Ask HN - When is right time to start using version control for a project? • Hacker News Board

Ask HN - When is right time to start using version control for a project?

#1

Post by fireandfury » Fri, Aug 14, 2009, 8:33 PM UTC

I've been working on an iPhone app for about a month and I'm waiting until I finish a key set of features before I put it under version control. I'm making so many big changes that I'd rather not keep track of them all yet. Regular Time Machine backups and archiving a copy of the code after implementing a key feature are the only things I'm doing at this stage.

I'm curious though, at what point in a project do you guys normally start using source control management (ie. subversion, git, mercurial)?

Re: Ask HN - When is right time to start using version control for a project?

#2

Post by oneplusone » Fri, Aug 14, 2009, 8:34 PM UTC

Before you write your first line of code.

Re: Ask HN - When is right time to start using version control for a project?

#3

Post by javery » Fri, Aug 14, 2009, 8:39 PM UTC

It sounds like the source control you are using has too much friction, setting up a Git repo and keeping it up to date is quick and easy so there is no reason not to do it right away.

Re: Ask HN - When is right time to start using version control for a project?

#4

Post by mbrubeck » Fri, Aug 14, 2009, 8:42 PM UTC

oneplusone wrote: post #2

Before you write your first line of code.

Yup.

    $ mkdir newproject
    $ cd newproject
    $ git init
    Initialized empty Git repository in /home/mbrubeck/newproject/.git/

Re: Ask HN - When is right time to start using version control for a project?

#5

Post by JimmyL » Fri, Aug 14, 2009, 8:45 PM UTC

Yesterday.

If your version control system has so much overhead that putting code under VC is a chore or something to be put off and planned for, then it has a problem - and you need a new VCS, or at the very least, a new set of tools and workflows.

Re: Ask HN - When is right time to start using version control for a project?

#6

Post by wesleyd » Fri, Aug 14, 2009, 8:52 PM UTC

Coding without source control is like using an editor without undo.

Use source control from the very start. Git is pleasant to use.

Re: Ask HN - When is right time to start using version control for a project?

#7

Post by olefoo » Fri, Aug 14, 2009, 9:00 PM UTC

oneplusone wrote: post #2

Before you write your first line of code.

I'm probably not the only person on here who keeps any notes and planning documents for projects under version control. I also regularly import research notes into comments before I write the code in question, but I'm weird and I've been told I do too much design up front.

Re: Ask HN - When is right time to start using version control for a project?

#8

Post by ErrantX » Fri, Aug 14, 2009, 9:02 PM UTC

I'm making so many big changes that I'd rather not keep track of them all yet

For what other reason is source control used but to maintain track of code changes like this!

Regular Time Machine backups and archiving a copy of the code after implementing a key feature are the only things I'm doing at this stage.

Then your using rudimentary source control anyway :) I'd switch to something more structured asap.

Im with the others: at the start. :) With hosting so cheap now (my choice is mercurial and bitbucket) and with private repositories barely a few clicks away there is no reason not to IMO.

Re: Ask HN - When is right time to start using version control for a project?

#9

Post by flooha » Fri, Aug 14, 2009, 9:05 PM UTC

olefoo wrote: post #7

oneplusone wrote: post #2

Before you write your first line of code.

I'm probably not the only person on here who keeps any notes and planning documents for projects under version control. I also regularly import research notes into comments before I write the code in question, but I'm weird and I've been told I do too much design up front.

No, you're not alone. I keep all my docs under version control and it has saved me more than once.

Re: Ask HN - When is right time to start using version control for a project?

#10

Post by ErrantX » Fri, Aug 14, 2009, 9:14 PM UTC

olefoo wrote: post #7

oneplusone wrote: post #2

Before you write your first line of code.

I'm probably not the only person on here who keeps any notes and planning documents for projects under version control. I also regularly import research notes into comments before I write the code in question, but I'm weird and I've been told I do too much design up front.

One interesting feature Google code has implemented is placing notes about the code in the web view of the repository.

I'd love to see this feature reach other SCM providersm, it's something i would use a lot.