Versioonihalduse

Version control, also known as version management or revision control, is a system that records changes to a file or set of files over time so that you can recall specific versions later. It is commonly used in software development to manage source code, but it can be used to keep track of changes in any type of file. Version control systems (VCS) help teams collaborate on projects by allowing multiple people to work on the same files simultaneously without overwriting each other's changes.

There are two main types of version control systems: centralized and distributed. Centralized version control systems, such as Subversion (SVN), use a single server to store all the versions of a project's files. This server acts as the central repository, and users check out files from this repository to work on them. Distributed version control systems, such as Git, allow each user to have a complete copy of the entire project's history. This means that users can work offline and commit changes to their local copy, which can then be synchronized with other users' copies.

Version control systems provide several benefits, including the ability to revert to previous versions of files, track changes made by different users, and merge changes from different branches of development. They also facilitate collaboration by allowing multiple users to work on the same project simultaneously and by providing a history of changes that can be reviewed and analyzed.

In summary, version control is an essential tool for managing changes to files over time, facilitating collaboration, and providing a history of changes that can be reviewed and analyzed. It is widely used in software development and other fields where files need to be managed and tracked over time.