Additional Reading

Software configuration management, as a topic, is finally conquering measurable shelf space in the computer section of bookstores. A number of SCM issues and challenges have been fully explored by other writers, and this book won't retread that ground. If you're a complete SCM novice you might want to take a look at some of the introductory or complementary titles available, including:

Real World Software Configuration Management by Sean Kenefick(APress)

If software configuration management is in your job description, this book is for you. It's a no-nonsense explanation of SCM best practices with down-to-earth advice about getting going and sticking with them.

Software Configuration Management Patterns: Effective Teamwork, Practical Integration, by Steve Berczuk with Brad Appleton(Addsion Wesley)

This is a concept book that manages to be quite practical nevertheless. Its detailed analyses of SCM problems and solutions are for the most part independent of any particular SCM system. It also offers a comprehensive comparison of the terminology used by contemporary SCM systems.

Configuration Management: The Missing Link in Web Engineering, by Susan Dart(Artech)

This wide-ranging survey of risk management and return on investment includes brief case studies of a variety of SCM systems in use.

Open Source Development with CVS, by Karl Fogel and Moshe Bar(Paraglyph)

This very readable book combines a detailed guide to using CVS with an interesting discussion of its history and its application in open source projects. It's a good source of insight into how today's SCM terminology and usage conventions have evolved from their earliest progenitors.

Software Configuration Management Strategies and Rational ClearCase, by Brian A. White(Addison Wesley)

With its in-depth coverage of the ClearCase view of problems and solutions, this book presents an interesting contrast to SCM with Perforce.

The Pragmatic Programmer, by Andrew Hunt and David Thomas(Addison Wesley)

Not about SCM per se, this book touches on many software development practices that harmonize with good SCM.

Finally, while this book will teach you about Perforce, it won't teach you about all the Perforce commands, command forms, and command options available to you. For that level of detail, go to the Perforce web site and look for the following product manuals:

The Perforce Command Reference

An A-to-Z reference to P4 commands. You may wish to bookmark this manual and refer to it to find out more about—or alternatives to—the command forms and options shown in Practical Perforce.

The P4 User's Guide

A detailed guide to using Perforce for working with files. This manual is geared toward end-users and uses P4 commands in its examples. Consult this manual for in-depth information about the Perforce user environment and a variety of typical developer tasks.

The Perforce System Administrator's Guide

A detailed guide to setting up a Perforce Server and managing a Perforce system. Consult this manual for in-depth information on backups, security, triggers, scripting, job customization, review daemons, performance, and OS-specific issues.

The online versions of these and other Perforce product manuals are available free at http://www.perforce.com/perforce/technical.html. You can also buy bound, hard copy versions of the same manuals; check the web site for details.