versioonihaldusele

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 applied to any type of file. Version control systems (VCS) help teams manage changes to documents, code, and other information stored as files. They allow multiple people to work on the same project simultaneously without overwriting each other's changes.

There are two main types of version control systems: centralized and distributed. Centralized version control systems (CVCS) use a single server to store all versions of files, and clients check out files from this central place. Examples include Subversion (SVN) and Perforce. Distributed version control systems (DVCS), on the other hand, do not rely on a central server. Instead, every user's working copy of the code is also a repository that can contain the full history of all changes. Examples include Git and Mercurial.

Version control systems provide several key features:

1. History: They keep a record of every change made to the files, including who made the change and when.

2. Branching and Merging: They allow developers to create branches to work on different features or bug fixes independently, and then merge these branches back into the main codebase.

3. Collaboration: They facilitate collaboration by allowing multiple people to work on the same project simultaneously and by providing tools to resolve conflicts that arise when changes overlap.

4. Backup: They serve as a backup system, as every change is recorded and can be retrieved if needed.

Version control is essential for managing the complexity of software development projects, especially those involving multiple developers. It helps ensure that the project's history is preserved, that changes can be tracked and reverted if necessary, and that collaboration is smooth and efficient.