fossil
Manage distributed software configuration and version control
TLDR
Execute a Fossil subcommand
Display help
Display help for a specific subcommand (like add, commit, etc.)
Display version
SYNOPSIS
fossil command [options]
PARAMETERS
clone URL FILENAME
Create a local repository by cloning from a remote repository.
commit [options]
Check-in changes into the repository.
update [BRANCH]
Update the current branch to the latest version.
merge BRANCH
Merge changes from the specified branch into the current branch.
push URL
Push local changes to a remote repository.
pull
Pull changes from the remote repository.
revert FILENAME
Revert changes to a specific file.
status
Show the status of the working directory.
timeline
Display the timeline of changes in the repository.
init FILENAME
Create a new empty repository.
server FILENAME
Run a webserver for serving the project from the specified repository.
DESCRIPTION
Fossil is a distributed version control system (DVCS) that aims to be simple, high-reliability, and user-friendly.
Unlike traditional client-server VCS like CVS or Subversion, Fossil is designed to be self-contained. It bundles version control, configuration management, bug tracking, wiki, and forum functionalities into a single, stand-alone executable and a single data file.
This all-in-one approach promotes easy setup and portability, since everything needed for a project is contained within one easily transferable archive. Fossil emphasizes ease of use and aims to minimize the number of commands a user needs to learn. It's particularly well-suited for small to medium-sized projects where simplicity and minimal administrative overhead are priorities. Fossil supports automatic synchronization of repositories and has built-in web interface for browsing the repository, viewing changes, and managing tickets.
ARTIFACTS
Fossil refers to revisions and other objects stored in the repository as "artifacts". Each artifact is identified by a unique SHA1 hash.
CONFIGURATION
Fossil's behavior can be customized through a variety of configuration settings. These settings are stored within the repository itself, allowing for project-specific configurations.
HISTORY
Fossil was created by D. Richard Hipp, the author of SQLite. It was developed as a replacement for CVS and Subversion, aiming to provide a more integrated and easier-to-use version control system.
Development began around 2007, and it has been used extensively in the development of SQLite itself. Its focus on simplicity, reliability, and self-containment has made it appealing for various projects where these qualities are highly valued.