Version Control

What is version control?

Version control is a way of tracking changes made to files, code, or within a platform. This system allows teams to collaborate effectively while maintaining a history of changes to troubleshoot or audit if something goes wrong.

With version control, users can save, retrieve, and compare different versions of their work. It is a safety net that allows you to never lose content. code or any other project you are working on.  

Why is version control important?

Version control is all about being able to work without worry. Knowing that previous versions of any work can be retrieved or even accessed for review. If you combine it with workflows, it makes a team work efficiently and collaborate seamlessly.

1. Collaboration & Conflict Resolution
   Multiple contributors can work on the same files without overwriting each other’s changes. If there’s a conflict (e.g., two people editing the same line of code), version control highlights the discrepancy so you can resolve it.

2. Historical Tracking
   Version control stores a “history” of edits, allowing you to see who made what change and when. This is invaluable for debugging issues, auditing content changes, or rolling back to a stable version if something breaks.

3. Faster Iteration
   Teams can branch off (create separate work streams) to develop new features, test experiments, or draft new content. Once tested and approved, these branches can be merged back into the main project—streamlining innovation and reducing risk.

4. Disaster Recovery
   If a deployment fails or a piece of content is deleted by mistake, you can quickly revert to a previous version—saving time and preventing data loss.

Key Components of Version Control

Version control systems revolve around a few fundamental concepts that guide how teams track changes, merge work, and maintain a detailed history of every revision. Understanding these core building blocks is essential for effective collaboration, streamlined workflows, and reliable rollbacks when needed.

1. Repositories
   A repository (or “repo”) houses your project’s files and stores snapshots of every version. Repos can be local (on your computer) or hosted by remote platforms like GitHub or Bitbucket.

2. Branching & Merging
   Branching allows you to create independent work streams without affecting the main line of development. Merging brings approved changes from these branches back together.

3. Commits
   Each saved snapshot of a file or set of files is called a commit. Commits usually include a message describing the change (e.g., “Fixed the homepage carousel bug”).

4. Pull / Merge Requests
   Before merging a branch into the main codebase, a pull request (or merge request) can be reviewed and tested, fostering collaboration and quality control.

5. Tags or Releases
   Mark specific commits as “releases” or “tags” to denote stable or milestone points in the project (e.g., “Version 1.0” or “Q1-Release”).

How Core dna Supports Version Control

1. Integrated Environment Management
   Core dna’s platform allows you to handle multiple environments (dev, staging, production) with clear tracking of content changes in each environment.

2. Release Automation Hooks
   Combine your repository’s version control with Core dna’s release automation. When code or content changes are pushed to a specific branch, a webhook can automatically trigger a build or deployment task in Coredna—ensuring a seamless rollout.

3. Content Versioning
   For non-technical teams, Core dna offers user-friendly content versioning. Editors can manage different versions of a page or product description with just a few clicks. 

4. Rollback & Revisions
   Reverting a piece of content with Core dna’s environment-based approach helps you quickly return to a known good state if issues arise.

5. Collaboration Across Teams
   Because Core dna unifies content management, marketing, and eCommerce operations, both developers and content creators can maintain version control within a single ecosystem.