Version control systems (VCS) are tools that help software development teams manage changes to source code over time. They allow developers to track revisions and changes, collaborate efficiently, and maintain a history of code development for later reference.
In collaborative environments, keeping track of multiple versions of code can be challenging. Version control systems solve this by allowing developers to work on separate branches, merge changes, and resolve conflicts that arise from simultaneous edits. This helps in maintaining the integrity and history of the codebase.
Git is currently the most widely used version control system, praised for its distributed nature and efficiency in handling changes. Other systems include Mercurial and Apache Subversion (SVN).
Version control is a fundamental aspect of best coding practices, as it allows developers to keep track of changes, revert to previous states, and collaborate on code with reduced risk of conflicts and errors.
In DevOps, version control systems play a crucial role in managing code across different environments, supporting automated testing, and enabling continuous deployment strategies.