Simplify Your Distributed System Development
Information on the different methods to effectively simplify distributed system development and agile development techniques.
Simplifying distributed system development needs good organization and effective software configuration management. A version control system with sophisticated branching, merge tools, and integration is also important for simplifying distributed development and making agile development strategies work.
Visualization will simplify and clarify data that is normally represented by numbers and text. A sophisticated version control system can graphically represent branches, code changes, project statistics, and different code file versions.
The issues faced with transportation and office space can be done away with by using a flexible source code management and version control system that supports multiple operating systems while allowing programmers to work from home or from other offices and locations. This could increase productivity as well, by improving the working environment and reducing distractions.
Simplifying the merging of multiple versions of a code file may be achieved by using a partially automated three-way merge tool. A tool like this will use certain types of algorithms to automatically merge code whenever it is possible, and will otherwise make manual merging much easier.
A semi-automated tool will help simplify the task of reviewing the code of other programmers in the team. Such tools will help to identify changes in the code while providing a sophisticated interface that makes code review navigation much easier to carry out.
As with any type of software, thorough and easily accessible documentation helps in simplifying distributed development. Having an online version of the documentation makes it easier for multiple team members to access. A version control system and other tools should include adequate technical support as well, to resolve problems not covered by the instructions.
Simplifying distributed agile development is also more feasible when most of the necessary development tools are integrated into a single software package, rather than being split among several different stand-alone applications. There are no concerns about the compatibility of different tools with each other in this configuration.
Being able to integrate development applications like Visual Studio and Eclipse with your version control system also helps in simplifying distributed development. It reduces the need to switch from one application to another while working, thus saving time and reducing the complexity of operation.
Another way to help in simplifying them is to read a book or two on distributed or agile development. A search for either of these topics on Barnes & Noble’s web site produces such titles as “The Software Project Manager’s Bridge to Agility”, “Agile and Iterative Development”, and “Patterns for Parallel Programming”.
Codice Software’s Plastic SCM product provides version control management, code branch management and a version control system with distributed system development. Check out Plastic SCM today.