Chapter 5 Managing Source Code

Large development projects require complex coordination of the work of many programmers using common and interdependent files. Keeping track of the complex information under the Source Code Control System (SCCS) can be time-consuming and frustrating. The Sun WorkShop TeamWare source management tools provide a solution to this problem.

Extend the Sun WorkShop Compilers Fortran language systems and Sun Performance WorkShop Fortran products with Sun WorkShop TeamWare, a suite of graphical tools for source code version control, release integration, and release management.

Use Sun WorkShop TeamWare code management tools to:

• Graphically track and integrate software projects and releases

• Track versions of ASCII and binary files

• Track complete assemblies of source files

• Dramatically cut the time required to build large projects by executing build jobs in parallel on a single Solaris host

Coordinate Large Software Projects

Simplify the complex task of coordinating common and interdependent files with the Configuring tool. Choose a command-line interface (CLI) or a graphical user interface (GUI). Then copy project files from a central workspace into your own workspace, notify other team members that you're using files, make changes to files, and copy your changes back to the central workspace.

Use the Configuring tool to:

• Speed critical code management tasks, track versions of source files, integrate and build releases, and recreate prior releases using simple graphical tools

• Graphically navigate development workspaces, map development, and test and release workspaces in a hierarchical format

• Speed project integration and transfer source files between workspaces by drag and drop

• Work on multiple releases simultaneously and begin work on a new project without disturbing ongoing work

• Respond to changing project conditions and reorganize the workspace hierarchy at any time

Merge Files Easily

Use the Merging tool to merge two versions of the same source file, with or without reference to a common earlier version. You can work on the same files and compare respective versions of the files without introducing discrepancies. The Merging tool displays both versions of a file side-by-side, highlighting any differences in color. You can then automatically or selectively merge your changes into a new file, and view them in an editable window.

With the Merging tool, you can also merge entire directories or lists of files. This feature is useful when two versions of a program have diverged significantly and must be made to converge.

Coordinate File Access Easily

Take advantage of the Versioning tool, a graphical user interface to SCCS, to manipulate files and perform SCCS functions. Even if you don't know SCCS commands, this intuitive method lets you check files in and out, as well as display and move through history branches.

Use the Versioning tool to:

• Check in files under SCCS

• Check out and lock a version of the file for editing

• Retrieve copies of any version of the file from SCCS history

• Peruse the branches of an SCCS history file

• Back out changes to a checked-out copy

• Inquire about the availability of a file for editing

• Inquire about differences between selected versions using Merging

• Display the version log summarizing executed commands

Establish Milestones

During the software development process, you might want to create "freezepoints" of your work at various key junctures. These points serve as snapshots of the project that enable you to later recreate the state of the project at key development points. The Freezepointing tool creates a file that registers all source files for a given software release.

Put the Freezepointing tool to work to:

• Create a bill of materials for a workspace

• Recreate prior versions of source files

• Track and warn users of renamed files