Source code management (SCM) is a critical process for modern software teams. As codebases grow and more developers collaborate on projects, tracking changes and managing versions is essential.
This definitive guide covers everything you need to know about source code management, including:
- What is source code management and why it matters
- Top 9 tools and their key capabilities
- Best practices for implementing SCM
- Common pitfalls to avoid
- How to select the ideal SCM platform
Let‘s dive in!
What is Source Code Management?
Source code management refers to tracking and controlling changes to source code over time. It gives developers the ability to:
- Review edit history
- Roll back changes
- Manage branching for features or releases
- Enable collaboration across a team
For modern agile software teams, especially distributed ones, source code management is a crucial process. It safeguards code integrity as projects scale and more developers work concurrently.
Without source code management, developers risk losing work or overwriting teammates‘ code changes. Plus, tracking down bugs becomes exponentially harder without comprehensive history.
Why is Source Code Management Important?
Here are four key reasons source code management solutions are vital for engineering teams:
1. Collaboration: SCM enables developers to simultaneously work on features and share code changes efficiently.
2. Understanding: With detailed logs and annotations, SCM gives critical context on why and how code evolved.
3. Backup: Source code repositories act as a single source of truth. No more worrying about losing code due to machine failures.
4. Organization: Branching keeps parallel efforts organized. Code reviews and approvals systematize changes.
The right source code management system streamlines development workflows. It provides oversight, structure, and peace of mind as codebases scale in complexity.
Next, let‘s explore popular SCM tools available today.
Top 9 Source Code Management Tools
Many robust SCM platforms exist to meet an organization‘s needs. Here are nine leading options with key capabilities, limitations, pricing, and ideal use cases covered.
1. GitHub
Overview: GitHub is the world‘s largest host of source code and development projects. Its powerful tools enable collaboration and project management at scale.
Key Features:
- Git version control
- Public and private repositories
- Granular user access controls
- Code review workflows
- Project boards to track issues
- CI/CD and automation integration
Pricing: Free for public repos, paid plans from $4 per user/month
Use Case: GitHub excels for developers collaborating on public or private projects. Its rich feature set suits both small and large teams.
Limitations: No built-in GUI IDE. Maximum repository size of 100GB may restrict extremely large codebases.
2. GitLab
Overview: GitLab offers an end-to-end DevOps platform with built-in git repository management, CI/CD, issue tracking, and more.
Key Features:
- Git version control
- Public and private repositories
- Integrated CI/CD pipelines
- Project planning boards
- Container registry
- Built-in Kubernetes integration
Pricing: Free for public repos, paid plans from $19 per user/month
Use Case: GitLab shines for organizations wanting an integrated DevOps toolchain. Its mix of SCM, CI/CD, and planning suits complex workflows.
Limitations: GUI IDE not included. Integration heavy instead of specialized source code focus.
3. Azure DevOps
Overview: Microsoft‘s Azure DevOps provides comprehensive services for agile development and DevOps processes.
Key Features:
- Git and TFVC version control
- Granular permissions
- Agile planning boards
- Integrated package management
- Manual and automated testing tools
- CI/CD pipelines
Pricing: Free for 5 users, paid plans from $6 per user/month with annual commitment
Use Case: Azure DevOps works well for teams deeply bought into the Microsoft ecosystem. The mix of project management, SCM, CI/CD, and testing suits end-to-end development.
Limitations: Mostly tailored towards Microsoft centric technology stack versus open source.
4. Perforce Helix Core
Overview: Perforce Helix Core offers enterprise-grade version control with support for hybrid cloud environments.
Key Features:
- Advanced branching and merging
- Replication and data backup
- Graphical diff/merge tool
- File locking
- Integrated code review
- Scalable architecture
Pricing: Free for up to 5 users. Standard paid plans start at $99 per user/year.
Use Case: Perforce shines for large engineering teams (5000+ developers) needing performance at scale. Its flexibility across on-prem, cloud, and hybrid suits complex deployments.
Limitations: Steep learning curve. Overkill for small dev teams.
5. AWS CodeCommit
Overview: Fully-managed and scalable Git-based source code repository hosted on AWS.
Key Features:
- Native Git version control
- Fine-grained permissions
- Integrations with AWS services
- High availability across multiple AZs
- Encryption at rest and in transit
Pricing: $1 per active user per month. 20GB storage included.
Use Case: CodeCommit simplifies setting up secure SCM for teams on AWS. It allows focusing on coding rather than infrastructure or servers.
Limitations: Limited to Git. Less rich features than GitHub or BitBucket.
6. Beanstalk
Overview: Version control hosting for individuals and small teams. Focused set of features.
Key Features:
- Git and Subversion support
- Public and private repositories
- Integrated issue tracking
- Code reviews and approvals
Pricing: Generous free plan. Paid plans from $10 per user/month.
Use Case: Beanstalk offers an affordable SCM solution for small teams not needing advanced capabilities. The stripped down set of features simplifies adoption.
Limitations: Lacks native CI/CD, project management boards, and advanced access controls suited for large teams.
7. SourceTree
Overview: Free Git and Mercurial desktop client for Windows and Mac.
Key Features:
- Browse repositories, stages, diffs
- Commit and push changes
- Create and merge branches
- Resolve merge conflicts
- Create and apply patches
Pricing: Free
Use Case: SourceTree brings a simple SCM GUI to developers focused on coding locally versus web tools.
Limitations: No built-in collaboration features. Merely syncs code to remote repositories.
8. SVN
Overview: Apache Subversion is an open source, centralized version control system.
Key Features:
- Version any type of file
- Efficient binary differencing algorithm
- Atomic commits
- Branching and merging
- Access control and authentication
Pricing: Free
Use Case: SVN suits teams transitioning from legacy version control systems. Its commit model better aligns to centralized systems.
Limitations: Slower performance than distributed systems. No built-in issue tracking features.
9. Plastic SCM
Overview: Distributed, cloud-based SCM focused on Windows environments.
Key Features:
- Graphical diff and merge tool
- Branching and parallel development
- Integrates with Visual Studio
- Real-time collaboration
Pricing: Free for individuals. Team pricing starts at $7 per user/month.
Use Case: Plastic SCM is ideal for Windows-centric shops needing a distributed SCM optimized for that ecosystem.
Limitations: Linux support still evolving. Less adoption among open source community.
Best Practices for Source Code Management
Beyond just picking a tool, proper processes are key to realizing benefits. Here are SCM best practices to institute:
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Require code reviews: Require developers submit pull requests with changes reviewed before releasing to main branch.
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Keep commits small: Commit frequently with smaller, well-defined changesets easing debugging.
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Branch liberally: Embrace branching to isolate efforts, then merge upon testing.
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Automate builds: Upon commits to key branches, kick off automated build and testing to detect issues early.
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Protect main branch: Restrict direct commits to primary branch to reduce risk and enforce process.
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Enforce access controls: Limit permissions so developers only access tools needed for their role.
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Monitor activity: Audit SCM activity to trace changes and maintain integrity.
Disciplined use of capabilities brings order while flexibility still empowers developers. Get the most from investments following these universal guidelines.
Pitfalls to Avoid
While crucial for modern development, poorly managed source code repositories create headaches including:
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Lack of standards: No consistent branch naming or review policies leads to disorganization.
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Direct main commits: Changes directly hitting main codebase without testing jeopardizes stability.
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Ignoring history: Review commit messages and logs to learn why code evolved before making sweeping changes.
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No backups: Without offsite replication, a server failure makes source code repositories inaccessible.
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Weak access controls: Overly broad permissions let unwanted changes be introduced, deliberately or accidentally.
Keep these common pitfalls top of mind. Even great tools can‘t offset sloppy processes or oversight.
How to Select the Right SCM Tool
With fundamentals covered, let‘s discuss how teams should evaluate options to pick ideal source code management software.
Key selection criteria include:
1. Integration Requirements
What other platforms and tools need integration? Options like GitHub and GitLab interoperate easily while specialized tools may fall short.
2. Learning Curve
Lean towards tools aligning to internal experience allowing teams to hit ground running.
3. Security Requirements
Factor permission schemes, encryption methods, and access controls needed to satisfy policies.
4. Scalability Needs
Assess repository limits, maximum file sizes, and performance at scale if project growth expected.
5. Pricing
Balance license costs against available capabilities to ensure value.
6. Ease of Administration
Consider who will run it and the complexity they can shoulder.
Evaluating against criteria makes trade-offs clear when selecting source code management systems. It reduces the risk of adopting tools poorly matched on capabilities, culture, or cost.
Future of Source Code Management
Source code management keeps evolving with services integrating new capabilities:
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AI assistance – GitHub Copilot demonstrates how AI/ML will aid developers in writing and reviewing code. Expect more suggestions on style improvements or bug detection from AI systems.
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Policy automation – Rather than manually reviewing for security and quality, tools will auto-scan code against predefined policies before allowing commits.
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Comprehensive graphs – Platforms will produce visual dependency graphs across codebases to aid understanding.
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Embedded code review – Beyond pull requests, code analysis during commits will highlight deficiencies for immediate correction.
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More automation – Tedious tasks like branch creation/merges, tagging versions, and DevOps hand-offs will happen automatically based on predefined triggers.
Source code management forms a cornerstone of modern software engineering stacks. Expect rapid innovation from leading vendors competing in the space.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Source code management empowers developers to innovate quickly while keeping projects organized. It tames growing complexity inevitable as systems evolve and teams scale.
Hopefully this guide provided helpful context across:
- Why SCM matters
- Leading tool options
- Implementation best practices
- Trends in capabilities
As workloads become more distributed while software lifecycles accelerate, few technology investments prove higher return than source code management.
Teams should start by articulating must-have use cases and priorities. That frames key considerations when weighing the solutions covered here.
Focus on fundamentals – disciplined processes around branching, testing, and reviews – and augment with platforms automating menial tasks. Consistent governance of repositories avoids headaches as development scales up.
Are you looking to implement a robust source code management strategy? What features seem most appealing from the options outlined? I welcome your questions and feedback below!
