ThoughtWorks' Subversion Expert Featured in Series for Developers

The award-winning series, the Pragmatic Starter Kit, has a new addition: Pragmatic Version Control Using Subversion, by Mike Mason, a senior developer with the transnational IT professional services firm ThoughtWorks.

Version control is the lifeblood of software projects, but it often becomes complicated and overly difficult. The original first volume of the Starter Kit solves that problem with a guide to getting started with version control, including simple recipes for managing day-to-day development tasks using CVS, a widely-used Open Source version control system.

Now in Pragmatic Version Control Using Subversion, author Mike Mason expands the original, award-winning CVS-based book to include a complete description of Subversion, an advanced, Open Source, modern version control system designed to replace CVS.

Mike Mason says, "This book can help developers become more efficient -- they'll work better as a team, and keep on top of software complexity." Mason brings key points of version control workflow to life with real-world examples using Subversion. The book also includes additional sections on installing Subversion, creating a repository, configuring network access, common, "daily use" recipes, as well as more advanced topics such as tagging, branching, organizing your project and tracking third-party content.

Because Subversion is a new technology, the book offers plenty of help for people getting started, and includes sections on migrating to Subversion from CVS, installing and networking Subversion, and administering a repository. Client-side tools, including GUI tools and IDE-integration plugins, are also covered.

With this book, readers will:

-- Know how to undo bad decisions--directories, symlinks and even metadata are first-class objects and version controlled just like files

-- Learn how to share code safely, and work in parallel for maximum efficiency

-- Install Subversion using an Apache webserver or standalone server

-- Network and organize their repository effectively

-- Manage third party code safely

Readers just starting out with version control will appreciate this book -- it covers the basics that they'll need to get their job done. But it's also suitable for people who've been using version control for years, as it contains simple solutions to replace their existing, overly-complicated workarounds. Finally it provides a straightforward guide to getting started with the increasingly-popular Subversion system: installing, networking and administering a repository.

You can order a copy online at http://www.pragmaticprogrammer.com/titles/svn/index.html

Reviewer Praise

I expected a lot, but you surprised me with even more. Having used CVS for years I hesitated to try Subversion until now, although I knew it would solve many of the shortcomings of CVS. After reading your book, my excuses to stay with CVS disappeared. Oh, and coming from the Pragmatic Bookshelf this book is fun to read too. Steffen Gemkow, Managing Director, ObjectFab GmbH

I'm a long-time user of CVS, and I've been skeptical of Subversion, wondering if it would ever be "ready for prime time". Until now. Thanks to Mike Mason for writing a clear, concise, gentle introduction to this new tool. After reading this book, I'm actually excited about the possibilities for version control that Subversion brings to the table. David Rupp, Sr. Software Engineer, Great-West Life & Annuity

Contacts

ThoughtWorks
Heather Malec, 312-373-8550
Hmalec@thoughtworks.com