Source Control Plug-in Glossary

The following helpful terms and definitions pertain to the Source Control Plug-in SDK documentation.

Definitions

  • Checkin
    When a user makes changes to a working copy, a user must send changes from the working copy into the central source control repository. This creates a new revision of the file that is available to other users. This process is called a checkin.

  • Checkout
    The act of requesting a working copy from the repository, informing the repository of your intent to modify it. A working copy reflects the state of the project as of the moment it is checked out.

  • Client
    A program that uses the source code control system. For the purpose of this documentation, it is the Visual Studio IDE.

  • Comment
    A message describing the changes that a user can attach to a revision when a source control operation is performed.

  • Conflict
    A situation when two users try to check in changes to the same region of the same file. Typically, a merge must be performed.

  • Directory
    A client-side local folder is referred to as a directory. This is the copy in which a user actually makes changes. There can be many working copies of a given project; generally each developer has his or her own copy.

  • Get
    A get operation brings the user's working copy up to date with the repository copy. Unlike a checkout, a get is performed when the user simply needs the latest copy but intends to make no changes.

  • History
    It is typically a summary of all checkouts, checkins, updates, tags, and releases done in the source control repository.

  • IDE
    Generally refers to the Visual Studio Integrated Development Environment. However, it could also refer to other client environments that recognize the Source Control Plug-in API.

  • Merge
    The process during which two or more source code files are combined to form a new file that incorporates all features from previous files. This concept is vital in version control where two or more developers work on files concurrently.

  • Project
    A source control folder is often referred to as a project. This does not have any relationship with projects or solutions in Visual Studio.

  • Plug-in
    A DLL that provides source control functionality by implementing the Source Control Plug-in API.

  • Repository
    The master copy where a source control system stores a project's full revision history. Each project has exactly one repository.

  • Revision
    A committed change in the history of a file or set of files. A revision is one snapshot in a continuously changing project.

See Also

Other Resources

Source Control Plug-ins