/ acm / sigsoft / cvs workshop / Nov '96
What is CVS?
Concurrent Versions System
CVS is a version control system. It allows you to record the history of
your source files.
What does it do?
- CVS stores previous versions of files efficiently
- CVS allows a group of people to work on the same code
- CVS allows easy retrieval of old versions
- CVS runs on UNIX, Windows (95 or NT), Macintosh, or VMS
CVS is not ...
- CVS is not a build system
- CVS is not a substitute for management
- CVS is not a substitute for developer communication
How is it different from RCS or SCCS
- RCS or SCCS use a lock-modify-unlock model
- CVS allows several developers to work on sources at once
- CVS is layered on top of RCS
- CVS can work as a client-server system
More Information
CVS is a large and complex system that is very powerful. To be able to
use all of its capabilities well, you should take time to read the manual.
This workshop will provide a basic overview of CVS and how to use it.
Consult the manual (and the man pages) for more extensive information.
A postscript version of the CVS 1.9 manual is available here.