Skip to main content

Introduction to SCMs

What is SCM?​

Source Control Management (SCM) is the practice of tracking and managing changes to software code. SCM systems help teams collaborate, maintain version history, and prevent conflicts when multiple developers work on the same project.

Why Use SCM?​

SCM provides several benefits:

  • Version Control: Keeps track of code changes and allows reversion if necessary.
  • Collaboration: Enables multiple developers to work simultaneously.
  • Branching & Merging: Facilitates independent feature development and seamless integration.
  • Backup & Security: Ensures code is stored safely and protected against accidental loss.
  • Audit & Compliance: Helps maintain records for compliance and debugging.

Key Concepts in SCM​

Versioning​

Versioning allows developers to track changes to files over time. Every modification is recorded, enabling teams to revert to previous versions if necessary. Version control helps in maintaining code integrity, tracking historical changes, and ensuring collaboration among developers working on the same project.

Staging​

Staging is the process of selecting specific changes to be included in the next commit. This helps developers organize and review changes before finalizing them. Staging provides a way to group related changes together, allowing for better commit messages and a structured approach to managing code updates.

Stashing​

Stashing temporarily stores uncommitted changes so that developers can switch branches or work on something else without losing progress. This is useful when an urgent fix or task requires shifting focus before completing the current work. Stashed changes can be reapplied later, making it easier to manage multiple tasks without cluttering the commit history.

Branching​

Branching enables developers to create separate lines of development for new features, bug fixes, or experiments without affecting the main project. Once complete, branches can be merged back into the main codebase. Branching strategies like feature branching, Gitflow, and trunk-based development allow teams to manage releases and collaborate efficiently without conflicts.

There are several SCM tools available, each with its own strengths:

1. GitHub​

GitHub is a cloud-based SCM and collaboration platform built around Git. It provides repositories, issue tracking, CI/CD integration, and a vast developer community.

2. GitLab​

GitLab is an SCM platform that offers integrated DevOps capabilities, including CI/CD pipelines, security scanning, and project management tools.

3. Bitbucket​

Bitbucket is an SCM service from Atlassian that supports both Git and Mercurial repositories. It is commonly used in enterprise environments for its integration with Jira and Confluence.

4. Azure DevOps​

Azure DevOps by Microsoft provides SCM capabilities through Git and Team Foundation Version Control (TFVC). It includes CI/CD tools, agile project management, and cloud hosting options.

Summary​

SCM plays a crucial role in modern software development, ensuring efficient collaboration, security, and version tracking. In the next tutorials, we will explore different SCM tools in depth.