Version Control

What is Version Control?

Version Control, also known as source code management, uses tools to track changes or edits made to source code over time. Version control enables fast and efficient collaboration between developers while maintaining code integrity, allowing software development teams to work without fear of code conflicts.

Version control, explained

Version control systems (VCS) allow teams to back up and archive the source code of their projects. This makes it easier to review and make edits to the repository or restore previous versions in the event of a build-breaking error.

Version control is the systematic process of tracking and managing updates to source code and assets. Version control systems are foundational for efficient workflows, acting as the single source of truth for programmers, artists, and other team members while allowing everyone to contribute to a shared codebase independently. They also act as a safety net, making it possible to “undo” code updates if a catastrophic error is introduced during development.

Factors like a team’s size and geographic distribution can influence which version control systems a game developer might choose to implement. Individual developers may find that a local solution is all they need to stay on track, while larger teams should look for a more robust and scalable version control system that helps them collaborate across time zones and geographies.

Version control also supports the ability to create branches. A branch is a single copy of code managed within a VCS. By creating branches, developers and other team members can work independently of one another within separate streams. Version control helps developers work collaboratively and in sync in a shared codebase.

Why is version control important?

Version control systems are a central pillar of DevOps, allowing teams to collaborate and rapidly iterate on a project’s source code.

Working with version control means always having a backup. Individual project updates are gathered periodically into a singular group, known as a “commit,” before being merged into the main source code. A version control software is essential for tracking every modification to each project file. If a mistake or regression is made, users can return to an earlier version of that file almost instantly. Version control also provides a log of all changes, who made the changes, and every iteration of each change. With a version control system in place, all stakeholders and team members can work seamlessly on many files simultaneously. Version control systems allow you to merge all the code edits and changes into one centralized repository.

With access to a full project history and the ability to undo mistakes, version control systems simplify bug tracking and make it easier to restore previously removed features.