can anybody explain about version control tools

tarunflash · New User Joined: 15 Oct 2005 Posts: 25

what for version control tools are used?
examples for those tools?

andy6703 · New User Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 14

tarun,

Version control deals with changes made to a file. In mainframe terms, they could be the changes made to an application program, copybook, or JCL. Now these changes should be brought under control such that they are approved before they could be moved into production. The version control tools control the version by restricting access to developers to move the updated file to the production region directly. Only some people who have the access can move the files & they do that after reviewing the changes to make sure that they are in tune with the requirements gathered. Once approved, the updated file becomes the baseline to which further changes may be applied in future. The tools also help in giving info as to where & when the changes were made & by who.

Endeavor is one such version control tool. Use of GDGs is also a means of controlling the version.

Hope this helps. Please add on or make changes if necessary.

iknow · Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 7:24 pm

Hi All,

We use Endevor for Source Control to ensure that we always work with the latest version of the source.

Does both source control and version control are one and the same.

Please clarify my doubt.

iknow · Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 8:46 pm

Hi tarunflash,

As a follow up to my previous post, Changeman is also a version control tool.

Correct me if I am wrong.

suman_236 · New User Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Posts: 11 Location: Chennai

Another important use of source control tools is the 'Element Check out' feature....

It enables the developers to 'check out' an element before making changes, so that this element is not available to others for updates.
This way it prevents multiple developers concurrently updating the same element. This is called configuration management.

iknow · Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 4:28 pm

Hi Suman,

Thanks for your valuable information. But could you please tell me how effectively 'Element Check Out ' feature works.

Need more information on Element Check Out.

suman_236 · New User Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Posts: 11 Location: Chennai

'Check out' feature enables configuration management in version control tools. It tackles the classic problem of 'concurrent updates'.

Before version control tools, a program can be concurrently updated by two different programmers. There is no way a programmer can know if the same element is modified by others. The programmers are unconscious of other's changes and so when both programmers move the code to production, one's changes are overridden by other's.

'Check out' feature allows a programmer to signout an element before making changes. The Version control tool now controls the updates to this element. When a element is signed out, no other's can signout the element or make changes to it. When the programmer moves the changes to production, he checks in the element thereby enabling the element for other's updates.

Hope this info was useful........................................

vishal_a · New User Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 45 Location: Noida

as explained by other forum users abt Version Control stands true from my side also....
I would like to add another Version Control Tool besides CHangemen, Endevor

The tool is SCLM (Software Configuration and Library Management) by IBM a wonderful tool for Version control , compiling and moving the code to production hierarchaly

iknow · Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 6:53 am

Hi ALL,

As a follow up to my previous postings I would like to tell you that Element Check Out feature is a part of Changeman.

Hope this helps.