Fossil (software)
Encyclopedia
Fossil is a distributed version control system, bug tracking system
and wiki software
server for use in software development
created by D. Richard Hipp
.
server that runs on Linux
, Mac
and Windows
. It is capable of performing distributed version control, bug tracking, wiki
services, and blogging. The software has a built-in web interface
, which reduces project
tracking complexity and promotes situational awareness. A user may simply type "fossil
ui" from within any check-out and Fossil automatically opens the user's web browser
in a page that gives detailed history and status information on that project.
Being distributed, Fossil requires no central server, although collaboration is made easier by using one.
Content is stored using a SQLite
database so that transactions are atomic even if interrupted by a power loss or system crash.
Fossil is free software
released under a BSD license (previously GPL
).
project, which is itself a component of Fossil. SQLite transitioned to using Fossil for version control over CVS
in September 2009.
Some examples of other projects using Fossil are:
Bug tracking system
A bug tracking system is a software application that is designed to help quality assurance and programmers keep track of reported software bugs in their work. It may be regarded as a type of issue tracking system....
and wiki software
Wiki software
Wiki software is collaborative software that runs a wiki, i.e., a website that allows users to create and collaboratively edit web pages via a web browser. A wiki system is usually a web application that runs on one or more web servers...
server for use in software development
Software development
Software development is the development of a software product...
created by D. Richard Hipp
D. Richard Hipp
Dwayne Richard Hipp is the architect and primary author of SQLite as well as Fossil SCM. He and his wife, Ginger G. Wyrick, currently live and work in Charlotte, North Carolina. He also authored the Lemon Parser Generator and CVSTrac. CVSTrac became the inspiration for Trac. He is also a member of...
.
Features
Fossil is a cross-platformCross-platform
In computing, cross-platform, or multi-platform, is an attribute conferred to computer software or computing methods and concepts that are implemented and inter-operate on multiple computer platforms...
server that runs on Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
, Mac
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
and Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
. It is capable of performing distributed version control, bug tracking, wiki
Wiki
A wiki is a website that allows the creation and editing of any number of interlinked web pages via a web browser using a simplified markup language or a WYSIWYG text editor. Wikis are typically powered by wiki software and are often used collaboratively by multiple users. Examples include...
services, and blogging. The software has a built-in web interface
Interface
-Academic journals:* Interface: a journal for and about social movements* Interfaces * Journal of the Royal Society Interface* The Technology Interface Journal-Science:* Biointerface* Interface , boundary surface...
, which reduces project
Project
A project in business and science is typically defined as a collaborative enterprise, frequently involving research or design, that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim. Projects can be further defined as temporary rather than permanent social systems that are constituted by teams...
tracking complexity and promotes situational awareness. A user may simply type "fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
ui" from within any check-out and Fossil automatically opens the user's web browser
Web browser
A web browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. An information resource is identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier and may be a web page, image, video, or other piece of content...
in a page that gives detailed history and status information on that project.
Being distributed, Fossil requires no central server, although collaboration is made easier by using one.
Content is stored using a SQLite
SQLite
SQLite is an ACID-compliant embedded relational database management system contained in a relatively small C programming library. The source code for SQLite is in the public domain and implements most of the SQL standard...
database so that transactions are atomic even if interrupted by a power loss or system crash.
Fossil is free software
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
released under a BSD license (previously GPL
GNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
).
Adoption
Fossil is used for version control by the SQLiteSQLite
SQLite is an ACID-compliant embedded relational database management system contained in a relatively small C programming library. The source code for SQLite is in the public domain and implements most of the SQL standard...
project, which is itself a component of Fossil. SQLite transitioned to using Fossil for version control over CVS
Concurrent Versions System
The Concurrent Versions System , also known as the Concurrent Versioning System, is a client-server free software revision control system in the field of software development. Version control system software keeps track of all work and all changes in a set of files, and allows several developers ...
in September 2009.
Some examples of other projects using Fossil are:
- Pritlog
- Tcl/Tk ProjectTclTcl is a scripting language created by John Ousterhout. Originally "born out of frustration", according to the author, with programmers devising their own languages intended to be embedded into applications, Tcl gained acceptance on its own...
See also
- Comparison of revision control softwareComparison of revision control softwareThe following is a comparison of revision control software. The following tables includes general and technical information for notable revision control and software configuration management software.- General information :Table Explanation...
- List of revision control software