4 Reasons to opt. for Version Control over Version History
Version control minimizes unnecessary communication and helps manage workflow for better productivity. Let’s take a closer look at all the benefits of version control.
The concept of version history is simple: we start with a project on google drive, everyone suggests edits, members make changes, new copies are made and then merged. Sometimes you roll back to a previous version and the cycle ends when a new version is generated. This is done through email, slack, or whatever other tools your team uses to communicate. But though the idea of it sounds really simple, it can actually be quite messy if the team isn’t communicating clearly or if there are deadlines to meet.
On the other hand, version control is, as its name suggests, all about control. Controlling who accesses what files, making branches for different tasks and seeing what changed. Version control minimizes unnecessary communication and helps manage workflow for better productivity. Let’s take a closer look at all the benefits of version control:
1. New task, new branch.
One of the best features of version control is the branch functionality. If you need to try something new that doesn’t necessarily align with your real project, or if you are just testing new ideas, you don’t have to worry for making and managing copies because the branching functionality does that for you.
2. Only share what needs to be shared.
Another issue when it comes to teams and basic version history methods is privacy. Most cloud storage facilities have improved security, sure, but that makes it harder to share files without making a total mess of things since most projects require multiple files to work. Either you share everything or you waste hours trying to figure out what to share and share accordingly. With version control, you can set permissions and the software manages everything for you.
3. Communicate as if you’re in the same room with annotations/diffing.
When it comes to managing projects, simply sharing files is not enough. You also need to communicate. Using other apps or email can create roadblocks — maybe Joe didn’t see that comment on Slack or Susan missed an email, all creating unnecessary delays. But in version control, these problems are eliminated with features like commit messages, interactive annotations, and notifications.
4. Every version has a clear outline with a commits page.
When everyone’s uploading files to the same cloud, even if you’re following strict naming conventions and rules, things are bound to get complicated. Where version control really shines is with its commits functionality. Every time someone wants to save a new iteration, they make a “commit” with a message that briefly explains that particular commit. When you pair it with the branch feature, your workflow will always look really clean, even after months of development.
5. Cloud space is never an issue
Version control systems (especially ones that are git-based) are known for their speed and data managing capabilities. Most traditional version history methods use up a ton of space…and of course they would! With version history, you are essentially making new copies every time you save a new iteration. With version control, that’s never a problem. Why? It only saves the changes, and does not make multiple copies of the complete project.
