 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Review: SpectrumSCM
5/3/2004
By Mike Gunderloy
SpectrumSCM 2.0
starting at $750/concurrent license and
$1500/server
Spectrum Software
Atlanta, Georgia
(770)
448-8662
http://www.spectrumscm.com/
SpectrumSCM is a java-based source configuration and management tool.
Version 2.0 is launching tomorrow, but they got an early copy to me and
gave me the green light to talk about it. There are a lot of different
functions covered here, including:
- Version control
- Issue tracking
- Change management
- Process control
- Workflow
- Release management
Everything in SpectrumSCM revolves around change requests (CRs). You
start a job by creating and assigning a CR. Then you can edit files to
satisfy the CR, and group the fixes into releases. If multiple change
requests edit the same file, SpectrumSCM makes sure that you include all
of the earlier requests in a release if you include the later CR.
Pretty much everything here is customizable: the workflow, the user
groups, the attributes of change requests, and so on. In addition to a
native Java client, there's an applet version for Web access to your
repository. You'll find all sorts of features built in here, from a chat
client in the SCM workspace to a diff-merge tool to several built-in
editors with integrated SCM functionality. Indeed, the product is a bit
overwhelming; plan on spending some serious time to learn what all you can
do here, and to figure out how it works in the cross-platform user
interface. Then, when that's all done, you can dig into the integration
bits: SpectrumSCM supports the Microsoft SCCI interface, acts as an
Eclipse plugin, and has its own API to boot.
New features in version 2.0 include a role-based access control system,
a synchronization utility to match up your local working directory with
the enterprise repository, renaming and moving within the repository
without losing history, and integration with Microsoft Office. There's
also a wizard-driven process for setting up your first project that will
help you navigate around the SpectrumSCM interface. This is a good thing
because there is plenty here.
SpectrumSCM has customer references from some pretty large projects,
and it's definitely a mature solution. In fact, it's pretty much the most
feature-rich collection of SCM functionality I've seen in a single box.
The price tag may seem a bit high, but when you consider how many
individual applications it might replace, it seems a lot more reasonable.
You can get hooked up with an evaluation download from the company's Web
site.
Mike Gunderloy, MCSE, MCSD .NET,
MCDBA is an independent software consultant and author working in eastern
Washington. He’s the editor of ADT's Developer Central newsletter and
author of numerous books and articles. You can reach him at MikeG1@larkfarm.com.
This article originally appeared in the May 2004
issue. |
printable format
e-mail to a
friend
