Web Design & Development Guide

List of revision control software

Home | Up

This is a list of notable software for revision control.

Distributed model

In the distributed approach, each developer works directly with their own local repository, and changes are shared between repositories as a separate step.

Open source

• GNU arch — the original
  ArX — started as a fork of GNU arch, but has been completely rewritten.
  Monotone — fully-decentralized in a P2P way.
  Git — Designed by Linus Torvalds to address the needs of the Linux kernel project
  Bazaar — written in Python. Decentralised, and aims to be fast and easy to use. Can losslessly import Arch archives.
  Mercurial — written in Python. Decentralised and aims to be fast, lightweight, portable, and easy to use.
  Codeville — written in Python, uses an innovative merging algorithm.
  Darcs — written in the Haskell language, can keep track of inter-patch dependencies and automatically rearrange and "cherry-pick" them using a "theory of patches".
  SVK — written in Perl, built on top of Subversion to allow distributed commits.
  Aegis — mature software (but filesystem-oriented, poor network support)
  DCVS, a decentralized CVS-based version control system for distributed software development.
  LibreSource — a real virtual office allowing geographically spread teams to work simultaneously on a common project. LibreSource offers advanced functionality for configuration management with its generic synchronisation module So6, resulting from INRIA research works. The creation of development chains, validation processes and quality control processes can be done through the interconnection of synchronisers.
  ARCS — Automated Revision Control System. A front-end to GIT, CVS, Subversion and Darcs. Allowing real-time file-system monitoring, with the aim of simplification of the revision control process.
  tcldbrcs — Database driven RCS on PostgreSQL, no specific server outside of postgres.

Proprietary

• BitKeeper (was used in Linux kernel development 2002 - April 2005)
  Code Co-op — A peer-to-peer version control system (can use e-mail for synchronization)
  TeamWare Designed by Larry McVoy, creator of BitKeeper
  Wandisco multi-site / replication for CVS and Subversion

Client-server model

In the client-server model, developers use a shared single repository.

Local only

• Revision Control System (RCS) — A 1980s source code control system that features separate backward deltas for faster access to the trunk tip compared to SCCS and an improved user interface; the former at the cost of slow branch tip access and missing support for included/excluded deltas (.scc compliant).
• SCCS 1970s — Source code control system which is part of UNIX. The original UNIX .scc program, based on interleaved deltas (and, contrary to common misbelief, not separate forward deltas/diffs); by included and excluded revisions, can construct versions as arbitrary sets of revisions (resp. the deltas associated with them).

Open source

• Concurrent Versions System (CVS) — Originally built on the Revision Control System.
  CVSNT - A cross-platform port of CVS that allows case insensitive file names among other changes.
  OpenCVS - Compatible with CVS, with emphasis put on security and source code correctness.
  Subversion — An open source version control tool.
  Vesta — A build system with a versioning file system and support for distributed repositories. Used at Intel for microprocessor design.

Proprietary

• AccuRev — A fast and easy-to-use SCM tool with integrated issue tracking based on "Streams" that efficiently manages parallel and global development. A replication server is also available.
  Alienbrain — A SCM tool by Avid Technology
  AllFusion Harvest Change Manager — Commercial change and configuration management tool from Computer Associates
  IBM Rational ClearCase — Market leading configuration management system from IBM Rational Software (.scc compliant)
  Cmvc — Configuration Management Version Control. A IBM version control system, no longer available.
  CollabNet Subversion — Subversion binaries compiled, certified and supported by CollabNet, initiator of the Subversion open source project.
  Evolution — version management from ionForge. remote access, braching models, customizable workflow, with integrations into development, graphic, and modeling tools.
  FileHamster - Version Control Freeware from MOGware. FileHamster
  MKS Inc. — MKS Integrity is a process centric enterprise Application Lifecycle Management platform.
  MOG - Client server work flow and revision software for Video Game Developer. Developed by MOGware.
  Perforce — Built around a client-server architecture. Free for use in open source projects.
  Plastic SCM
  Project Overlord Asset/Project Management Software — client/server application designed specifically for CG animation/vfx studios. Gives the ability to track assets as well as different project related data such as shots and tasks.
  PVCS — Polytron Version Control System
  QVCS — Quma Version Control System
  Serena Dimensions, the successor to PVCS
  SourceAnywhere Hosted — A hosted source control solution. Published by Dynamsoft Corporation.
  SourceAnywhere Standalone — A SQL-based source control solution designed to be an alternative of Microsoft Visual SourceSafe. It is for developers who are ready to migrate away from VSS for performance, security, scalability, and reliability. SourceAnywhere Standalone is one product of SourceAnywhere product family published by Dynamsoft Corporation.
  SourceHaven — Originally based on Subversion, adds an embedded Oracle database backend and a web application for administration
  StarTeam, Borland — A robust platform for coordinating and managing the entire software delivery process, StarTeam promotes team communication and collaboration through centralized control of all of a project's digital assets and activities.
  Store, Cincom - A source code management and versioning system for Cincom's Visualworks Smalltalk environment.
  Surround SCM — Cross platform SCM tool for teams. Features a workflow capability to track what state changes have been made.
  Team Coherence — Integrated Version Control and Bug Tracking.
  Telelogic SYNERGY, a Task-Based CM system (.scc compliant)
  Vault (revision control system) — A version control tool by SourceGear designed to supplant Microsoft's VSS revision control software.
  Version Manager, ebiexperts — A data based Version Control tool able to smart compare Ms-Office, Xml, Pdf and Business Objects & Crystal Reports Reports and Universes.
  Visual SourceSafe, Microsoft — A version control tool provided by Microsoft oriented towards small teams.
  Visual Studio Team System, Microsoft — a process-based client-server suite of tools for larger development organizations, incorporating work item tracking, reporting, build automation, unit and web testing, and integration with Microsoft Office

See also

• Comparison of revision control software
• Revision control

External links

Other comparisons

• Comments on Open Source Software / Free Software (OSS/FS) Software Configuration Management (SCM) Systems
• Quick Reference Guide to Free Software Revision Control Systems
• A comparison of some of both proprietary and free of these revision control systems
• Aegis, Arch, CVS, Subversion, SVK briefly compared (no monotone in the list)
• Version-Control and SCMs for Linux
• SCM Price / Feature Comparison ( from the creators of Code Co-op )

Further reading

• Bram Cohen's blog entry on version control politics surrounding the Linux kernel (founder and contributor of Codeville), as of 2005-04-23
• Dispelling Subversion FUD by Ben Collins-Sussman (Subversion developer), as of 2004-12-21
• LWN article: "The Monotone version control system", as of 2005-04-13
• Configuration Management Tools Open Directory page
• IETF Delta-V Working Group -- Extending the Web with versioning and configuration management... (WebDAV)

Home | Up | List of revision control software | Comparison of revision control software

Web Design & Development Guide, Powered by Usefulref