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clump_programming [2020/06/01 22:53] (current)
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 +====== Clump Programming ======
  
 +//Clump Programming//​ is a simple process I designed in order to organize my files more efficiently for programming.
 +
 +
 +===== Rational =====
 +
 +I've been using CVS for about 10 years. ​ This works well for me, but in some situations there is resistance to CVS either because of it's inconvenience or because of technology limitations. ​ It's also not terribly efficient for an individual developer. ​ As a result, I'm looking for a new process.
 +
 +
 +===== Advantages =====
 +
 +  * Allows you to organize files into //clumps// that help you remember the specific files you edited for a particular project, especially when you are editing a few files that are a small part of a larger project or system.
 +
 +  * Creates backup copies of files at significant points in the process.
 +
 +  * Allows you to see which files have changed since the last "​snapshot",​ including those edited by others.
 +
 +  * Does not effect other developers in any way.  In fact, they will have no idea you are using //clumps//.
 +
 +  * The same files can be organized into multiple //​clumps//​. ​ Useful when there is overlap in several small projects that use some of the same core files. ​ Also useful when reusing libraries across multiple projects.
 +
 +  * Usable on files via FTP, SSH, a network share, or even a mixture of files from several different sources.
 +
 +  * Files inside a clump are not editor specific. ​ They can be edited with any editor. ​ This is an advantage over //​projects//​ in some editors, which are editor specific.
 +
 +  * Changes are made in real-time to the main file.
 +
 +
 +===== Disadvantages =====
 +
 +  * Extra time is required to organize a //clump// and keep it organized.
 +
 +  * You must remember to //​snapshot//​ files, which is similar to a commit on a typical version control system.
 +
 +  * Changes are made in real-time to the main file.
 +
 +  * Under MS Windows special software is required in order to create symbolic links.
 +
 +
 +===== Creating Clumps =====
 +
 +A clump is simply a directory, which you create to organize files for a particular project. ​ The files inside the clump, however, are symbolic links to the actual files, which are located elsewhere (on an FTP server or network share, for example).
 +
 +A clump should never contain original files. ​ If you are working on a file on your local machine, and you want it organized in the clump, put it elsewhere and link to the original in the clump. ​ This way, your clump is mostly unimportant (backup) files.
 +
 +
 +
 +===== Taking a Snapshot =====
 +
 +A snapshot is simply a copy of a particular file at some important point in time.  The copy is named the same as the file followed by two underscore characters and a snapshot number. ​ The file is stored in a //.cbk// (clump backup) directory.
 +
 +Suppose I have a file called "​example.txt"​. ​ This file was created by another developer and I'm about to edit it.  First, I take a snapshot of the file before I edit it.  Then I make my changes and take another snapshot when I'm finished. ​ There are now three files, as listed below.
 +
 +  example.txt
 +  .cbk/​example.txt__0001
 +  .cbk/​example.txt__0002
 +
 +The original file, example.txt,​ is still a symbolic link to a file elsewhere. ​ The snapshots, however, are copies of the file on my local file system. ​ They are important only to me (in my case).
 +
 +If you had a team of developers committed to this system, you could also create the snapshots in the original path, where everyone would have access to them.
 +
 +
 +
 +===== Snapshot Information =====
 +
 +When you take a snapshot, you should also create a //snap file// that includes information about what each snapshot is.  The snap file is just a text file with a short description of each snapshot. ​ The snap file is named the same as the file with "​%%__snap%%"​ added to the end and it is stored in the .cbk directory.
 +
 +  .cbk/​example.txt__snap
 +
 +The contents of the snap file might look something like the following.
 +
 +<​code>​
 +===== 0001 =====
 +
 +Did this or that or the other.
 +
 +
 +===== 0002 =====
 +
 +Added 5 more example cases.
 +</​code>​
 +
 +I prefer my snap files to be in a wiki-like syntax, so I can easily drop them into my wiki if I need to.
 +
 +
 +
 +===== Snapshot Tool =====
 +
 +To make snapshots easy, I wrote a command line tool that creates these snapshots automatically.
 +
 +{{snap.php|}}
 +
 +==== Installation Instructions ====
 +
 +  * Create a new directory for this program.
 +
 +  mkdir /opt/snap/
 +
 +  * Copy the snap.php file there.
 +
 +  cp snap.php /opt/snap/
 +
 +  * Create a symbolic link in /usr/bin.
 +
 +  ln -s /​opt/​snap/​snap.php /​usr/​bin/​snap
 +
 +  * Make the file executable
 +
 +  chmod +x /​usr/​bin/​snap
 +
 +==== Taking a Snapshot ====
 +
 +Now, taking a snapshot of a file is easy.  Just run the following command from the same directory as the file.
 +
 +  snap <​filename>​
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clump_programming.txt · Last modified: 2020/06/01 22:53 (external edit)