Mitch,
Thanks for the response and interest. I'll be putting information like this up on the web site when it is running, so you'll be able to get a better feel for it then. The short answer is that you can keep things separated, but still have a way of doing continuous integration on the combined feature set. I have a few use case scenarios in mind. One use case relates to feature branches. A lot of teams up until now have been hesitant to create feature branches because they feel like it is deferring a huge merge problem until the end of the project, which defeats the purpose of doing continuous integration and testing. They just check everything into the trunk, but that's not a very good solution all the time because now your trunk is potentially unstable. The automated merge tool strives to create a happy medium in these cases. Suppose you create three feature branches, A, B, and C. But you'd also like to do a continuous integration build on the combined feature set. So you create a fourth branch called A+B+C. The automated merge tool can then be configured to automatically merge A, B, and C into the A+B+C branch. The tool will allow manual conflict resolution when needed, and will "memorize" conflict resolutions in order to be able to "replay" them later. Now suppose features A and B are completed, but feature C is taking a lot longer than was expected. If everything was mixed together on the trunk, you would have a hard time extracting C back out of it. But since you kept them separate, you can now just create a branch called A+B, auto-merge A and B into it, do your final testing and ship the product. This implies a baseless merge, which the product will be designed to support. After you ship, you then merge A+B up to the trunk, rebase the C branch to the tip of the trunk, and keep working. Thoughts? - Kevin From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mitch Denny Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 3:49 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Starting on a new TFS add-on Hi Kevin, I have to ask, automatic merging seems like it defeats the purpose of branching, so why build the tool? Not trying to deflate you, just want to understand the reasons because I would have thought that you created the branch for a reason. From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, 31 March 2009 5:33 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Starting on a new TFS add-on Hi All, For the last several months, I've been contemplating some SCM add-in tools that are of interest to me, and hopefully to others as well. I've paid particular attention to tools that will be of use to TFS users. I have decided to begin work on an automated merging tool. I will be getting the web site up and running soon, and announcing an early access program for those that would like to be a beta tester and give me feedback. The product will be designed for teams that have complex branching/merging scenarios, including service pack branches, branches for customized versions of the software, feature branches, team branches, etc. The tool will make it much easier for teams to manage frequent check-ins and builds in these environments. Initially I will be supporting TFS and Subversion, and possibly a couple other SCM tools (ClearCase, Perforce, ?). Wish me luck! If anyone has any thoughts on this subject, I'd love to hear them. Thanks. - Kevin Dietz ________________________________ Support procedure: https://www.codify.com/lists/support List address: [email protected] Subscribe: [email protected] Unsubscribe: [email protected] List FAQ: http://www.codify.com/lists/oztfs Other lists you might want to join: http://www.codify.com/lists ________________________________ Support procedure: https://www.codify.com/lists/support List address: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> Subscribe: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> Unsubscribe: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> List FAQ: http://www.codify.com/lists/oztfs <http://www.codify.com/lists/oztfs> Other lists you might want to join: http://www.codify.com/lists <http://www.codify.com/lists> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Support procedure: https://www.codify.com/lists/support List address: [email protected] Subscribe: [email protected] Unsubscribe: [email protected] List FAQ: http://www.codify.com/lists/oztfs Other lists you might want to join: http://www.codify.com/lists
