Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
a frustrating tool, but the industry standard, March 20, 2003
I think it's time to set the record straight on Visual SourceSafe. This is a product badly in need of updating, but it doesn't seem to have any direct competitors (nobody wants to be Borlanded or Netscaped), so it probably won't happen any time soon.If you're creating non-web applications with a programming tool that supports SourceSafe integration, then you probably won't mind SourceSafe. You will have to work around a few frustrations: the lack of drag-and-drop, the amazingly dated look to the client app, and the fact that a lot of discipline is required to use it properly and safely. If you don't train a developer new to SourceSafe, you can count somebody writing code referencing a wrong relative path, and having to merge lots of changes people made because they didn't check files out properly. However, if you're trying to develop a web application with others in an integrated programming tool, then there will be times you want to tear your hair out until you sit down and really learn how the thing works (without any aid from the skimpy online help), because the interaction between the web files, the local files (if an ASP app), and the SourceSafe files is poorly documented and very finicky. Hint: whatever you do, don't remove the SourceSafe binding inside Visual Studio .NET and attempt to put it back again later -- instead delete all the local files and do "Open from Source Control" inside Visual Studio. I should also mention that it networks very poorly. This is because there is no server component; clients just grab files via ordinary network shares. If you are trying to use SourceSafe from a remote site, then you will need patience, because doing a large operation such as a recursive "get latest" takes a long time even if you are telecommuting from the same city over a high-speed internet connection. Please note though that another company makes an inexpensive product called SourceOffSite that works with SourceSafe to overcome the networking deficiencies. In general, SourceSafe is a whole lot better than collaborating without help, and it is priced relatively reasonably, which is why it's still around. It's just long in the tooth, and is missing obvious features such as viewing all the check-in comments for a file at the same time. It really should come with printed manuals for end users detailing best practices to use and pitfalls to avoid. Instead, the online help makes it seem as if a child could use the product and everything is always sunny when using it. I know there are competing products, but I've never had the opportunity to try them, because for better or worse the market has chosen Visual SourceSafe as the standard.
|
|
|
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Small Operations, June 21, 2005
As a CM on a project using Visual SourceSafe I speak wth first hand knowledge when I tell you it is very limited. For a small project it is sufficient as long as your manager doesn't start asking for multiple labels, all types of history queries, multiple views, et cetera. Otherwise you will be spending all your time writing scripts to fill in the holes this product leaves. The other annoying problem is documentation. Not only did Microsoft force you to print all the help, very few other publishers have put anything out on it. "Real World Software Configuration Management" and a couple others have been helpful, but I put together my own manual and tools from some good info at some Forums.
Look hard at RCS or ClearCase before buying this one. We had SourceSafe inhouse so they wanted to use it. I point out the limitations, but I will say it is fairly easy to use and with no more than 4 GB database. It runs relatively error free and is easy to fix with Analyze if you run into problems. Pricewise it is decent, but it lacks the features and support you may find your project wanting. If you have a small database, don't mind writing some scripts, and want to keep cost down, then this may suit your needs.
|
|
|
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great if you are starting from ground zero, April 26, 2001
I have used Source Safe on two occassions. The first was a consulting project where we created all the web pages from day one. In this situation, Source Safe is great. You have fewer worries. The second instance is now, where I am currently migrating legacy code into source safe, and it is a little more difficult to deal with. There are not enough resources on how to use this product. The basics of using the product are fairly intuitive and pretty well documented on MSDN online or CD. Unfortunately, the intermediate to advanced (i.e. tips, tricks, etc.)information is a little more difficult to come across. The only thing I have been able to find on Source Safe training is a three video series (about $250 for the set), which I am still trying to find more information about before I purchase it, and even it that was not all that easy to find. I cannot believe that someone has not written about this application. Overall, I think Source Safe is a great tool, especially if you are starting from scratch. However, just keep in mind that you must plan well if you are implementing it into an environment that already exists.
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
