Microsoft Visual SourceSafe vs Microsoft Team Foundation Server

Struggling to choose between Microsoft Visual SourceSafe and Microsoft Team Foundation Server? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Microsoft Visual SourceSafe is a Development solution with tags like source-code, versioning, multiuser.

It boasts features such as Version control system for source code, Check-in/check-out capabilities, Version history and ability to roll back changes, Multi-user access with security controls, Integration with Visual Studio IDE, File locking to prevent conflicts, Branching and merging support, Centralized repository and pros including Easy to learn and use, Tight integration with Microsoft ecosystem, Good performance for small to midsize teams, Handles text files well, Low cost compared to other commercial options.

On the other hand, Microsoft Team Foundation Server is a Development product tagged with devops, version-control, project-management, automated-builds.

Its standout features include Version Control, Work Item Tracking, Build Automation, Release Management, Test Case Management, Package Management, Reporting and Dashboards, and it shines with pros like Tight integration with other Microsoft products, Scalable for large teams and projects, Powerful branching and merging capabilities, Automated build and release pipelines, Integrated package management.

Feature	Microsoft Visual SourceSafe	Microsoft Team Foundation Server
Overall Score	N/A	N/A
Primary Category	Development	Development

Product Overview

Microsoft Visual SourceSafe

Description: Microsoft Visual SourceSafe is a version control system that allows software teams to manage source code changes. It provides versioning, check-in/check-out capabilities, and supports multi-user access.

Microsoft Team Foundation Server

Description: Microsoft Team Foundation Server is a DevOps platform that provides version control, reporting, requirements management, project management, automated builds, lab management, testing and release management capabilities.

Key Features Comparison

Microsoft Visual SourceSafe Features

• Version control system for source code
• Check-in/check-out capabilities
• Version history and ability to roll back changes
• Multi-user access with security controls
• Integration with Visual Studio IDE
• File locking to prevent conflicts
• Branching and merging support
• Centralized repository

Microsoft Team Foundation Server Features

• Version Control
• Work Item Tracking
• Build Automation
• Release Management
• Test Case Management
• Package Management
• Reporting and Dashboards

Pros & Cons Analysis

Microsoft Visual SourceSafe

Pros

• Easy to learn and use
• Tight integration with Microsoft ecosystem
• Good performance for small to midsize teams
• Handles text files well
• Low cost compared to other commercial options

Cons

• Limited scalability for large projects/teams
• No distributed version control support
• Less robust merging and branching capabilities
• Proprietary lock-in to Microsoft stack
• No longer under active development

Microsoft Team Foundation Server

Pros

• Tight integration with other Microsoft products
• Scalable for large teams and projects
• Powerful branching and merging capabilities
• Automated build and release pipelines
• Integrated package management

Cons

• Steep learning curve
• Can be expensive for smaller teams
• Limited customization options
• Not as feature-rich as some competitors

Pricing Comparison

Microsoft Visual SourceSafe

• One-time Purchase
• Subscription-Based (for some versions)

Microsoft Team Foundation Server

• Subscription-Based