Using integrated version control speeds code development
Good Programming Practices
The review and approval features of a VCS introduce peer review and oversight into the design process. By making developers aware of changes to key components on which their own code depends, each team member can evaluate and verify the impact to their modules before the system enters the testing phase, thereby avoiding time-consuming troubleshooting of problems that are otherwise easily recognized and addressed.
This process has the additional benefit of encouraging developers to focus on writing better and cleaner code since they know it will be reviewed by their fellow team members. In this way, a VCS shortens product time-to-market by promoting and supporting better development practices.
Comprehensive Archiving
In addition to tracking all successful changes, a VCS can manage changes which either didn’t work or are for features whose implementation has been delayed. This allows developers to come back to uncompleted work at a later date without having to begin again from scratch.
Version Control Software implements these features in the most intuitive way when it is integrated directly into the development environment. Rather than have to manage code using a separate tool, version control can be managed within the same tool suite used for writing, compiling, and debugging code.
Once a development team has their chosen VCS client installed on all development machines, (e.g. Tortoise for Subversion), each team member can easily connect to the VCS server from the Project-Version Control System menu.
From this menu, developers can access VCS features, including checking code in and out from the repository, as well as synchronize the local project with the latest files from the server.
As embedded system design continues to become more complex, companies need larger design teams to meet tighter design schedules. Rather than let the challenge of source code management reduce individual developer efficiency, Version Control Software integrated into the development environment automates systematic tracking of code changes and system requirements. By extending full version control of code to developers, a VCS facilitates the rapid flow of ideas and changes across a team to shorten test-and-fix cycles and significantly speed time-to-market.
Shawn Prestridge has served as IAR Systems Senior Field Applications Engineer since 2008. Shawn’s degree work includes a BS in Electrical Engineering, a BS in Mathematics, an MS in Electrical Engineering, an MS in Software Engineering and a PhD in Electrical Engineering specializing in Quantum Cryptography, all with Southern Methodist University in Dallas.>/i>
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