Re: Is there a mean to set up cvs to check-out methods?

[Mike Ayers]

Cristian Romanescu wrote:

> I have a request from my boss, to find a mean to check-out from the
> repository not files, but at method level. Is there a way to set-up cvs to
> do that?

	Ummm - does your boss realize that this is an unsound request?  Allow me to 
elaborate.  The file is the (almost universal) fundamental unit of 
compilation.  As such, everything in a file is run through the compiler 
together, and is therefore subject to the scope of compilation (example: 
static variables in C are visible to all methods in the same file, but nowhere 
else).  Therefore, checkout by method isn't a generally sound strategy, 
because you are not isolating the scope of the method.

	Example: Programmer A checks out a method and makes a small but reasonable 
change.  Programmer B checks out another method in the same file and makes a 
small but reasonable change.  If these methods share file scoped data, then 
there is a possibility that these two changes, when merged (a checkout by 
method system will still have to merge, it will just do so automatically), 
will yield a broken file.

	I suggest that you and your boss take a good look at what you are trying to 
achieve.  There is probably a more reasonable solution, such as 
method-per-file code storage, to achieve your ends.


/|/|ike