P4V

P4V, short for Perforce Visual Client, is the graphical user interface for the Perforce Helix Core version control system. It provides a visual way to interact with repositories, manage workspaces, submit changelists, review file history, and resolve merges without relying on the command line. P4V is developed by Perforce Software and is designed to complement the Perforce command-line client.

Key features of P4V include a graphical depot and workspace browser, a changelist pane, and integrated diff and merge capabilities. Users can view file history, compare revisions, and visualize branches and streams. The tool supports common version control operations such as submit, revert, branch, integrate, and shelving, and can be configured to use P4Merge as the built-in diff and merge tool for enhanced visual resolution of conflicts.

P4V is cross-platform and available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It connects to Helix Core servers and supports authentication and permission models provided by the server. It also accommodates multi-server environments and various development workflows, including stream-based branching and merging.

Development and history: P4V has evolved alongside Perforce’s Helix Core and represents the primary GUI option for many users. It originated from earlier Perforce graphical clients and has been updated over time to align with new server features, such as streams, shelving, and more nuanced changelist operations.

See also: Helix Core, Perforce, P4Merge.