What is a version control system?

A Version Control System (VCS) is a tool that stores the whole history of code changes and lets a team manage different versions of a project, work together, and safely go back to previous states.

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#Main functions

1. Change tracking Every change (commit) is stored with its author, time, and description. You can see who changed the code and why.
2. Branching Developers can work on different features in parallel without getting in each other's way. Once finished, a branch is combined into the main one (merge).
3. Going back to previous versions If an error made it into the code, you can roll back to a stable version.
4. Collaboration Several people edit the same files, and the system helps merge the changes automatically.
5. Project history A full change log is kept, which simplifies problem analysis and auditing.

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#Example systems

• Git - the most popular one (used in GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket);
• Subversion (SVN);
• Mercurial.

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#Why it is needed

• it prevents code loss;
• it simplifies teamwork;
• it makes development transparent and manageable.

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#Conclusion

A version control system is the project's "memory" and a tool for team coordination. With it, you can safely change code, experiment, and ship new versions without risking breaking everything.