What is a version control system?

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The purpose of a version control system is to track all changes made to a file (or files). It allows you to restore them to previous versions, gives you the ability to recreate the state of the entire project, or compare the changes made. Thanks to it, we can find out who was the last to modify the part of the project that caused problems, as well as who and when made a specific modification. In short, this means that using a version control system allows you to eliminate critical situations in the project - even if a mistake is made or some data is lost, it should be easy to repair and recover them. And all this can be achieved at a relatively small cost .

Version control systems can be divided in several ways. The most popular division is based on the architecture used. We distinguish local, centralized and distributed systems. The most popular contemporary solutions belong to distributed version control systems . What does this mean? Clients, i.e. people who want to access a file, do not only get the current, latest version of all files, but also a full copy of the entire repository (a set of files and their history). A failure of one of the servers will not contribute to data loss, because each client's repository can simply be copied to this server in order to restore it to the correct state.

Why do I need all this version control?
The need to make backups is already common knowledge. The version control system is the second pillar of security . In the following part, in the discussion, we will focus on the operation of the version control system for the process of production and maintenance of the website.

Working on a project that has version control implemented is much more pleasant for the developer. It forgives mistakes, and in the development team it allows finding people responsible for a specific piece of code. It speeds up work significantly and allows performing completely different, temporarily contradictory tasks on the same page on different branches of history. Additionally, it allows non-invasive south korea telemarketing data simultaneous editing of the same files. Modified files, after appropriate verification and merging of changes, will be placed in the final version of the website intended for the client. Each line of code can be thoroughly checked and only correct code will be published on the client's server.

The use of version control does not have to end with the process of writing the website code. Making changes and adding new modules or other elements to the website, and even reverting them later - all this thanks to the version history gives the developer greater control over the website's operation. Didn't like the change? Just a few clicks and an efficient developer will restore the previous, satisfactory version.

Well, that's it!
The most popular version control system is Git. Created in 2005, it has evolved and stabilized as a tool that is easy to use. It is fast, very efficient when working with small, medium, and large projects, and has a branch system for non-linear project development. Before Git strengthened its position among developers and programmers, it competed with the Supervision (svn) system, which operates on a centralized architecture (files available only on one server). The latter had to admit Git's superiority in late 2010.

Google Trends popularity chart for git and svn

Many servers have the option of using the git system. It is worth asking your provider if they provide such a system on their server. If not, you can use free solutions such as GitHub or BitBucket . Without having to pay, we can set up a public repository, which means that everyone will have access to the files and the history of changes. The repository can be changed to a private one for an appropriate fee. If we care about privacy, it is worth investing in such a solution. We need to bear in mind certain limitations. When using an external repository, in order for changes to be tracked, they must be made on a server with git installed, e.g. on a local server with the appropriate package. Placing files on the target server can be simplified by the so-called deploy , which sends only the files that have been modified to the target server. A free (with limitations) service that allows this is DeployHQ .

And the Sharks...?
Absolutely! We successfully use the git version control system on our server . Since its introduction, it has significantly accelerated our work and had a positive impact on efficiency . Git has only advantages! If the topic has sparked your interest, we invite you to contact us !