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SCM History

SCM History

In computing, SCM can be approached from a historical perspective, in which CM (for Configuration Management) was used earlier, originally for hardware development and production control. History records tend to be based on tools and companies, and let concepts to a secondary plane.

Until the 80s, as can be seen from a source such as Software Configuration Management by J.K. Buckle (1982), SCM could only be understood as CM applied to software development. Some basic concepts such as identification and baseline (well-defined point in the evolution of a project) were already clear, but what was at stake was a set of techniques oriented towards the control of the activity, and using formal processes, documents, request forms, control boards etc.

It is only after this date that the use of software tools applying directly to software artefacts representing the actual resources, has allowed SCM to grow as an autonomous entity (from traditional CM).

The use of different tools has actually led to very distinct emphases. Maybe one can pick up three:

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