A brief introduction to common version control software

Depending on the information on your network, you see the version control software used by a typical company as follows:
(the rating comments from http://www.hansky.com/cn/news/select_scm3.html But there is no introduction about Perforce,starteam)
1.Clear case --------"backbone
2.cvs --------" open source exotic flowers
3.Visual SourceSafe                                  --------Entry level
4.PVCS  --------Small workgroup level
5 perforce --------
6.ccc 
7.starteam --------
8. rcs --------"The elder of the senior
9.sccs --------
10. Hansky firefly                                 --------Rookie Class
11.Others (There are some rare or company-specific software, such as Seapine, Beida Bluebird jbcm, etc.)  

1. ClearCase is a heavyweight software configuration management (SCM Software Configuration managemen) tool in rational Company (acquired by IBM in 2003). Different from CVS and vss,clearcase coverage include versioning, building management, workspace management, and Process control. From the initial software configuration plan, to the establishment of configuration items, from change control to version control, it runs through the entire software lifecycle. ClearCase supports the vast majority of existing operating systems. ClearCase installation, configuration, and use are relatively complex and require team training.

2. CVS, the acronym for Concurrent versions System, is a great masterpiece of the Open source software world and is widely used in small and medium software enterprises worldwide because of its simplicity, power, cross-platform, concurrent versioning, and free of charge. Its biggest regret is the lack of appropriate technical support, many problems need to find their own data, or even read the source code. CVS is a typical server/client-side software, with UNIX versions of CVS, Linux versions of CVS, and Windows version of CVS, which already contains the server and client side of the download package. But since we are generally working with Windows operating systems, we can then download a client-side software Wincvs for Windows CVS. The latest version of CVS can be obtained at the following sites. Http://www.cvshome.org. CVS supports remote management, and the project team is distributed and developed with CVS.

3.VSS of Microsoft products. Simple and easy to use, local area network with VSS. For the team level also, the enterprise level is not good. Only Windows operating systems are supported.
4.PVCS Merant Company's core products Pvcs,pvcs the latest version of PVCS8.0. In PVCS8.0, the functions supported by the process are integrated with PVCs. See the Internet on its introduction is not much, it is said to have been given to many large domestic institutions to use. Main functions: Software configuration management, problem management, Process control and automation, help software development organizations to automatically improve the quality of software products.

5. Perforce is the software configuration product family of the American Perforce software company, which is characterized by its high ease of use and fast speed. Main Features "Smchina.net View": Installation, configuration and management is very simple, the installation process can be done in a few minutes; TCP/IP based client server architecture, not dependent on other network protocols such as NFS; using streaming transmission protocol to improve transmission efficiency; Easy to use, command line client ; Inter-file branching technology is more natural for developers to work with, integrates with change management, provides open interfaces, and supports third-party change management tools

6. CCC Leon Presser, of the University of California in the early 70, wrote a paper proposing the concept of controlling change and configuration, and then in 1975 he set up a company called Softtool, which developed his own configuration management tool: CCC, This is also one of the earliest configuration management tools.

7. Borland Starteam An integrated environment for managing configurations and changes. Main features: Improve communication and performance of decentralized development team, improve observation and control of application software development Lifecycle, leverage existing technology investments and increase ROI, and tailor solutions to meet agency requirements. Starteam is compatible with the Microsoft Source Code Control Interface (API), enabling seamless integration with numerous tool platforms that support the interface. Starteam can also integrate with specific development tools, such as Microsoft, IBM, and Borland, including Borland JBuilder, Borland Delphi, Borland C + + Builder. Starteam can also integrate with a number of third-party software to give full play to the existing investment value of development agencies for activities such as development, testing, and requirements. All software development assets are properly stored in the Starteam server, helping to reduce barriers between different segments of the lifecycle, increasing the efficiency of teamwork and information sharing, thereby increasing the ROI of the development organization and accelerating the software delivery market.

8. RCS is another basic source code management tool that was developed by Walter.f.tichy in 1980 at Purdue University in Indina. RCS and SCCS are similar, and are based on a single file version maintenance system.

9. The full name of SCCS is the source Code control System. is a basic source file versioning tool that works with version maintenance for any body file. It is based on a single file version control, typically, its software storage room and the files to be maintained in the same directory. When SCCS works, there is a special SCCS format file that retains the encoded version of its source file, records enough information to generate a new version, and records who has the right to modify the file and has the "lock" for that version.

10. Firefly, an important member of the company's software development Management suite, can easily manage and maintain the entire enterprise's software assets, including program code and related documentation. Firefly is a full-featured, fast-moving software configuration management system that can support different operating systems and multiple integrated development environments, so it can be applied across different teams and projects throughout the enterprise. Firefly is based on a true client/server architecture and is not dependent on any particular network file system and can be run smoothly in different LANs, WAN environments. Its installation and configuration process is simple and easy to use, Firefly can automatically and securely save every change in the code to avoid inadvertently overwriting and modifying the code. By using Firefly, project managers can effectively organize development forces to develop and manage various resources in parallel for each phase of the project, making the product release manageable, and quickly backtracking to any historical version. System administrators use Firefly's built-in tools to facilitate repository backup and recovery without relying on any third-party tools.

Source: http://tb.blog.csdn.net/TrackBack.aspx?PostId=751667