Distributed version control

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Distributed revision control is a recent innovation that provides two significant advantages over the more traditional centralized approach to software revision control:

  • Allows users to work productively even when not connected to a network
  • Allows participation in projects without requiring permissions from project authorities
  • Allows private work, so you can use your revision control system even for early drafts you don't want to publish

However, there are some disadvantages as well:

  • Some projects want or need centralized control
  • Distributed systems can end up with a person as the central point of control, rather than a server

See also