What is the difference between all the different types of version control?

What is the difference between all the different types of version control? "After being told by at least 10 people on SO that version control was a good thing even if it's just me I now have a followup question. What is the difference between all the different types of version control and is there a guide that anybody knows of for version control that's very simple and easy to understand?"
Asked by: Guest \| Views: 346

Total answers/comments: 4

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Guest [Entry]

Eric Sink has a good overview of source control. There are also some existing questions here on SO.

Guest [Entry]

Eric Sink has a good overview of source control. There are also some existing questions here on SO.

Guest [Entry]

"To everyone just starting using version control:

Please do not use git (or hg or bzr) because of the hype

Use git (or hg or bzr) because they are better tools for managing source code than SVN.

I used SVN for a few years at work, and switched over to git 6 months ago. Without learning SVN first I would be totaly lost when it comes to using a DVCS.

For people just starting out with version control:

Start by downloading SVN
Learn why you need version control
Learn how to commit, checkout, branch
Learn why merging in SVN is such a pain

Then switch over to a DVCS and learn:

How to clone/branch/commit
How easy it is to merge your branches back (go branch crazy!)
How easy it is to rewrite commit history and keep your branchesup to date with the main line (git rebase -i, )
How to publish your changes so others can benefit

tldr; crowd:

Start with SVN and learn the basics, then graduate to a DVCS."

Guest [Entry]

"I would start with:

A Visual Guide to Version Control
Wikipedia

Then once you have read up on it, download and install SVN, TortoiseSVN and skim the first few chapters of the book and get started."