Versioning

Versioning is the practice of keeping track of different versions of a file or software. This allows users to easily access older versions should something go wrong, or if they would like to compare two versions. Versioning also allows users to roll back changes that have been made, or to identify which changes were made in each version. There are several different types of versioning, including:

• Major/Minor Versioning: Major/minor versioning is used to identify major changes to a file or software, such as a new feature or bug fix. The major version number will increase when a major change has been made and the minor version number will increase when a minor change has been made. For example, the version number for a file or software could be represented as 5.4, with 5 being the major version number and 4 being the minor version number.
• Patch Versioning: Patch versioning is used to identify bug fixes to a file or software. The patch version number will increase when a bug fix has been made. For example, the version number for a file or software could be represented as 5.4.3, with 5 being the major version number, 4 being the minor version number, and 3 being the patch version number.
• Commit Versioning: Commit versioning is used to identify changes to a file or software. Each time a change is made, a commit version number is incremented. For example, the version number for a file or software could be represented as 7.4.2.1, with 7 being the major version number, 4 being the minor version number, 2 being the patch version number, and 1 being the commit version number.

Overall, versioning is an important practice that allows users to keep track of changes to a file or software, as well as access previous versions and roll back changes.

Examples (Types) of Versioning

• Major/Minor Versioning: Major/minor versioning is a type of versioning used to identify major changes to a file or software. The major version number indicates a major change, such as the addition of a new feature or bug fix, while the minor version number indicates a minor change, such as a bug fix or cosmetic change. For example, the version number for a file or software could be represented as 5.4, with 5 being the major version number and 4 being the minor version number.
• Patch Versioning: Patch versioning is a type of versioning used to identify bug fixes to a file or software. The patch version number will increase when a bug fix has been made. For example, the version number for a file or software could be represented as 5.4.3, with 5 being the major version number, 4 being the minor version number, and 3 being the patch version number.
• Commit Versioning: Commit versioning is a type of versioning used to identify changes to a file or software. Each time a change is made, a commit version number is incremented. For example, the version number for a file or software could be represented as 7.4.2.1, with 7 being the major version number, 4 being the minor version number, 2 being the patch version number, and 1 being the commit version number.

When to use Versioning

Versioning is a useful tool for keeping track of changes to a file or software. It is especially useful for software development and for tracking changes to documents. Versioning can be used to identify which changes have been made to a file or software, as well as to identify which version of the file or software is currently in use. Versioning can also be used to roll back changes that have been made, or to compare two versions of a file or software. Versioning is also useful for archiving older versions of a file or software.

Steps of Versioning

Versioning consists of several steps to ensure that changes are tracked and recorded properly. These steps include:

• Assigning a Version Number: The first step in versioning is to assign a version number to a file or software. This will allow users to identify the version and compare it to other versions.
• Creating a Version Log: The second step in versioning is to create a version log. This log should contain all of the changes that have been made to the file or software, as well as the date and time the changes were made.
• Updating the Version Number: The third step in versioning is to update the version number. This should be done each time a change is made to the file or software so that users can easily identify the version they are using.
• Documenting the Change: The fourth step in versioning is to document the change. This should include a description of the change, as well as any additional information that may be relevant.

Advantages of Versioning

Versioning has many advantages, including:

• Improved Collaboration and Communication: Versioning allows multiple users to collaborate on a file or software and communicate about changes that have been made. This makes it easier for teams to work together, as users can easily refer to previous versions when discussing changes.
• Improved Quality Control: Versioning allows users to easily identify bugs and other issues, as well as easily roll back changes that have been made. This makes it easier to identify and fix issues, as well as maintain a high quality of the file or software.
• Easier to Manage Updates: Versioning makes it easier to manage updates, as users can easily identify which changes have been made and when they were made. This makes it easier to keep track of changes and ensure that users are always using the latest version.

Limitations of Versioning

Although versioning is a helpful practice, it does have some limitations. First, versioning is not always effective when dealing with large files or software. This is because it can be difficult to store multiple versions of a large file or software, and it can also be time consuming to go back and forth between versions.

Second, versioning can be complicated when dealing with multiple users. This is because if multiple users are accessing the same file or software, there can be conflicts between versions. If one user makes a change to a version that another user has already changed, it can cause issues.

Finally, versioning can be expensive. This is because a lot of storage space and resources are needed to store multiple versions of a file or software. Additionally, versioning software can be expensive to purchase.

Other approaches related to Versioning

In addition to the three types of versioning discussed above, there are also several other approaches related to versioning that are used to keep track of changes to a file or software. These include:

• Semantic Versioning: Semantic versioning is used to identify changes to a file or software using a three-part version number composed of a major version, minor version, and patch version. This type of versioning uses a specific syntax to denote changes, such as major.minor.patch.
• Branch Versioning: Branch versioning is used to keep track of different versions of a file or software that are stored in different branches on a version control system. This type of versioning allows users to easily access different versions of a file or software stored in different branches.
• Time-based Versioning: Time-based versioning is used to keep track of changes to a file or software by assigning each version a unique timestamp. This type of versioning allows users to easily access different versions of a file or software stored at different times.

Versioning — recommended articles

Kanban card — Cost coding — Information richness — Boolean search — Large-scale scrum — Andon cord — Pos terminal — Subsystem — Final project report

References

• Shapiro, C., & Varian, H. R. (1998). Versioning: the smart way to. Harvard business review, 107(6), 107.
• Brosch, P., Kappel, G., Langer, P., Seidl, M., Wieland, K., & Wimmer, M. (2012). An introduction to model versioning. Formal Methods for Model-Driven Engineering: 12th International School on Formal Methods for the Design of Computer, Communication, and Software Systems, SFM 2012, Bertinoro, Italy, June 18-23, 2012. Advanced Lectures, 336-398.