Suggestions please for a home version control system

Question

I have a home project that really needs to be in Source Control. I tried installing Subversion, which I have some experience with, but couldn\'t get it working. I don\'t parti

Answer 1

It's not really in vogue anymore but I've had great success using CVS for version control. I keep a 'code' folder with all my code snippets in various languages, as well as all my personal home projects in a CVS repository. CVS is older and doesn't work as well as other systems with renaming or restructuring the folders/files. On the flip side, the fact that it's been around so long means there are many ports and GUI applications for it, as well as integration packages for IDEs, etc. I've been very happy with it for the past several years that I've been using it, despite any shortcomings.

Answer 2

I can't believe nobody has mentioned GIT.

It's ideal for what you are looking for. Each working directory becomes a repository. It's a simple case of changing to your project dir. Init'ing and Committing then start working. Has some neat features for branching and merging.

Answer 3

You can use Subversion without the hassle of a server installation.

Just download TortoiseSVN and create a local repository in a folder that you prefer. Use the same client to do updates, commits...

More info: link1 / link2

Answer 4

You should at least look at the open source fossil VCS www.fossil-scm.org it can work as both DVCS and a client server VCS.

• Simple to install, a single executable.
• Simple to backup, it is a single SQLLITE repository.
• Simple to take your repository with you anywhere, I run fossil from a thumb drive and can now take my personal code anywhere my thumb drive goes.

Right now it does not have a GUI interface, but I am sure there will be one sometime in the future.

If you play around with fossil you will find that using command line VCS is not as complicated as it might seem.

Answer 5

I know you mentioned you already tried Subversion and had some issues but you really can't beat the easy install & configuration of

VisualSVN Server

Insanely easy to setup & maintain.

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Use VisualSVN for the back-end and TortoiseSVN for the client and you'll be up and running in no time.

Plus you can always do an svndump of the VisualSVN repository if you want to switch to something else down the road.

Answer 6

Perforce has a free two user version. Excellent product. http://www.perforce.com/

2012 Update: There now a free 20 user version, still excellent, with new features.