Microsoft Visual SourceSafe icon

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.

What is Microsoft Visual SourceSafe?

Microsoft Visual SourceSafe is a version control application originally created by Microsoft. It allows software development teams to manage changes to source code over time. Key features of Visual SourceSafe include:

  • Version control - Stores multiple versions of code so developers can roll back changes if needed
  • Check-in/Check-out - Developers can lock files while editing so multiple developers don't overwrite each other's changes
  • Multi-user access - Allows many developers to collaborate by accessing the same code repository
  • Atomic commits - Related file changes get committed together as a single unit
  • Security permissions - Admins can control user access to different projects/folders
  • Graphical user interface - Visual tools for comparing file versions, merging code, examining history

Visual SourceSafe integrates with Microsoft Visual Studio to provide a seamless version control experience. However, it lacks more advanced features offered by distributed version control systems like Git. It is no longer under active development, having been replaced by Team Foundation Version Control.

The Best Microsoft Visual SourceSafe Alternatives

Top Apps like Microsoft Visual SourceSafe

TortoiseSVN, Microsoft Team Foundation Server, Mercurial SCM, Perforce, ZenTao, Apache Subversion, VisualSVN, AnkhSVN, Plastic SCM, darcs, Rational ClearCase, Birevision Visual Revision Tracking System, uberSVN are some alternatives to Microsoft Visual SourceSafe.

TortoiseSVN

TortoiseSVN is a free, open source client for the Subversion version control system on Windows. It integrates directly into Windows Explorer, enabling users to perform version control actions via simple right-click context menus rather than having to use the command line client or an external GUI.Key features of TortoiseSVN...

Microsoft Team Foundation Server

Microsoft Team Foundation Server (TFS) is a DevOps platform from Microsoft that provides a range of version control, reporting, requirements management, project management, automated build, lab management, testing and release management capabilities for software development teams to track code, bugs and issues. TFS helps manage Agile or Waterfall development processes...

Mercurial SCM

Mercurial is a free, distributed source control management system designed for efficient and reliable control of source code and other revision-controlled assets. Key features of Mercurial include:Distributed peer-to-peer architecture, allowing decentralized and collaborative developmentRobust branching and merging capabilities to support complex workflowsSecure, encrypted repositories with integrated access controlPowerful integrations...

Perforce

Perforce is a proprietary version control system developed by Perforce Software. It is popular among large enterprises, especially game studios, manufacturers, and semiconductor companies, to manage their digital assets and source code.Some key features of Perforce include:Excellent scaling for extremely large codebases with millions of files and revisionsAdvanced...

ZenTao

ZenTao is an open-source, self-hosted Agile/Scrum project management software. It includes features for bug tracking, task management, release planning, continuous integration, project documentation and code review.Key features of ZenTao include:Customizable Scrum and Kanban boards to visualize workflows and track progressProduct, story/feature, sprint and release planning toolsIssue...

Apache Subversion

Apache Subversion (often abbreviated SVN) is a software versioning and revision control system distributed as free and open source software. Software developers use Subversion to maintain current and historical versions of files such as source code, web pages, and documentation. Its goal is to be a mostly compatible successor to...

VisualSVN

VisualSVN is a Windows program that helps administrate and manage Subversion (SVN) servers. Some key features of VisualSVN include:Easy-to-use graphical interface for managing Subversion repositories, users, and settings without needing to edit configuration files manuallyTight integration with the Windows user database - user accounts and access permissions can leverage...

AnkhSVN

AnkhSVN is an open-source Subversion extension and plugin for Microsoft Visual Studio. It integrates version control capabilities into the IDE, allowing developers to access and manage their Subversion repositories and perform version control tasks without leaving Visual Studio.Some of the key features of AnkhSVN include:Commit, update, revert, diff...

Plastic SCM

Plastic SCM is a distributed version control system designed for teams of developers working on Windows, Linux and Mac platforms. Some key features of Plastic SCM include:High performance - Plastic SCM is optimized for large, active projects with thousands of files and frequent commits from multiple simultaneous users. It...

Darcs

darcs is an advanced distributed revision control system that differs fundamentally from systems like Git and Mercurial in its underlying theory. While darcs shares common functionality with other version control tools like committing and branching/merging changes, it is built on a unique algebra of patches and provides innovative features...

Rational ClearCase

Rational ClearCase is a revision control and software configuration management tool originally developed by Atria Software and acquired by Rational Software, which was later acquired by IBM. ClearCase provides version control for source code and other software development assets.Some key features of ClearCase include:Allows parallel development - multiple...

Birevision Visual Revision Tracking System

Birevision is a visual revision tracking and version control software designed for development teams who want an easy way to visually track changes in their source code over time. It integrates deeply with source control systems like Git, SVN, Mercurial, and Perforce to extract revision information and generate visual difference...

UberSVN

uberSVN is an open-source web interface for the Subversion (SVN) version control system. It allows users to access, manage, and collaborate on SVN repositories through a web browser instead of the command line client.Some key features of uberSVN include:Web-based access to repositories for browsing source code, logs, diffs...