Using CVS

CVS helps with managing files for team projects. Simply, team members can download the master copy, then edit the files, and then upload their changes into the master copy.

We have a system in place for setting up CVS projects properly here in our network, but you'll need to talk to Dr. Burch to get help with this; this requires knowing a team name and a list of team members' Linux login IDs. After the CVS project is set up, you can use CVS as follows.

• If you are using the command line, you can access CVS using the cs-cvs command. (This is a specialized script that simplifies accessing CVS as it is set up at Hendrix.)

  linux% cs-cvs checkout projectName
  

  This will copy the directory into your current working directory. You can then edit the files. When you want to merge in others' changes since your last update, you can execute cs-cvs update. And when you want to upload your changes, use cs-cvs commit.

  CVS can get more complicated, especially if you run into a problem with two users editing the same version of the same file. We have a book named Pragmatic Version Control that provides much more information, or you can look at the Web.

• Using CVS is much easier for those who use Eclipse. To start, you have to create the project as a CVS project: After selecting New>Project… from the File menu, look under the CVS directory and choose Projects from CVS. Fill out the form as follows.

  Host:	grendel.cs.hendrix.edu
  Repository path:	/export/cvsroot
  User:	your Linux user ID
  Password:	your Linux password
  Connection type:	extssh

  Leaving Save password unchecked click Next>. In the next dialog, click Use an existing module and select the project name assigned to you. Click Next>; then select Next> again on the Check Out As dialog.

  When you get to the New Project dialog, set it up as the project you want; it's important that all team members do this identically. Normally, this will be a Java project, and I suggest saying to use separate source and output folders.

  Once the project is downloaded, you can edit files accordingly. When you want to download new changes uploaded by others from the team, right-click the project folder, go to the Team submenu, and select Update. When you want to upload your changes, select Commit… from this Team submenu.