2-Version software: Best VCS approach?

Question

I suppose I\'d better explain my situation:

I\'m in the process of developing some software, and I\'m at the stage where I\'d like to split my project into two branches

Answer 1

I handle that exact case myself for a paid app and trial version that have the same codebase. I am using SVN, but any version control software that supports branching would work.

I created a branch for the trial version from the trunk.

Then I modified the trial verion's AndroidManifest.xml to change the package name, adding .trial on the end. I then had to also update all the activity java files to reference the correct R class.

My paid app package is com.hewittsoft.baby
My trial app package is com.hewittsoft.baby.trial

In my activities on the trial I branch I do this

import com.hewittsoft.baby.trial.R;

and that causes any references to R.id.textField (or whatever) to work.

After I did those steps I can develop on the main branch and then merge over any changes into the trial version without too much pain.