Reversion (software development)
Encyclopedia
In software development
(and by extension in content editing environments, especially wiki
s, that make use of the software development process of revision control
), reversion or reverting is the abandonment of one or more recent changes in favor of a return to a previous version of the material at hand (typically software source code in the context of application development; HTML, CSS or script code in the context of web development; or content and formatting thereof in the context of wikis).
A revert may be done for a wide variety of reasons, including but not limited to: fixing errors introduced by previous edits; restoring the material to a state that was not contentious until new disputes can be resolved; undoing scope creep
; regression testing
; and even petty malice, vandalistic intent or personal unhappiness with the author of a previous change. While the process is generally agreed to be a sound and necessary one, particular instantiations of its use may be at least as controversial as the edits being reverted.
Software development
Software development is the development of a software product...
(and by extension in content editing environments, especially 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...
s, that make use of the software development process of revision control
Revision control
Revision control, also known as version control and source control , is the management of changes to documents, programs, and other information stored as computer files. It is most commonly used in software development, where a team of people may change the same files...
), reversion or reverting is the abandonment of one or more recent changes in favor of a return to a previous version of the material at hand (typically software source code in the context of application development; HTML, CSS or script code in the context of web development; or content and formatting thereof in the context of wikis).
A revert may be done for a wide variety of reasons, including but not limited to: fixing errors introduced by previous edits; restoring the material to a state that was not contentious until new disputes can be resolved; undoing scope creep
Scope creep
Scope Creep in project management refers to uncontrolled changes or continuous growth in a project's scope. This phenomenon can occur when the scope of a project is not properly defined, documented, or controlled...
; regression testing
Regression testing
Regression testing is any type of software testing that seeks to uncover new errors, or regressions, in existing functionality after changes have been made to a system, such as functional enhancements, patches or configuration changes....
; and even petty malice, vandalistic intent or personal unhappiness with the author of a previous change. While the process is generally agreed to be a sound and necessary one, particular instantiations of its use may be at least as controversial as the edits being reverted.
See also
- Revision controlRevision controlRevision control, also known as version control and source control , is the management of changes to documents, programs, and other information stored as computer files. It is most commonly used in software development, where a team of people may change the same files...
- Sandbox (computer security)Sandbox (computer security)In computer security, a sandbox is a security mechanism for separating running programs. It is often used to execute untested code, or untrusted programs from unverified third-parties, suppliers, untrusted users and untrusted websites....