Technology Fundamentals
Version Control
Definition
Version control, also known as source control, is the practice of tracking and managing changes to software code. Version control systems are software tools that help software teams manage changes to source code over time.
Why It Matters
Version control is essential for any software project, especially when multiple people are collaborating. It allows developers to track every change, revert to previous versions if a mistake is made, and work on different features in parallel without interfering with each other.
Contextual Example
Git is the most popular version control system. When a developer makes a change, they "commit" it with a message describing what they did. This creates a historical record of the project's development.
Common Misunderstandings
- Version control is not just for code; it can be used to track changes in any set of files.
- Services like GitHub and GitLab are web-based hosting services for version control repositories (using Git).