In this blog post, we will look at why version control is essential for large-scale software development and how it helps with collaboration and maintenance.
The importance of software development and version control
Today, the scale of software is increasing exponentially. As the performance and penetration of computers and the Internet have increased, the number of users has grown significantly, and various tasks are now being handled by computers. In response to these technological advances and changes in the environment, users are demanding more functionality, faster speeds, and more accurate and secure software. To meet these expectations, the scale and complexity of software are increasing. For example, Windows NT 3.1, released in 1993, had 4-5 million LOC (lines of code), while Windows XP, released in 2001, had about 45 million LOC. This shows how rapidly software is growing in size.
As software has grown in size, the development process has also become more complex, and projects that were initially carried out by individuals or a small number of people are expanding into large-scale projects involving dozens to hundreds of developers. This change has increased the time and cost required for development, while at the same time making it more difficult to manage and maintain personnel, making it a challenge to successfully complete software. In fact, while the average success rate of software projects in the last five years has been about 30%, the success rate of large-scale projects is only about 8%. To increase this low success rate and maintain an efficient development process, tools were needed to automate project management and problem solving, and as a result, various tools were developed, including version control programs, issue tracking and management tools, and continuous integration (CI) tools. Among these, version control programs, represented by Git and Subversion, are very useful for solving problems related to project maintenance.
In this article, I will explain the three main features provided by version control programs and the advantages of using them. This will give you a deeper understanding of the importance and role of version control in software development.
First, the task history and tracking feature
The version control program keeps a record of all the processes that take place in the public workspace. From small things like fixing typos to large things like creating and deleting folders, the work must be recorded, and a detailed explanation must be written to reflect it, which must then be approved by the project manager. Software development can be compared to the process of multiple architects completing a single blueprint. Here, “reflecting one’s work in the public workspace” is like an architect submitting a working drawing and revised design to the overall project manager.
Example
Title: Installation of additional windows in the first floor lobby
Description: Additional windows were installed to improve the lighting and ventilation of the first floor lobby.
The manager reviews the working drawing and revised design and, if he or she deems it appropriate, reflects the changes. If the explanation is not understood or deemed unnecessary, the architect will discuss it with the client to decide whether to include it in the final version. The version control program systematically records all the information in this process, including the “draft,” “revised parts of the blueprint,” “discussion,” and “draft creator,” so that it is easy to answer questions such as “who worked on this part?” and “why was this part designed this way?”
This record-keeping reduces the cost and time required to fix errors or fix unnecessary parts. This process makes maintenance more efficient and helps developers prevent major problems in projects.
Second, the merge and synchronization function
A large software project consists of several independent parts, each of which performs a specific function. For example, even a simple game software is divided into modules that output the screen, process sound, manage the flow of the game, read and store data, and so on. These various modules must work independently while reflecting changes made to each other, and this synchronization process is very complex and prone to errors.
Version control programs provide powerful merging and synchronization features in such situations. For example, if a developer updates a specific screen of game software, other developers will not be able to see the changes on their screens until the changes are reflected. Therefore, to make it easy for other workers to reflect the new content and to prevent conflicts or duplication of work, version control programs provide a feature that allows each worker to update their work by merging their work. This is an essential feature for managing large projects that require independent tasks to be carried out simultaneously.
Third, project recovery and rollback features
While working on a project, there are often situations where existing features need to be replaced with new ones or where the project needs to be reverted to a previous version before an error occurred. In such cases, version control programs provide the ability to return to a specific point in the project, making it easy to recover from errors and upgrade.
For example, if you accidentally paint a window while painting a black wall, it would be more efficient to restore the window to its original state before you start painting than to restore the wall. Using a version control program makes it easy to recover from errors in this way, and further development can be done more systematically.
The Importance and Usability of Version Control Programs
The automated features provided by version control programs solve various problems that arise as the size of software grows. This increases the productivity of the project and improves the quality by providing an environment where developers can focus on their core tasks. It can also be applied to various computer-based tasks, such as document work, Photoshop, and small projects for assignments, as well as large-scale software development, helping many people work more efficiently in a more comfortable environment.
Recognizing the importance of version control tools and making good use of them is an important factor in increasing the overall success of a project, not just in writing code. Software developers, designers, planners, and students can all maximize their work efficiency with these tools.
