[svlug] Source Control opinioins

[Tim Flagg]

Alan,

Regarding compared to a centralized VCS:

A couple advantages of the distributed VCS over a centralized VCS:

   - Private branches are fast and easy to create.  The result: you can
   switch quickly from a branch where you're implementing a new feature to a
   branch to fix a bug, then back again.
   - The Distributed VCS is usable when not connected to the server or
   network, with the local repository containing the full project history.

The Distributed VCS design is faster and more powerful even with traditional
hosted model.  Not because most people use a true distributed VCS but the
fact that a Distributed VCS solution must be usable when not connected to
the server means that the Distributed VCS doesn't (and can't) contact the
server for routine things.  The result is a Distributed VCS will be faster.

Regarding compared to other distributed distributed VCS:

Some other Distributed Version Control Systems are quite good and comparable
in many respects.  A couple of of git's advantages:

   - Git is built like Linux: Instead of one monolithic command, git has
   many small commands that can be used together to get a more flexible,
   powerful result.
   - Git is faster than its competitors at most if not all tasks:
   http://whygitisbetterthanx.com/#git-is-fast

Then look at the the explosive growth of git and GitHub.  The high adoption
rate of git is likely partly due to the fact that Linus Torvalds created git
and the Linux kernel uses git,  giving it wider visibility and then
spreading to many other projects:
https://git.wiki.kernel.org/index.php/GitProjects

Tim Flagg
timf at akirisol.com
(650) 383-7302
www.akirisol.com
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