Source Control Basics

Source control refers to a system in which a central piece of server software stores and tracks file versions, and also controls access to files. A typical source control system includes a source control provider and two or more source control clients.

A source control provider provides archiving, versioning, and control facilities for a dynamically defined set of files. The provider stores the differences between versions, as well as crucial information about the version: when it was created, when it was modified, and by whom. When several people are working on the same file, they must use the same code page, so that versions can be accurately compared.

To avoid conflicting file versions, a source control provider controls file access, enforcing a protocol by which users who want to modify a file must check it out. If a file is checked out exclusively, only the user who checked it out can modify it. When the file is checked back in, that file becomes the latest available version.

File check outs, check ins, and other source control operations are actually accomplished through a source control client, such as SQL Server Management Studio. The client is designed to interact with the provider to make the provider's capabilities available to a distributed group of users. Using a source control client, users can browse the files stored by the provider; add and delete files; check files in and out; and retrieve copies of local files.