cvs -d /usr/local/cvsroot checkout mymodule.webp){kind=logo}
Ask the right questions to secure the right Concurrent Versions System talent among an increasingly shrinking pool of talent.
The Concurrent Versions System (CVS) is a version control system that allows multiple developers to work on a project simultaneously without overwriting each other's changes. It was developed in the 1980s as a way to manage different versions of source code and keep track of modifications made over time. CVS uses a client-server architecture where developers can check out copies of the source code, make changes locally, and then commit those changes back to the server. This system also supports branching and merging, which enables developers to create separate lines of development and combine them later. Despite its age, CVS remains in use today, although it has largely been superseded by more modern version control systems like Git and Subversion.
The next 20 minutes of the interview should attempt to focus more specifically on the development questions used, and the level of depth and skill the engineer possesses.
A 'watch' in CVS allows a user to monitor a file for any changes. You can set a watch on a file using the 'cvs watch add' command and remove it with the 'cvs watch remove' command. When a watched file is changed, CVS will notify the user who set the watch.
Conflicts in CVS can be resolved manually by opening the file in a text editor, finding the lines where the conflict occurred, deciding which version to keep, and then removing the conflict markers. After resolving the conflict, you would use 'cvs commit' to commit the resolved file.
'cvs update' is used to update your local copy of the repository with any changes that have been made in the central repository. 'cvs commit' is used to commit any changes you have made in your local copy to the central repository.
Some of the basic commands used in CVS include 'cvs init', 'cvs checkout', 'cvs add', 'cvs commit', 'cvs update', and 'cvs diff'.
You can initialize a CVS repository by using the 'cvs init' command. This command should be run in the directory where you want the repository to be created.
Teamwork is often important in development roles, as projects usually require collaboration between multiple people.
Experience with similar systems or technologies can indicate that the candidate will be able to learn and adapt to CVS quickly.
Good communication skills are important for understanding requirements, collaborating with team members, and explaining technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
Understanding version control is key to working with CVS, as it is a version control system.
Problem-solving skills are crucial in development roles as they will often need to troubleshoot and resolve issues.
This is important because the candidate needs to have a deep knowledge of CVS to be able to develop and maintain it effectively.
The next 20 minutes of the interview should attempt to focus more specifically on the development questions used, and the level of depth and skill the engineer possesses.
A 'sticky tag' in CVS is a tag that stays with your working copy of the file even after you've updated your copy from the repository. You can create a sticky tag using the 'cvs update -r' command and remove it with the 'cvs update -A' command.
You can merge changes from a branch back into the main line of development in CVS by using the 'cvs update -j' command. This command will merge the changes made on the branch into your local copy of the main line of development.
A 'branch' in CVS is a separate line of development, while a 'tag' is a label for a specific point in time on a line of development. Changes made on a branch do not affect the main line of development, whereas a tag does not involve any separate line of development.
A 'tag' in CVS is a label that can be applied to a set of files at a particular point in time. You can create a tag using the 'cvs tag' command and then later retrieve the state of the repository at the time the tag was created using the 'cvs checkout -r' command.
You can revert changes in CVS by using the 'cvs update -C' command. This command will revert the local copy of the file to the version in the central repository, discarding any local changes.
A skilled Concurrent Versions System engineer should demonstrate strong technical knowledge of CVS, problem-solving abilities, and excellent communication skills for team collaboration. Red flags include lack of detailed understanding about CVS operations, inability to troubleshoot issues, and poor interpersonal skills.
cvs -d /usr/local/cvsroot checkout mymodulecvs -d :pserver:anonymous@cvs.sv.gnu.org:/sources/emacs logincvs -d /usr/local/cvsroot update -Pdcvs -d /usr/local/cvsroot commit -m 'Initial commit'cvs -d /usr/local/cvsroot diff -ucvs -d :pserver:anonymous@cvs.sv.gnu.org:/sources/emacs tag RELEASE_1_0The final few interview questions for a Concurrent Versions System candidate should typically focus on a combination of technical skills, personal goals, growth potential, team dynamics, and company culture.
If a CVS server is running out of disk space, you might need to do some cleanup by removing old and unused branches and tags, or archiving old versions of files. If that's not enough, you might need to move the repository to a server with more disk space.
CVS is not well-suited for handling large binary files as it can significantly slow down operations. However, if necessary, you can add large binary files to CVS using the 'cvs add -kb' command, which tells CVS to treat the file as binary and not to attempt any line-ending conversions or keyword substitution.
'cvs export' is used to create a clean copy of the files in the repository without any CVS administrative directories or files, while 'cvs checkout' is used to create a working copy of the files with all the CVS administrative information.
A 'module' in CVS is a collection of files that are treated as a single entity. You can define a module in the 'modules' file in the CVSROOT directory and then check out the module as a whole using the 'cvs checkout' command.
Binary files can be handled in CVS by using the '-kb' option with the 'cvs add' command. This tells CVS to treat the file as a binary file and not to attempt any line-ending conversions or keyword substitution.
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