Better SCM Initiative : Comparison

Introduction

This is a comparison between various version control systems, on an item-by-item basis. Its HTML file is self-contained and can be easily sent as an attachment.

If there's something you feel should be added, or wish to correct the information of a version control system or add information about a new one, see the "How to Contribute" page.

The Comparison Itself

Covered Systems

• CVS
• AccuRev
• Aegis
• AllChange
• Arch Revision Control System
• Bazaar
• BitKeeper
• IBM Rational ClearCase
• CM+ by Neuma
• CMSynergy by Telelogic
• Code Co-Op
• Darcs
• Git
• LibreSource Synchronizer
• Mercurial
• Monotone
• OpenCM
• Perforce
• PureCM
• SourceAnywhere by DynamSoft
• Subversion
• Superversion
• Surround SCM
• svk
• Team Foundation Server by Microsoft Corp.
• Vesta
• Visual SourceSafe by Microsoft Corp.

Sources of the Comparison

The comparison is generated from an XML file by a Perl script. The script uses the XML::LibXML bindings to libxml, and XML::CompareML. To use the makefile, you need GNU Make. Following are the sources:

• scm-comparison.xml - the XML source of the comparison
• gen-dtd.pl - a Perl script to generate the DTD.
• render.pl - a Perl script to render the comparison into HTML.
• bk-license.html - a note about the BitKeeper license.
• Makefile - a makefile to automate the task of maintaining the comparison.
• render-docbook.pl - a Perl script to render the comparison into DocBook/XML.
• compare-ml.xsl - an XSLT stylesheet to render the XML into HTML.

Other Comparisons

• How does Subversion compare to the XYZ Version Control System? - a list of links to comparisons and other resources by Gabor Szabo.
• Comparison of Arch to Subversion and CVS - on the Arch wiki.
• Comments on Open Source SCM Systems - by David A. Wheeler.
• The Wikipedia Comparison of Version Control Software