CVS

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CVS

• Matt Brenneman

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What is CVS?

• Concurrent Versions System
• Centralized location for all your code
• Repository
• Files controlled by CVS that are stored on a
  centralized server
• It's the most popular revision control system in
  the open-source community.

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Detailed File Information

• Stores information about each file
• Version Number
• Timestamp
• Differences
• Comments

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Features

• Keeps a record of current/previous/deleted
  versions.
• Shows the difference between previous versions.
• Prevents inconsistent versions of code.

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Other Uses

• Not limited to text files.
• Useful for websites
• Images
• Binaries

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What's Bad About CVS?

• Security issues
• Steep learning curve

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Accessing a CVS Repository

• Local
• Can't access remotely
• Web based CVS browsers usually use this method
• Pserver (password server)
• Unencrypted data/password during transfer
• Uses CVS user rather than system users
• Ssh
• Encrypts the data/password during
• Some clients don't support it

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Graphical Interfaces

• gCvs - Linux client
• http//wincvs.org/index.html
• WinCvs - Windows client
• http//wincvs.org/index.html
• MacCvs - Mac client
• http//wincvs.org/index.html
• Cervisia - KDE client
• http//www.kde.org/apps/cervisia/

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Graphical Interfaces

• Pcl-cvs - Emacs Integration
• http//www.cs.utah.edu/dept/old/texinfo/cvs/pcl-cv
  s_toc.html
• ViewCVS - Online CVS browser
• http//viewcvs.sourceforge.net/
• CVSweb - Online CVS browser
• http//www.freebsd.org/projects/cvsweb.html

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Starting a New Project

• Login
• Set the CVSROOT variable
• Initialize CVS
• Import the initial code
• Logout
• See handout for examples of these steps

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Working On a Project

• Login
• Set the CVSROOT variable
• Initialize CVS
• Checkout a copy of the project
• Edit the project that was checked out
• Commit the changes to the server
• Logout
• See handout for examples of these steps

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Alternatives to CVS

• Aegis
• http//aegis.sourceforge.net/
• BitKeeper
• http//www.bitkeeper.com/
• Darcs
• http//abridgegame.org/darcs/
• Microsoft Visual SourceSafe
• http//msdn.microsoft.com/ssafe/

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Alternatives to CVS

• Monotone
• http//better-scm.berlios.de/monotone/
• Perforce
• http//www.perforce.com/
• Subversion
• http//subversion.tigris.org/
• Vesta
• http//www.vestasys.org/

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Useful Links

• Official CVS website
• http//www.nongnu.org/cvs/
• Open Source Development with CVS
• http//cvsbook.red-bean.com/cvsbook.html
• Version Control with CVS on Mac OS X
• http//developer.apple.com/internet/opensource/cvs
  overview.html
• Most information is relevant to nix

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Online Example

• http//131.118.208.200/cvsweb/cvsweb.cgi