fossil

Execute a Fossil subcommand

$ fossil [subcommand]

$ fossil help

$ fossil help [subcommand]

$ fossil version

fossil command [options]

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.

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.

Fossil refers to revisions and other objects stored in the repository as "artifacts". Each artifact is identified by a unique SHA1 hash.

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.

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.

git(1), svn(1), cvs(1)