In this blog post, we will look at why version control is essential in large-scale software development and how it helps with collaboration and maintenance.
The importance of software development and version control
Today, software is growing at a rate that is incomparable to the past. Improvements in computer performance and the widespread availability of the Internet have led to an explosion in the number of users, and it is now commonplace to perform a wide variety of tasks on computers and mobile devices.
These technological advances and environmental changes have raised user expectations. Users now demand software that goes beyond simply working, with more features, faster processing speeds, higher accuracy, and stronger security.
To meet these demands, software is becoming increasingly large and complex, and the process of developing and maintaining it is also becoming more sophisticated. The expansion of software scale can be confirmed in numbers. Windows NT 3.1, released in 1993, consisted of approximately 4 to 5 million lines of code (LOC).
However, Windows XP, released in 2001, reached approximately 45 million lines, and Windows 10 and Windows 11, which appeared later, grew to exceed 50 million lines each. As such, the size and complexity of software is increasing exponentially every year, and this pace is expected to accelerate in the future.
As software becomes more massive, the development process is also becoming more complex. Projects that were initially carried out by a small number of people or individual developers are now expanding into large-scale projects that require dozens to hundreds of developers to collaborate simultaneously. This not only increases the time and cost required for development, but also brings management difficulties in various aspects, such as human resource management, code quality maintenance, function change history management, and error correction.
In fact, the average success rate of software projects over the past five years has remained at around 30%, and some surveys show that the success rate for large-scale projects is only about 8%. This low success rate is an indicator of inefficiency and confusion in the overall development process, and means that effective project management and automation of the development process are urgently needed.
Against this backdrop, various automation tools have emerged, among which version control systems, issue tracking and management tools, and CI/CD (continuous integration and deployment) tools play a key role in software development. In particular, version control tools such as Git and Subversion (SVN) effectively resolve conflicts, code loss, and change history management issues that can arise in collaborative environments, and have become essential tools for improving software quality and productivity.
First, work history and tracking functions
Version control programs record the entire process of a project in a shared workspace. Everything from minor typos to major folder creation and deletion is recorded, and explanatory notes must be written and approved by the project manager to reflect these changes. This can be likened to the process of software development, where multiple architects work together to complete a single blueprint. In this context, “reflecting your work in a shared workspace” is equivalent to an architect submitting a draft and revised blueprints to the project manager.
Example
Title: Add windows to the first floor lobby
Details: Windows were added to improve lighting and ventilation in the first floor lobby.
The manager reviews the draft and revised blueprints and, if deemed acceptable, reflects the changes. If the explanation is unclear or deemed unnecessary, the manager discusses it with the architect and decides whether to reflect the changes.
The version control program systematically records all drafts, revised designs, discussion details, and drafters during this process, making it easy to answer questions such as “Who worked on this part?” and “Why was this part designed this way?” later on.
This record keeps track of errors and unnecessary changes, reducing costs and time. This process makes maintenance more efficient and helps developers prevent serious problems in advance.
Second, merge and synchronization functions
Large software projects consist of many independent parts, each of which performs a specific function.
For example, even simple game software is divided into modules that display screens, process sounds, manage game flow, read and save data, and so on. These various modules work independently, but changes made to one module must be reflected in the others, and this synchronization process is extremely complex and prone to errors. Version control programs provide powerful merging and synchronization features for such situations.
For example, after one developer updates a specific screen in game software, other developers cannot see the changes on their screens until the changes are reflected. Therefore, to enable other workers to easily reflect new content and prevent conflicts and duplicate work in the process, version control programs provide a feature that allows them to merge and update their work. This is an essential feature for managing large projects that require independent tasks to be performed simultaneously.
Third, project recovery and rollback functions
When working on a project, there are often situations where existing functions need to be replaced with new ones or where the project needs to be rolled back to a state before an error occurred. In such cases, version control programs provide a function to return to a specific point in the project, making it easy to recover from errors and perform upgrades.
For example, if you accidentally paint a window while painting a black wall white, it would be more efficient to return the wall to its original state before you started painting than to restore the window. Version control software simplifies error recovery in this way and allows for more systematic additional development.
Importance and usefulness of version control software
The automated features provided by version control programs solve various problems that arise as software grows in size. This provides an environment where developers can focus on core tasks, increasing project productivity and improving quality. In addition to large-scale software development, it can also be applied to various computer-based tasks such as document work, Photoshop, and small-scale projects for assignments, helping many people work more efficiently in a more comfortable environment.
Recognizing the importance of version control tools and utilizing them well is an important factor in increasing the overall success of a project, not just in writing code. Various users, such as software developers, designers, planners, and students, can maximize their work efficiency through these tools.
