HELP: Version Control Software?

[WFTimmy]

Hi,


Our company has been around since 1995, and the Owner and main developer has never used any version control software.


To cut the story short, he doesn't think researching and deciding on a version control software is a good use of our time. But its literally impeding on our existent workflow (if you can call it that), coding is getting overwritten, (USA developers work during day time here, and Overseas developers work during night time in USA (daytime there).


I was looking at GIT and couple others, does anyone else have some experience with version control software? And does it work well with Powerbuilder? I read some limitations that the migration isn't perfect for power builder when using GIT, but i've also read that others had no problems.


We also try to keep most of the logic in the backend (SQL), is there any version control software that can keep track of both?


I've looked at red-gate for SQL Script managing, because this also gets overwritten as well.


http://www.red-gate.com



RedGate also manages for .NET as well. This might be our solution, if we convert our whole System from PowerBuilder to .NET. Which i want to avoid until absolutely necessary (EX: PowerBuilder is no longer supported)



Also if someone can advise, should we stick to PowerBuilder? Since SAP bought PowerBuilder, there hasn't been too many improvements and there are bugs here and there and I'm afraid they might discontinue it.
In which we would have to slowly Migrate to .NET or Swift (if it gets adopted universally)


Just wanted some advice and thoughts.

Thank you

[TheFa...@verizon.net]

Ok wow, a developer/manager who doesn't want to use source control of any kind is not very smart. Are they hiring? Mind if I replace him?

there are several source control applications that can be used, we use the old VSS from microsoft for the PB script/objects and Subversion and Team Foundation for the DB objects(the latter a manual process)

I'm not familiar with the red gate tool for sql script managing, but my buddy wrote a cool little SQL proc and job that hourly grabs any function or proc from the various databases, and if the last altered date is different than from what was stored in the sourceControl table it inserts the new code

the basic sql is this (replace the databasename)

select getdate() as run_date
, 'blah' as database_name,
o.[name] as object_name,
m.definition as object_code,
o.type_desc as object_type,
o.modify_date as last_altered,
o.create_date as created_date,
cast(null as varchar(100)) as hostname,
cast(null as varchar(100)) as loginname,
cast(null as datetime) as starttime

from sys.objects o with (nolock)
inner join sys.sql_modules m with (nolock)
on m.object_id = o.object_id
where o.type_desc not like ('%TABLE%')
and o.type_desc not like ('%CONSTRAINT%')
and o.type_desc <> ('SERVICE_QUEUE')
and not exists
(select 1
from asiutil.dbo.object_code_changes occ with (nolock)
where occ.object_name = o.[name]
and occ.database_name = 'blah'
and occ.last_altered = o.modify_date)

I'll let you write the table and proc and job (don't forget to have the database that has the sourcecontrol table backed up nightly)



The issue we find with subversion is the default concept of it NOT holding a lock on the object ass well as with PBscript the PBLS are containers of objects, the objects have to be exported (that what the sourcecontrol addin does for you). I'm sure Team Foundation could be used, somehow...a bit of trial and error. Even subversion could be used...I thought I saw an addin written specifically to handle PB's situation.


as far as keeping with PB. Well that's a loaded question. I love PB, I love how I can produce an app faster than a c# app. But managers want to be able to say we are a Microsoft .NET shop. There are definite advantages of using c#. I sometimes wish some of the objects and enumerations were available in PB (without going to PB.net). SAP has stated they are committed to PB, via APPEON, the latter of which have done great things in getting a PB app on the web and tablet with the same look and feel.