Version Control

Articles

Agile SCM - Review of 2007 and Predictions for 2008

In this January article, the authors look back at the software development landscape in 2007 and make predictions for 2008.

Software Configuration Management: Getting Started

If you are not yet practicing software configuration management and just getting started, this article is written for you. There aren't any prerequisites or requirements for implementing "No CM," other than keeping people who know better from implementing some kind of CM system behind your back. Costs are fortunately low, as "No CM" costs absolutely nothing.

Austin Hastings
The Connection between Testing and CM

Testing is a complex discipline. There are various approaches, methodologies, strategies. So where is the connection with CM? As with development, requirements specifications, and other aspects of product development, the connection is on the management side. A software configuration management audit is really about demonstrating that you have test case coverage for your requirements and that the test cases have been successfully run against the target build.

Joe Farah's picture Joe Farah
Testing's Role in the Software Configuration Management Process

In this article, the authors cover how testing can support any SCM environment and how testing can be part of the SCM process. They outline at patterns, roles, automation, and the never-ending search for simplicity.

The Definition of "Done" in Software Development

Getting all of the necessary people together to define what "done" means in a software development project will be difficult. Facilitating such a task will probably be a challenge, but there is nothing like working in an organization that works like a well-oiled machine, where everyone knows what is expected of him or her and just naturally does it.

Alan S. Koch
GNU Make path handling

Ask Mr. Make discusses how GNU Make handles paths.

John Graham-Cumming's picture John Graham-Cumming
Top 10 Best Practices in Configuration Management

Joe Farah identifies the top ten "best" practices in configuration management and goes even further by listing ten more runner-up practices.

Joe Farah's picture Joe Farah
Constructing a Configuration Management Best Practice

The construct of a practice can be a good way to help an organization understand and execute on a process. A good practice construct will include the components that are needed to implement a process within an organization in a successful manner for adoption. To move forward on a practice, there are areas of focus to attain a "best" practice.

Mario  Moreira's picture Mario Moreira
Addressing Challenges to Ensure Successful Tool Integrations

Tool integrations have been going on ever since the initial days of JCL (IBM's Job Control Language). JCL actually made things a lot simpler. But as tools have become more complex and diverse, tool integration presents many challenges. How do you integrate user interface and simplify the corresponding training? What about administration? How do you deal with varying scalability capabilities, and varying server requirements? What about multiple site operation? Successful tool integrations must effectively address these issues and must do so by starting from a process-centric view of the world.

Joe Farah's picture Joe Farah
Checklists – You build me up just to knock me down

The code review checklist is the bane of developers.  Thirty-odd check-boxes await, each requiring thoughtful consideration before the liberating tick mark can be applied.  Twenty source files, freshly altered, are awaiting verification.  The math is simple: 20 x 30 = 600 decisions, no matter how you tackle the problem.  This is going to suck.

Jason Cohen

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