Versiohallinnan

Versiohallinnan, often translated as version control, is a system that records changes to a file or set of files over time so that you can recall specific versions later. This allows you to revert files back to a previous state, compare changes, see who made what changes, and more. It is an essential tool for software development, document management, and any project where tracking modifications is important.

The core concept of version control involves storing different states of a project. When a developer makes changes, they can commit these changes to the version control system. Each commit represents a snapshot of the project at a particular point in time, along with a message explaining the changes. This history allows for easy navigation between different versions.

There are two main types of version control systems: centralized and distributed. Centralized systems, like Subversion (SVN), have a single central server that stores all the versioned files. Developers check out files from this server and commit changes back to it. Distributed systems, such as Git, create a full repository of the project history on each developer's local machine. This allows for more flexibility, enabling developers to commit locally and then synchronize their changes with others.

The benefits of using version control are numerous. It facilitates collaboration by allowing multiple people to work on the same project simultaneously without overwriting each other's work. It provides a safety net, as any mistake can be easily undone by reverting to a previous version. Furthermore, it improves accountability by tracking who made specific changes.