Perforce

Perforce, also known as Helix Core, is a centralized version control system and repository for source code, binary assets, and other project data. It is developed by Perforce Software (founded in 1995 by Christopher Seiwald) and is designed for large-scale projects and distributed teams. Perforce is widely used in game development, film, and enterprise software where performance and scalability are priorities.

The system uses a central server process (p4d) that stores the repository and serves client requests. Clients operate with a Perforce command line (p4) or a graphical client (P4V) and map depot paths to local workspace folders. Changes are submitted as atomic changelists, and access is governed by user permissions and file protections. Perforce supports structured workflows through streams, which provide branching and integration models, as well as labels for snapshots and robust integration with build pipelines.

Key features include strong handling of large repositories and binary assets, fine-grained access control, file locking to prevent concurrent edits of binary files, and tooling for code review (Helix Swarm) and integration with continuous integration systems. The Helix Core ecosystem also offers replication and multi-site deployments for distributed teams, plus integrations that bridge Perforce with Git workflows via Helix4Git or other adapters.

Perforce is a proprietary, enterprise-grade VCS. It is chosen for environments that require scalable performance, security, and solid asset management, often in game development, media production, and large software projects with sizable teams and complex workflows.