Re: checking links into source control

[Edward Peschko]

> > way.
> > 
> > So far no one has disagreed. So is everyone in agreement with this basic 
> > goal? 
> 
> All of that can be managed by the build system.  You don't need it in
> cvs.

well, technically you don't *need* cvs either. you could do fine with rcs. In
fact, programmers would probably live longer and get a better suntan if they 
gave up computers altogether and moved to Maui.

Its a question of convenience. And its my business on how I manage my projects -
I shouldn't be told what needs to be part of the build process because of 
limitations in a tool.

> After all, if cvs DID handle those types of file objects, there would have to
> arbitrary choices on how to support/emulate those objects on other systems.
> And those choices WOULD get in your way, because you wouldn't agree with
> them.

Not necessarily. Most projects I have seen that have multiple OS support 
directories anyways, so it would never become an issue. And this glosses over
the 95% or so of projects that never port from one OS to another and which 
could gain considerable benefit.


> By putting them into the build system, you can make the choice on how those
> features are emulated, and cvs can focus on doing what it was designed to
> do:  manage file versions.

That's your choice then. If links, special character files, directories, 
what have you are added to CVS and make you uncomfortable, then you don't need 
to use them.

But don't deny the people who would get benefit from the version controlling
of other things besides files. Personally, I'd like to be able to say:

cvs update -r 1.2 -u (or some such flag) <dir_name>

and have it get rid of all the files that were checked out post-1.2. Or say:

cvs update -r 1.2 -U <dir_name>

and have it rid of anything *but* the files that were in the 1.2 revision.

Ed

(
ps - anyways, I think I have a solution for the 'emulate similar features on 
other oses' issue. One that I think would make quite usable.. don't have time
to type it up now, will do it a little later on.
)

(
pps - what's the procedure for submitting && getting patches applied around 
here? Who maintains/applies the patches for people who don't have write access 
to the CVS tree?
)

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