Microsoft Visual SourceSafe vs Perforce

Struggling to choose between Microsoft Visual SourceSafe and Perforce? 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, Perforce is a Development product tagged with source-code, version-control, large-repositories.

Its standout features include Distributed version control, Scalable architecture, Access controls and permissions, Branching and merging, Shelving changes, Revert and rollback, Code review and approvals, Integrations and APIs, Build automation, and it shines with pros like Robust access controls and security, High performance with large codebases, Powerful branching capabilities, Detailed changelists and annotations, Numerous integrations and APIs, Mature and reliable system.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

Microsoft Visual SourceSafe

Microsoft Visual SourceSafe

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.

Categories:
source-code versioning multiuser

Microsoft Visual SourceSafe Features

  1. Version control system for source code
  2. Check-in/check-out capabilities
  3. Version history and ability to roll back changes
  4. Multi-user access with security controls
  5. Integration with Visual Studio IDE
  6. File locking to prevent conflicts
  7. Branching and merging support
  8. Centralized repository

Pricing

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

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


Perforce

Perforce

Perforce is a version control system used primarily by large enterprises to manage source code and other assets during product development. It excels at handling large, complex repositories with huge numbers of revisions.

Categories:
source-code version-control large-repositories

Perforce Features

  1. Distributed version control
  2. Scalable architecture
  3. Access controls and permissions
  4. Branching and merging
  5. Shelving changes
  6. Revert and rollback
  7. Code review and approvals
  8. Integrations and APIs
  9. Build automation

Pricing

  • Subscription-Based
  • Pay-As-You-Go
  • Custom Pricing

Pros

Robust access controls and security

High performance with large codebases

Powerful branching capabilities

Detailed changelists and annotations

Numerous integrations and APIs

Mature and reliable system

Cons

Steep learning curve

Expensive licensing model

Not ideal for small teams

Limited native IDE plugins

Less flexible workflows than Git