Using the RCS source code control system

RCS (for Revision Control System) is a group of commands you can use to track revisions to a text file; see `What does a source code control system do?'.

Here is the production cycle for RCS:

1. Create an initial version of your file. If you want your file to contain the current version number, see `Adding ID keywords in an RCS file'.
2. Create an RCS directory, if you haven't done so already. Then check in your initial version using the ci command. See `Bringing a file under RCS control'.
3. Retrieve a "locked" version of the file, writeable and checked out to you. See `Locking a file under RCS control'.
4. Make the next round of changes in the file.
5. Check in the new revision using the ci command.
6. Check out a read-only version with the latest version number.
7. When you need to make more changes, go back to step 3.

You can also get a history of changes to an RCS file.

If you are working with a large directory subtree, see `Using RCS to control large file trees'.

Last updated: 1995/12/06 21:16:34 UT
URL: http://www.nmt.edu/tcc/help/tool/rcs/rcs.html