What does everyone use to log changes?

[atech]

Hello,

 

I am just wondering what does everyone use to log changes, does anyone use a program or something else?

 

I am just wondering what the best way to log changes made to the files.

 

Thanks

[Guest]

I use Beyond Compare - it highlights changes from the original file. It will also show directory changes. Side by side comparisons.

 

Matti

[Guest]

Samething here Beyond Compare

 

The_Bear

[atech]

I have beyond compare and it is great, but what i meant was when you have edited some coding, what do you use to keep track of what file was changed and what was changed in that file.

 

I think I am explaining it right.

[richlewt]

Hi Greg

I use Tortoise CVS http://www.tortoisecvs.org/ You can keep a log of all changes to your files, history logs etc, and its FREE

[Pharkie]

I have beyond compare and it is great, but what i meant was when you have edited some coding, what do you use to keep track of what file was changed and what was changed in that file.

 

My impression is that this is what Beyond Compare does? Isn't it?? I don't know, since I've only just started using it (on hpdl's recommendation). I presume people use it to figure out how to package a contribution together.

[jpf]

Using a "file compare" tool - allow to view 2 directories and/or files. What the tool does is SHOW where there are differnces. In the case of Beyond Comp. - it will highlight changes and any added/changed lines/files. You then have the OPTION to "copy" the diffence or changes from one side or the other.

 

I alway check EACH changed line of code..... not Blindly copying files over files....

 

I ALWAYS keep a virgin set of files to compare to. Any CONTRIBUTION - I add - I compare to the virgin copy - I mark any changed the contrib does (and to make sure it is up to the same code base....) with comments.

 

ie: (if some where between '<?php' and '?>'

// Begin - Mod XXX changed/added....Notes 
// old line: XXXXXXXXXXXX */ ?> 
Some changed phpcode here
...
// End - Mod XXX

or outside of php code - use HTML tags to put comment into php -so they don't show in the final HTML code)

 

<?php /* Begin - Mod XXX changed/added....Notes */ ?>
<?php /* old line: XXXXXXXXXXXX */ ?> 
<td>Some changed html text here<br>
</td>
<?php /* End - Mod XXXX */ ?>  

You may have to mix the two types of comments as some files/mods go in and out of php script mode offten

 

Then I BACKUP EVERYTHING..... Then compare the updated MOD to a COPY OF my site code - copy any of the new MOD change or new added files over to the correct place - if there is a conflict (the old orginal code was already remove/changed cause of another MOD) -then it is hard core php coding time.

 

Backup!

 

Add any need SQL tables....

 

Test

 

Backup!

 

Then UPDATE live site (note: all them extra comment tags can be removed off the live version - however I alway work with the fully commented and MARKED version)

 

Good Luck

[badjuju]

I just backup the current file and add the date to the filename. That gives me a copy of everything.

When the files become too cluttered, I move them to a new folder and compress it.