Distributed version control? Whu?

[echan]

I highly recommend a perusal of Intro to Distributed Version Control (Illustrated).

From the intro: "Traditional version control helps you backup, track and synchronize files. Distributed version control makes it easy to share changes. Done right, you can get the best of both worlds: simple merging and centralized releases."

In short -- this is how we have lots of devs, and not just mark. It's a bit more work than just opening a file and changing the code, but it's really really useful.

For more information on the specifics Dreamwidth uses, check out the Dev Version Control wiki page.

Comments

[tea]

So, from what I understand of your process and that article, you're following the version shown in this chart, where Mark and Denise are the maintainers?

And since this seems the best place to ask - I know this is specifically for babydevs, but how baby is okay? I very much want to learn more about... a lot of technical things in the project, but beyond on intro to computer programming course a couple years ago, I have zero applicable knowledge. Diving into such a big project seems a bit of a scary way to start learning, but y'all seem so willing to teach, it's tempting!

[sophie]

Many of our babydevs haven't had any experience at all in programming before DW, so you'll be in good company!

If you're interested, we have an IRC channel - #dw_kindergarten. Come along and join us. :)

[tea]

Cool, I will do that! Possibly not until the summer (I presume new devs will be welcome at any point, not just during the beta?) since I'm gone traveling in May and June, but I have itchy fingers to start poking at some of this stuff.