VersionControlSystem

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Options for the replacement of CVS

  • CVS has a limited authentication model that means we need to fudge permissions every time a file is updated.
  • Symlinks are not supported
  • CVS is centralised which means that people need to be logged into the cvs pserver in order to use it
    • A decentralised repository would reduce the need for branching when commiting medium sized changesets.
    • A decentralised repository would mean that people don't have to be logged in to change the code, although they would not then benefit from the public_html facility.

Features Required

  • Symlinks
  • Good per-module authentication
  • Commit-hooks
  • File moves
  • Faster than cvs
  • Easy revert to previous version

Optional Features

  • Directory moves
  • Web interface
  • Read / Write access control
  • Decentralised repository
  • CVS-link interface

bzr

Bazzar-ng 0.11 will be released with etch

Advantages

  • Has native windows support
  • Support for directory renames
  • Has mode that mimicks cvs
  • Fairly extensive documentation
  • Lots of plugins
  • Uncommit
  • Stores executable bit
  • Also works as a centralised repository

Disadvantages

  • Not quite so fast, but newer versions are better
  • Already on version 0.14 - etch already out of date
  • Many features are currently only implemented through plugins

git

Git 0.14 will be released with etch

Advantages

  • Fast
  • Strong support for non-linear development (branching).
  • Can use a cvs client for cvs supported operations

Disadvantages

  • Renames are guessed based on the contents of a file as opposed to svn & bzr which use unique-ids
  • Limited documentation - but improving rapidly (although only for newer versions)
  • Rapidly moving target - Currently on 0.15 which is very different from 0.14
  • Lots of commands and scripts

svn

Advantages

  • Stable
  • Very popular replacement for cvs
  • Stores executible bit

Disadvantages

  • Centralised repository
  • Not as many protocal options
  • Cannot do a merge between files that have been renamed
  • Does not do merge tracking between branches - can lead to odd behaviour if a branch is merged more than once