Version Control System
A Version Control System (VCS) is a software tool that helps developers track and manage changes to source code and other files over time. It enables collaboration by allowing multiple people to work on the same project simultaneously, maintaining a history of modifications, and facilitating the merging of changes. Common features include branching, merging, and rollback capabilities to support development workflows.
Developers should learn and use a VCS for any software project, as it is essential for team collaboration, code backup, and maintaining project integrity. It is critical in professional environments for managing releases, debugging by reviewing history, and enabling continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. Specific use cases include open-source contributions, enterprise software development, and academic research projects where tracking changes is vital.