Achieve better version
control, together

Backlog’s version control system offers development teams a source code management system that’s both efficient and robust. The platform comes with built-in Git and SVN repositories that enable developers to track changes, manage revisions, and communicate with each other seamlessly.

Developers can compare branches before merging, view all of their team members’ commits, and exchange inline comments to discuss code together. These features, paired with an intuitive user interface that allows developers to manage source code alongside project work, give software development teams all the tools they need to manage source code effectively.

To learn more about the best ways to use Backlog for code management, visit our Software Development Resource Center and check out our how-to guides for insights from our team.

Version control is a vital component of the software development process. Adopting version control unlocks a series of benefits, including:

• Increased transparency: developers can view a complete history of changes to their codebase. This enables development teams to understand who changed what and when, bringing increased accountability to the software development process.
• Better teamwork: by adopting a version control system, several developers can work on code independently and then come together to review their proposed changes.
• Managing branches and merges: version control allows developers to develop and experiment in parallel with existing code by creating new branches, which the team can then review before they are merged.
• Ability to revert to previous versions: if an update causes errors or bugs, teams can easily revert to an earlier version of their code that is known to be stable while they address the issues.
• Clear documentation and change logs: when changes are made, team members can use the version control system to record the rationale behind their changes. This serves as a change log that ensures everyone understands how the software has evolved

Backlog supports both SVN, a centralized version control system, and Git, a distributed version control system. Regardless of whether your development team prefers to work with a centralized system or a distributed system, you’ll find Backlog to be fully adaptable to your team’s existing workflows.

We also have a great Simple Git tutorial for beginners to ensure you find success using Git and Backlog.

In a Centralized Version Control System (CVCS), all files are stored in a central repository that tracks changes made by individual users. When users work on a file, they essentially check it out of this repository, make their changes, and then commit their changes back to the central server. In Backlog, development teams that use CVCS use Subversion (SVN) as this central repository.

In a Distributed Version Control System (DVCS), each user has their own copy of the code repository. Work happens on each user’s local machine: they make changes, create new branches, and merge changes. Team members can work together by pushing and pulling branches from each other’s repositories. In Backlog, development teams that use DVCS use Git.

In general, teams that favor a collaborative, centralized approach to development use CVCS, whereas teams that prioritize independent work favor DVCS.

Backlog offers software teams a variety of version control tools that allow for improved revision control. They include:

• Central record of changes: teams can manage all of their revisions in one platform, making for a streamlined approach to software development with improved communication and transparency.
• Built-in repositories: support for Git and SVN repositories allows software teams to work on files and manage revisions regardless of whether they use CVCS or DVCS.
• Collaboration features: developers can have inline discussions on code to exchange feedback and better understand revisions. This ensures that all revisions go through the appropriate review process before merging.
• Difference viewer: teams can compare changes using Backlog’s difference viewer tool, which highlights the differences between new code and existing branches. This streamlines the code review process, helping teams integrate high-quality code revisions faster than ever.
• Commit tracking: Backlog allows users to view all commits made to a project’s codebase, making it easy to pinpoint when different revisions were made, by whom, and why.

There’s no shortage of version control systems for development teams to choose from. Backlog stands apart thanks to its rich range of features that go well beyond the scope of a traditional version control system.

In Backlog, you’ll find all the version control features you need, from revision tracking to private repos, but you’ll also find a fully-fledged project management tool. Teams use Backlog not only to manage version control but also to manage code directly alongside project work, creating a centralized hub where all project work can happen.

We also have a helpful guide on choosing the right version control system for your team.

Backlog supports both isolation and independent development to ensure teams can retain the security of source code while working on revisions.

Code branches can be isolated for developers to work on specific features or bugs. Development occurs in parallel to the source code to ensure there are no disruptions to operational code. Once the development team has reviewed and tested the new code, it can be merged into the existing source code. Using the Backlog difference viewer allows teams to understand the changes that have been made.

Once developers have completed their code, they can submit a pull request to start the process of merging their code changes with the source code, ensuring only high-quality code is integrated into the main codebase.

Backlog is the perfect solution for collaborative development teams that work closely together. The platform comes with a range of features that make it easy for teams to work together to track changes and manage revisions, including:

• Difference viewer: teams can work together to compare changes between different branches before merging them, making for a smoother review process and more efficient revision management.
• Commit history: every code committed to a project is recorded in Backlog. Team members can add notes to each commit to provide increased visibility into the rationale behind any given change to the source code.
• Comments, notifications, and task assignments: Backlog users can leave comments on individual issues, tag team members to send them notifications, and assign tasks to the most appropriate person.
• Inline code discussions: inline comments allow teams to collaborate on the code itself, discussing proposed changes and exchanging feedback. This streamlines the code review process and makes it easy for everyone to collaborate on changes and revisions

Yes. Every team has its own approach to software development. At Backlog, we’re here to empower your team to work on your terms, and customization is an important element of that.

Backlog users can customize various elements of their software development projects, from the status levels of tasks to creating custom issue types for bug tracking or any other software project. Backlog adapts to the way your team already works, with a selection of integrations that support everything from private Git and SVN repositories to popular communication tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams.

Version control is a cornerstone of the software development process, establishing a structure that teams can use to manage code changes in a transparent, effective manner. Adopting version control software helps software teams improve collaboration, quickly develop and iterate new code, and ultimately deliver better experiences to their users.

From an operational perspective, version control software fosters an organized development process that ensures accountability, creates documentation, and serves as an insurance policy against errors. For these reasons and more, many of the world’s top software development teams rely on version control as the foundation of their development strategy.