CVS - Concurrent Versions System

CVS is a program that allows software developers to keep track of different development versions of their code. In the lab, CVS is used to manage versions of the experimental GUI code.

The Principle

The GUI code is kept on a computer designated as the repository. To modify the GUI one checks out the file out of the repository; this creates a copy of the file in a personal folder used for development and testing. After the modifications are satisfactory, the new file is checked back into the repository, after which a new version of the GUI is released for use by the lab.

Configuring CVS

1. Request access to the repository computer.
2. Ensure that CVS and SSH are in stalled on the machine where you will be developing code. (Presently, we use TortoiseCVS and SSH Client 3.2.9 to communicate with the repository.)
3. Follow these instructions to configure the SSH client on your workstation.

TortoiseCVS integrates with the Windows explorer. After the SSH client is configured complete the CVS customization as follows.

1. Open a window and browse to a disk that is local to your workstation. (Example: Click on Start > My Computer > Double click on C:)
2. Right-click in an empty are in the window.
3. Within the menu list that shows up, follow CVS Checkout...
4. Fill out the Module tab as shown below. (From the sample below, you will have to change the user name to that of your own.)

<String 2> Your user name on the repository machine.
<String 1> :ext:<String 2>@portal.proteomics.mcgill.ca:/opt/repository

Run the Preferences application from TortoiseCVS in the program menu.

Fill in the Main tab as shown below. (Configure the Folder overlay icons drop-down list and check off Autoload changed Folder icons.)

Fill in the Tools tab as shown below. (Setup the Diff application box according to the file comparison tool installed on your workstation (leave blank if none installed) and setup the SSH application (:ext: only) box.)

After you have made the above changes log off of your worksation then log back in.

Last modified: 2010 04 23 RW