Article

CVS Users Find Favor with Quartet™ 3.0

There seems to be many CVS users out there who desire to evolve their SCM solution to the next level. An SCM Solution doesn't mean strictly a tool, but process and people as well. To migrate to the next level oftentimes means looking for a more integrated technology to support a more complete end-to-end process. It's also worth noting that a more complete end-to-end process doesn't mean a solution that slows down productivity - quite the contrary.

Quartet™ 3.0 is finding favor with customers who are in this position. This release now offers all of the basic Version Control features that CVS users enjoy plus the right amount of higher level features and integrations to meet the needs of those wanting to grow their SCM capability.

Quartet™ 3.0 now offers the ability to configure your project to support "optimistic locking" or "copy/modify/merge", a feature that is central to CVS functionality. Like CVS, the user can merge repository differences directly into their workspace, where they then verify the merged changes before committing the merged results back into the repository.

Other popular Version Control features provided by CVS include workspace updates, group check-ins containing change comments, branching and labeling functionality, and a command line to provide the ability to automate complex processes not offered as a feature in CVS out of the box.

So why are ex-CVS users so jazzed about Quartet™ 3.0? It's because Quartet™ 3.0 offers all the same Version Control features as CVS with the just enough additional features to mature your overall solution to the next level. Quartet™ 3.0 provides a complete end-to-end SCM solution offering lower cost administration over time. It's features like:

• Built in release management
• Integration with your build environments
• Target Management
• The ability to change file names without affecting history to support refactoring
• Cruise Control like features to support continuous integration
• Self contained workspace context
• Tracking of dependencies between releases of different projects
• Event Notifications/File Attachments/Robust Security
• Transactional
• Knowledgeable, responsive and friendly support

I think we can all agree that no single tool can meet everyone's needs. The process that you implement should certainly drive your SCM tool decision. Most of the CVS users who are enjoying the additional features provided by Quartet™ 3.0 are finding just the right amount of enhanced, higher level features to support their maturing process but still focused on maximizing team productivity. Customers who have had great success with Quartet™ typically fall into one of the following camps:

• They need a solution that supports a light-weight process, is easy to implement and focuses on improved productivity while keeping track of change;
• They need a common solution to support multi-platform environments;
• They are looking to upgrade from ad-hoc or version control only tools to something more comprehensive without spending tons of money.

If you'd like to take your SCM Solution (people, process, technology) to the next level start by defining a more robust end-to-end SCM process. This process will require a more integrated end-to-end SCM technology. Quartet™ 3.0 is designed to meet the needs of evolving SCM processes while keeping developer productivity in mind. Evaluate Quartet™ 3.0 today.

Steve Konieczka is President and Chief Operating Officer of SCM Labs, a leading Software Configuration Management solutions provider. An IT consultant for 14 years, Steve understands the challenges IT organizations face in change management. He has helped shape companies' methodologies for creating and implementing effective SCM solutions for local and national clients. Steve is a member of Young Entrepreneurs Organization and serves on the board of the Association for Configuration and Data Management (ACDM). He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from Colorado State University.

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