Re: Delphi version control

From: Johann E (johanne_at_myhimbe.nomail.net)
Date: 12/18/04 

Date: Sat, 18 Dec 2004 23:22:46 +0200

Jeremy Collins wrote:
>
> Finally, anyone out there who is not using some sort of revision
> control system, START TODAY! There's no excuse not to, even if
> you're a single developer.

When we are talking about single developer projects, then shortly, what
exactly is so important in version controlling, that should be managed
by some third party app?

Currently I just simply pack all my project files to a ZIP, usually on a
daily basis. For years I have done a ZIP-package when ever I compile and
ship new version to a client. Then later I burn these ZIPs to a CD.
I can restore any client's shipped project from any year and day, from
those ZIP archives.

I don't even use any fancy WinZip, but the old command mode PkZip that
is able to handle long file names. I have written some simple .BAT files
that I call, and I know PkZip will be humble in collecting all the
directories and subirectories I want to archive.

Yet I know the limitations of this. I am not packing the exact VCL
library source with it's version state, and also not packing every third
party component's source to those ZIP files. That's why I am able to
restore only _nearly_ the original situation.

I wonder if those commercial or free version control systems do better
job than this? If you use them, are you able to restore exactly the same
Delphi enviroment, let's say from the spring of year 2003? With all the
VCL-librariers, ActiveX components and DLL file versions etc?

Doing mainly single development work, I have used this ZIP-archiving
system for years, and even though it's archaic, I have been fairly
satisfied with it. I don't know it had failed ever:)

But I am willing to abandon it, and take something else in, if I hear
good reasons for that. So, what benefits would a version control system
bring to a single developer, compared to that simple ZIP-archiving?

And how good are those good, commercial version control systems in
practice? Beside the simple project files, are those tools better in
restoring also the exact Delphi environment and maybe also Windows
development environment to a exact situation two years backward?

Thanks for any comments.

Johann

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