Middle East University Proposed Model For Software Configuration Management Theoretical Tool A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Computer Information Systems By Yousef Salman Al-Shaikhly Supervisor Prof. Mohammad Al-Haj Hassan Middle East University Co-Supervisor Prof. SalehAbo Al-Sood NYIT University Amman, Jordan April, 2011 DEDICATION This is dedicated to my family, for their love and encouragement. i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Professor Mohammad Al-Haj Hassan and Professor Saleh Abo Al-Sood for their guidance, support and motivation throughout the work in preparing my Master’s Thesis. I would further like to acknowledge all of the faculty of Information Technology members at the Middle East University for helping and encouraging my efforts especially at the beginning of the thesis. I also thank the reviewers of my thesis Dr. Ashraf Bani Mohammed and Dr. Nuha Al- Khalili for their remarkable comments and remarks, and I would like also to thank the head of CIS department Dr. Hiba Nassiredeen. Also I would like to thank the Masri’s family and Mr. Miqdad Annab (may he rest in peace) for their support at work during the thesis preparation. Above all, I would like to especially thank my parents for supporting me during the time I was preparing and writing this thesis. Without them nothing of this would have been possible. ii CONTENTS DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................ i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .......................................................................................................... ii CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................. iii LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................ viii LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................... ix LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS......................................................................................................x ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................. xi 4T4 T ....................................................................................................................................... xiiﺍﻟﻣﻠﺧﺹ CHAPTER4T 1 4T ...............................................................................................................................1 INTRODUCTION4T 4T ......................................................................................................................1 1.14T INTRODUCTION 4T .............................................................................................................1 1.24T STATEMENT OF PROBLEM 4T ..........................................................................................3 1.34T THESIS MOTIVATION 4T ...................................................................................................3 1.44T THESIS GOALS 4T ...............................................................................................................4 1.54T CONTRIBUTION OF THE THESIS 4T .................................................................................4 1.64T METHODOLOGY 4T ............................................................................................................5 1.74T THESIS ORGANIZATION 4T ...............................................................................................5 Chapter4T 2 4T ....................................................................................................................................7 Literature4T Review4T ........................................................................................................................7 2.14T SCM Introduction 4T ..............................................................................................................7 2.24T Software Configuration Management Main Components 4T ...................................................9 2.2.14T Software Configuration Items4T .....................................................................................9 2.2.24T Baselines4T ....................................................................................................................9 2.2.34T Configuration Items Repository4T ................................................................................ 11 2.2.44T Version Control4T ........................................................................................................ 13 2.2.54T Change Management 4T ................................................................................................ 15 2.34T Software Configuration Management Plan Procedures4T ..................................................... 23 2.3.14T Configuration Identification4T ...................................................................................... 23 2.3.24T Configuration Control4T ............................................................................................... 25 iii 2.3.3 Configuration Status Accounting .............................................................................. 26 2.3.4 Configuration Verification Review and SCM Audit .................................................. 27 2.4 Software Configuration Management in Local Market ..................................................... 27 2.4.1 Local Interviews ....................................................................................................... 28 2.4.2 Manual SCM Procedures in Local Market................................................................. 28 2.4.3 Types of Software Configuration Management Tools Implemented Locally ............. 29 2.4.4 Cost of Ownership .................................................................................................... 30 2.4.5 Challenges of Implementing SCM in Local Market................................................... 30 Chapter 3 .................................................................................................................................. 32 SCM Tools Evolution ............................................................................................................... 32 3.1 Software Configuration Management Tools ..................................................................... 32 3.1.1 Common Vocabulary ................................................................................................ 34 3.1.2 Common VCS Functionalities................................................................................... 35 3.2 Revision Control System ................................................................................................. 36 3.2.1 RCS in Operation...................................................................................................... 36 3.2.2 Objects Identification Mechanisms ........................................................................... 37 3.2.3 Objects tree structure ................................................................................................ 38 3.2.4 Revisions Differentiated Through Deltas .................................................................. 39 3.2.5 RCS Parallel Access ................................................................................................. 40 3.2.6 Limitations of RCS: .................................................................................................. 41 3.3 Concurrent Versions System ............................................................................................ 42 3.3.1 New Concepts in CVS .............................................................................................. 43 3.3.2 Terminologies ........................................................................................................... 43 3.3.3 Versioning Mechanism ............................................................................................. 44 3.3.4 Parallel Development in CVS ................................................................................... 44 3.3.5 CVS Repository ........................................................................................................ 46 3.3.6 CIs Differences Stored as Diffs ................................................................................. 47 3.3.7 Limitations of CVS ................................................................................................... 48 3.4 Subversion....................................................................................................................... 48 3.4.1 Subversion Basics ..................................................................................................... 49 3.4.2 Repository Structure ................................................................................................. 50 iv 3.4.3 CI Versioning ........................................................................................................... 52 3.4.4 Parallel CIs Access ................................................................................................... 52 3.4.5 Conflict Resolution ................................................................................................... 54 3.4.6 Branching and Tagging ............................................................................................