Chapter 17: Source Code Management

Overview

Source code control (or version control) is typically introduced in development environments in which more than one developer needs to work with the same piece of code. It allows development organizations and their members to

• Manage code centrally

• Manage multiple versions of the same code

• Track change history

• Compare versions

• Prevent or allow developers from modifying the same piece of code at the same time

• Synchronize deployment of all modifications needed to implement a single feature or bug fix

In this chapter, I will introduce methods and tools for source code management. I will present solutions using two different approaches. One approach is for developers who have Visual Studio .NET (and who are probably doing both database and application development). The other, more traditional, approach is geared toward SQL Server specialists who are working with traditional database development tools such as Management Studio. I will use the tools that are delivered with SQL Server, as well as tools that I have developed, to automate some processes.

Microsoft provides source code control software as an integral part of its development environment under the name Visual SourceSafe. This application allows developers to control their most valuable asset—source code. You can also use the Visual SourceSafe database to manage other file types such as web content, documentation, and test data, but our focus in this chapter is on how to use Visual SourceSafe to manage database objects.