Centralized Version Control System
A centralized version control system (CVCS) is a software tool that manages changes to files and code in a single, central repository, allowing multiple developers to collaborate. It tracks revisions, enables version history, and provides mechanisms for merging changes, but all operations typically require a connection to the central server. Examples include Subversion (SVN) and older systems like CVS, which were widely used before distributed systems became popular.
Developers should learn centralized VCS to understand the evolution of version control and for maintaining legacy projects that still use these systems. It's useful in environments with strict access control or centralized governance, such as corporate settings where a single source of truth is mandated. However, for modern development, distributed systems are generally preferred due to their flexibility and offline capabilities.