Spectrum Updates SCM Tool
By Alan Zeichick
November 15, 2002 — The latest
version of Spectrum Software Inc.’s source-code configuration
management tool, released at the end of October, focuses on adding
flexibility and interoperability to the software’s reporting
capabilities.
According to Spectrum CEO Sarathi Srinivasan, SpectrumSCM
1.1 (http://www.spectrumscm.com/)
allows development managers to create and report customized project
metrics to support quality objectives, such as the Software
Engineering Institute’s Capability Maturity Model, or CMM.
Also new to version 1.1 is the ability to store binary files
of unlimited size, as well as simpler mechanisms for attaching,
viewing and tracking a change request’s supporting documentation and
images. There is also a “make common” feature that allows artifacts
to be shared between multiple branches of a source or project tree.
In addition, the update allows multiple users to check out and edit
the same file simultaneously.
According to Srinivasan, the
tool’s pricing has remained constant, and at a starting cost of $750
per developer seat, decreasing to $400 in high volumes, is
significantly less expensive than competing SCM tools.
“Traditionally, organizations have been reluctant to purchase
enterprise CM tools or implement CM solutions because such tools
were expensive and not affordable,” he said, adding “SpectrumSCM’s
entry-level pricing is at the cost of a version control software
like [Microsoft’s] Visual SourceSafe but provides full CM
functionality.”
Srinivasan emphasized that SpectrumSCM is a
multiplatform solution, as “one single system that supports multiple
platforms to undertake version control, issue tracking, process
management/control, workflow, release management, parallel
development and more.” Platforms supported include Linux, Mac OS,
Unix and Windows, as well as IBM’s mainframes.