Version control is a vital skill for any operations researcher who works with code. It allows you to track, manage, and collaborate on changes to your code over time. It also helps you avoid losing, overwriting, or breaking your code. In this article, you will learn some of the best ways to ensure effective version control for your operations research projects.
A version control system (VCS) is a software tool that records and stores the history of your code. There are many VCS options available, but some of the most popular ones are Git, Subversion, and Mercurial. Each VCS has its own features, advantages, and disadvantages, so you should choose one that suits your needs and preferences. Some factors to consider are the size and complexity of your project, the frequency and type of changes, the level of collaboration, and the integration with other tools.
Effective version control involves using systems like Git, making regular, small commits with clear messages, adopting a branching strategy, conducting code reviews, automating processes, maintaining documentation, regular backups, controlling access, and training team members. These practices ensure efficient tracking, collaboration, and quality control in project development.
A naming convention is a set of rules or guidelines for naming your files, folders, branches, and commits. It helps you organize your code, identify different versions, and communicate the purpose and status of your changes. A good naming convention should be clear, consistent, and descriptive. For example, you can use prefixes, suffixes, dates, or keywords to indicate the type, scope, or stage of your code. You can also follow some common standards or best practices for your VCS or programming language.
A commit message is a short text that describes the changes you made to your code in a specific commit. It helps you document your code, track your progress, and understand the history of your project. A clear and informative commit message should answer the questions: what, why, and how. What did you change? Why did you change it? How did you change it? You should also use proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling, and avoid vague or ambiguous terms.
Branches and merge requests are features of some VCS that allow you to create and manage different versions of your code. A branch is a copy of your code that you can modify independently from the main version. A merge request is a proposal to merge your branch with another branch, usually the main one. Branches and merge requests help you isolate your changes, test your code, and collaborate with others. You should use them to implement new features, fix bugs, or experiment with different ideas.
Before you merge your code with the main version, you should review and test it thoroughly. Reviewing your code means checking it for errors, bugs, or inconsistencies. You can use tools like code linters, code analyzers, or code review platforms to help you with this task. Testing your code means running it and verifying that it works as expected and meets the requirements. You can use tools like unit tests, integration tests, or regression tests to help you with this task.
Backup and restore are operations that allow you to save and retrieve copies of your code in case of emergency or disaster. Backup means creating a copy of your code and storing it in a secure location, such as a cloud service, a external drive, or a remote repository. Restore means retrieving a copy of your code and restoring it to your local machine or your VCS. Backup and restore help you prevent data loss, recover from mistakes, or revert to previous versions.
OR application is just a specific software application but all rules and practices well established in software engineering apply to OR app. I am aware that many OR practitioners lack SE skills but in that case just get any Software Engineer in your team. Otherwise you will have to repeat errors that were solved long time ago.