhancing productivity and speeding up development cycles.
- ...
- Example(s):
- a Distributed Version Control System (DVCS) such as:
- a Centralized Version Control System (CVCS) such as:
- a Hybrid Version Control System such as:
- ...
- Counter-Example(s):
- See: Specification (Technical Standard), Branching (Version Control), Software Configuration Management, Software Repository, Software Development, Collaborative Editing System, Merge Conflict, Git Branching,
References
2024a
- (Wikipedia, 2024) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Version_control Retrieved:2024-4-14.
- In software engineering, version control (also known as revision control, source control, or source code management) is a class of systems responsible for managing changes to computer programs, documents, large web sites, or other collections of information. Version control is a component of software configuration management.[1]
Changes are usually identified by a number or letter code, termed the "revision number", "revision level", or simply "revision". For example, an initial set of files is "revision 1". When the first change is made, the resulting set is "revision 2", and so on. Each revision is associated with a timestamp and the person making the change. Revisions can be compared, restored, and, with some types of files, merged.
The need for a logical way to organize and control revisions has existed for almost as long as writing has existed, but revision control became much more important, and complicated, when the era of computing began. The numbering of book editions and of specification revisions are examples that date back to the print-only era. Today, the most capable (as well as complex) revision control systems are those used in software development, where a team of people may concurrently make changes to the same files.
Version control systems are most commonly run as stand-alone applications, but revision control is also embedded in various types of software, such as word processors and spreadsheets, collaborative web docs, and content management systems, e.g., Wikipedia's page history. Revision control enables reverting a document to a previous revision, which is critical for allowing editors to track each other's edits, correct mistakes, and defend against vandalism and spamming in wikis.
- In software engineering, version control (also known as revision control, source control, or source code management) is a class of systems responsible for managing changes to computer programs, documents, large web sites, or other collections of information. Version control is a component of software configuration management.[1]
- ↑ O'Sullivan, Bryan (2009). Mercurial: the Definitive Guide. Sebastopol: O'Reilly Media, Inc. ISBN 978-0-596-55547-4. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
2024b
- (ChatGPT-OpenAI, 2024) ⇒ Prompt: Summarize the concept Version Control System (VCS) in 1- 2 paragraphs. ChatGPT (model:gpt-4-turbo-preview). Retrieved: 2024-04-14.
- QUOTE: A Version Control System (VCS) is a fundamental tool in software development and project management that enables multiple individuals to work on a project simultaneously without obstructing each other's progress. It allows for the tracking and management of changes to documents, computer programs, large web sites, and other collections of information. At its core, a VCS facilitates the recording of changes made to files over time so that specific versions can be recalled later if needed. This is crucial for understanding the evolution of a project, pinpointing when and why errors occurred, and collaborating efficiently in teams.
There are two main types of version control systems: centralized and distributed. In a centralized version control system, there is a single central repository where all the file versions are stored, and team members synchronize their files with this central repository. This model requires an always-on network connection to collaborate. On the other hand, distributed version control systems (DVCS) allow each user to have a full copy of the entire repository, including its history, thus enabling work even when offline and providing an extra layer of backup. Popular examples of version control software include Git, Subversion, and Mercurial. These tools have become indispensable in modern software development practices, enabling efficient collaboration, better tracking of project history, and significantly reducing the risk of conflicts between concurrent work efforts.
- QUOTE: A Version Control System (VCS) is a fundamental tool in software development and project management that enables multiple individuals to work on a project simultaneously without obstructing each other's progress. It allows for the tracking and management of changes to documents, computer programs, large web sites, and other collections of information. At its core, a VCS facilitates the recording of changes made to files over time so that specific versions can be recalled later if needed. This is crucial for understanding the evolution of a project, pinpointing when and why errors occurred, and collaborating efficiently in teams.
2024c
- (GitLab, 2024) ⇒ https://about.gitlab.com/topics/version-control/ Retrieved: 2024-04-14.
- QUOTE: Version control - also known as source control or revision control - is an important software development practice for tracking and managing changes made to code and other files. It is closely related to source code management.