
Too often, as software companies grow, a long-term strategy for managing the codebase takes the backburner until it becomes too difficult to manage. These fast-growing companies look appealing to VCs and potential investors, but behind the scenes they’re a mess: original source code can’t be tracked down; data repositories are spread across multiple production systems (and can’t be located); the codebase was written without any best practices or management in place. When left unmanaged, these issues can result in a multitude of problems, whether it’s a lost investment or a messy codebase.
This doesn’t have to be your experience. You can ensure your code can grow and scale together with your company. Here are three things to consider when choosing your software version management system to effectively manage your ongoing source code development:Adapt to the current climate
Ever since the dot-com bust, software companies have faced more cautious venture capitalists and angel investors, who do not want their ventures allocating resources (both personnel and financial) on support systems.Set the foundation today
Picking the right tool from the get-go is critical for your start-up. Done right, it will create a strong base to protect your future success, providing a record for eventual patent filing and establishing prior use when needed. Ideally, the source code version management system you select will have a wide entrance ramp, offering not only favorable pricing for your small team, but easy deployment to a virtual machine or the cloud. Equally important is ensuring your system supports remote workers and fits seamlessly into other tools, including IDEs and Office applications. You want a system that is a team player, supporting cross-functional groups of employees, from artists to writers to even finance managers. Maintenance should be minimal so your company isn’t dependent on an army of experts to function.Be ready for future growth
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