RE: Multiple developers in one work area

[Rex_Jolliff]

Tony Wrote:
>I've a new CVS user but an old hand at DEC's CMS code management system.
>The latter was very good about allowing multiple people in one area.  CVS
>isn't so strong there.

In my opinion this is basically bunk.  CMS is roughly equivalent to RCS, and
in the same vein supports the locking development philosophy.  From my memory
there is nothing magical about CMS's support for multiple developers working
out of the same developement directory.

>I think it is because old-tyme Unix hacks tended
>to be lone programmers working on smaller projects and therefore didn't need a
>strong cooperative system.  CVS was born because programs were getting more
>complex and the more traditional businesses were beginning to use Unix.  In
>this Brave New Environment, however, the lone-coder model doesn't work so
>well.

UNIX programmers, many of which were not the lone programmers you make them out
to be, had a code management system based on the locking philosophy.
Fortunately,
someone finally stepped back from it and realized that there was a better way
to handle code management.  This is why CVS was born.

>That being said, I think CVS should be used in any event 'cause it is the
>best thing Linux has, currently, and irritating code management is much Much
>MUCH better than none at all.

If you want a code management system based on locking files, use RCS or SCCS.
There are also other alternatives that give the other features you are looking
for, but at a cost.  It is your choice if you wish to remain in the dark ages
of code management.

Rex.