CVS (Concurrent Versions System)

CVS: Version Control Software

Concurrent Versions System (CVS) allows multiple developers to collaborate on shared codebases, tracking revisions and enabling merging changes from multiple authors through a central repository storing the latest version of code.

What is CVS (Concurrent Versions System)?

CVS (Concurrent Versions System) is one of the earliest open source version control systems. It allows multiple developers to work on the same codebase concurrently by maintaining a central repository that stores the latest revision of the files. Developers "check out" copies of the files, work on them independently, and "commit" their changes back to the repository.

Some key features of CVS include:

• Version tracking - CVS records all changes made to the code over time so you can reference or restore any previous deployed version
• Concurrent development - Developers can work in parallel on the same files without risk of overwriting each other's changes. CVS will merge code appropriately on commit.
• Code branching - You can create branches to isolate new development from finished work or to maintain separate streams of changes.
• Decentralized operation - Developers can commit changes regardless of network connectivity. The changes will sync with the central repository once connectivity is restored.

While very popular in the 1990s/2000s, CVS has since been superseded by more modern and flexible version control systems like Git and SVN. But it still remains in use at some large organizations due to legacy deployments.

CVS (Concurrent Versions System) Features

Official Links