Re: How to get started

[Jim Hyslop]

Rondal Ellifritt wrote:
> I have recently been hired into an existing development group. One of my
> tasks is to get the group using version control.

Quite a challenge, from your description.

Maarten has given you some excellent tips. Out of all of these, I think 
your first priority *has* to be to separate the production environment 
from the development environment. I know you're new to the company, but 
I'm sure if you start enough casual conversations, you'll get a large 
number of horror stories about problems that occurred because of this 
mixture - use this as ammunition to convince people. Also explain that 
separating development from production is not _your_ way of doing things 
- it is a widely accepted, industry standard Best Practise.

Nowhere have you mentioned developer training in CVS. Do the developers 
already know how to use CVS? If not, that is a critical step that must 
happen before you do anything. The developers must understand and be 
comfortable with basic version management concepts and the basic CVS 
commands if you want any hope of achieving your goals.

Along the way, you will likely encounter many excuses for not doing 
things the new way: "Oh, it's only one minor tweak." "I don't have time 
to do it right - I've got a deadline" (your response: "If you don't have 
time to do it right, when are you going to have time to do it over?" and 
don't wait for an answer - it's a rhetorical question). Gently but 
firmly remind them that these shortcuts are what got them into the 
current mess they're in (and don't be afraid to use the word "mess" - if 
the other developers have a shred of professional pride, they know in 
their hearts the situation is a disaster waiting to happen).

As you progress, you will likely have dozens of questions. Feel free to 
post them here - that's what this list is for ;=)

--
Jim