SCMprogramvare

SCMprogramvare, or SCM software, is a category of tools used in software development to manage changes to source code and related artifacts over time. It maintains a repository containing revisions of files, records who made changes and when, and supports collaboration among developers. Core functions include version control, branching and merging, tagging releases, and providing a history of edits. Many SCM tools also offer access control, audit trails, and integration with development workflows, continuous integration/continuous delivery pipelines, issue tracking, and code review.

SCM can be centered on either centralized or distributed models. Centralized systems keep a single server-side repository with client applications performing changes; distributed systems allow each user to have a full copy of the repository, enabling offline work and robust branching. Examples of centralized systems include Subversion (SVN), CVS, and Perforce in some configurations; distributed systems include Git, Mercurial, and Fossil. In practice, Git has become the dominant choice for open source and many organizations, due to lightweight branching, performance, and strong tooling.

SCM software supports collaboration, reproducible builds, and compliance needs by preserving provenance of changes. It is used across software development, configuration management, and release engineering to track baselines, manage configurations, and coordinate workflows.