Version Control
Definition.
Version Control: A class of systems responsible for managing changes to computer programs, documents, large web sites, or other collections of information.
In More Detail
Version control records how a codebase reached its current state, which is what makes reverting a bad change a routine operation instead of an emergency.
Branching lets work proceed in parallel without half-finished changes reaching production. The convention matters less than picking one and keeping it: what breaks teams is not the wrong branching model but an inconsistently applied one.
In Practice
Git is the specific implementation I use on every project — see the Git Version Control entry for how that plays out day to day.
Related Terms
Browse the full software development glossary, or see the frequently asked questions.
If you are working out whether this applies to your own project, the case studies show where it turned up in real builds, services lists what I take on, and pricing gives the starting figures.
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