Software Configuration Management
Software Configuration Management (SCM) is a set of processes and tools used to manage changes to software systems throughout their lifecycle, ensuring consistency, traceability, and control over code, documentation, and other artifacts. It involves version control, build management, release management, and change control to maintain software integrity and facilitate collaboration among development teams. SCM helps prevent configuration drift, manage dependencies, and support audit and compliance requirements in software projects.
Developers should learn and use SCM to handle complex software projects with multiple contributors, as it enables efficient collaboration, reduces errors from manual changes, and ensures reproducible builds and deployments. It is essential in agile and DevOps environments for continuous integration and delivery, and critical in regulated industries like finance or healthcare where traceability and compliance are mandatory. Use cases include managing source code versions, automating builds, tracking changes across releases, and maintaining stable environments for testing and production.