what is a typical development cycle using a Version Control System (VCS)
A typical development cycle using a Version Control System (VCS) includes the following stages:
1. Initiation: The development cycle starts with the initiation phase, where a new project is created or an existing project is chosen to work on.
2. Setting up the repository: A central repository is set up using the chosen VCS, such as Git or Subversion. The repository serves as a central storage for all versions of the project files.
3. Branching: Developers create branches to work on separate features, bug fixes, or experiments without impacting the main codebase. This allows for parallel development and reduces the risk of conflicting changes.
4. Development: Developers start working on their assigned tasks within their respective branches. They make code changes/additions, introduce new features, fix bugs, etc.
5. Committing changes: Once the developers complete their work and are ready to integrate their changes into the main codebase, they commit their changes to their respective branches. These commits act as checkpoints, capturing the state of the code at different stages.
6. Code review: Code changes made by the developers are reviewed by peers or team leads to ensure quality, adherence to coding standards, and to catch any potential issues early.
7. Merging: The verified code changes from different branches are merged back into the main branch (often called the "master" branch or "trunk"). This integration process combines the changes and resolves any conflicts that may occur between different branches.
8. Continuous Integration: The merged code is then built and tested as part of continuous integration processes to identify any conflicts, errors, or issues that may have been introduced during the merge.
9. Deployment: After successful integration and testing, the code is deployed to the appropriate environment (development, staging, or production environment) for further evaluation and final release.
10. Maintenance: The project continues through cycles of development, testing, and deployment as new development tasks are assigned and the software evolves. The VCS ensures that all changes and their history are well-managed and documented throughout the development process.
Note: The exact process and stages may vary depending on the specific VCS being used, team preferences, and project requirements.