Press Release
June 19, 2003
Applying Order to Concurrent Versions: O'Reilly Releases "Essential CVS"
Sebastopol, CA--One of the greatest frustrations of most software
projects is version control. The increasingly fast pace of version
revision has only heightened the problem; consecutive work on code or
single-programmer software is a rare sight these days. Without careful
attention to version control, concurrent and collaborative work can
create more headaches than it solves.
CVS, the Concurrent Versions System, is a popular source-code
management tool that frees developers from the chaos that too often
ensues when multiple users work on the same file. "Version control is
essential in any project--even small projects," explains Jennifer
Vesperman, author of the just released book, Essential CVS (O'Reilly,
US $39.95). "CVS provided everything I needed in the way of version
control. But the documentation that is out there is out of date, or
written for people who already know CVS. The first time I used CVS I
lost another person's work. Entirely unnecessary. I wanted to buy a
book that gave an introduction for beginners, and that would clearly
explain the advanced topics as well. But it didn't exist."
"CVS is an extremely versatile tool," says Vesperman. CVS allows
multiple users to check out files from a directory tree, make changes,
and then commit those changes back into the directory. If two
developers modify the same file, CVS enables both sets of changes to be
merged together into one final file. CVS identifies changes from
multiple sources that conflict with each other and can't be resolved
automatically. Users can tag specific versions of source code files
that combine for any particular software release, allowing them to
check out that same combination of files to recreate a particular
release.
Although CVS is a lifesaver--and a timesaver--in many development
scenarios, it suffers from poor documentation. But with "Essential
CVS," developers can have it all: the order that CVS brings and the
comprehensive documentation that developers need.
"Essential CVS" is a complete and easy-to-follow reference that helps
programmers and system administrators apply order to the task of
managing large quantities of documents. The book covers basic concepts
and usage of CVS, and features a comprehensive reference for CVS
commands--including a handy Command Reference Card for quick,
on-the-job checks. The book also includes advanced information on all
aspects of CVS that involve automation, logging, branching and merging,
and "watches."
Any CVS user, from beginners to team leaders and system administrators,
will find this practical guide to CVS indispensable in getting the most
from this valuable tool.
Additional Resources:
Essential CVS
Jennifer Vesperman
ISBN 0-596-00459-1, 336 pages, $39.95 US, $61.95 CA, 28.50 UK
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938; 1-707-827-7000
About O'Reilly
O'Reilly Media spreads the knowledge of innovators through its books, online services, magazines, and conferences. Since 1978, O'Reilly Media has been a chronicler and catalyst of cutting-edge development, homing in on the technology trends that really matter and spurring their adoption by amplifying "faint signals" from the alpha geeks who are creating the future. An active participant in the technology community, the company has a long history of advocacy, meme-making, and evangelism.
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