Essentials Of Rational Clearcase Module 1: Getting Started: Ibm Software Group

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IBM Software Group

Essentials of Rational ClearCase Module 1: Getting Started

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Objectives Upon completing this module, you should be able to:  Define software configuration management (SCM)  Explain how ClearCase implements SCM  Explain ClearCase roles  Define basic ClearCase terminology and concepts  Explain the typical developer workflow in ClearCase  Set up your ClearCase workspace  Access ClearCase Help

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Software Development and Change  Software development involves change  A defect to be fixed  An existing function to be enhanced  A new feature to be added  A new platform to support  A customer-driven special project  Internationalization

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Change Causes Developers Pain  Working in isolation, you can’t “see” code changes made by team members  You can’t work in parallel on files that a co-worker is modifying  You frequently lose time and have to redo work because of lost defects or overwritten code  You have trouble determining which versions of the code you should be working on  You have difficulty answering your manager’s questions about project status  You don’t know who on the team is working on what  You have no idea which versions of files went into a build 4

Software Configuration Management (SCM)

“SCM is about managing change to software.” Brian White, Software Configuration Management Strategies and Rational ClearCase (2000)

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Software Configuration Management (cont.)  A successful SCM effort ensures:  Safety  Stability  Control  Auditability  Reproducibility  Traceability  Scalability

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ClearCase Implements SCM  Version control

 Workspace management

 Version all types of files and directories

 Work in parallel with other developers

 Build management

 Process control

 Ensure the integrity of all software elements  Accurately reproduce every release  Trace and reproduce builds

 Record and report actions, history, and milestones  Customize process

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ClearCase Roles  ClearCase developer

 ClearCase integrator

 Set up workspace  Make changes  Integrate changes  Update workspace

 Create integration workspace  Create baselines  Build components

 ClearCase configuration manager

 ClearCase administrator  Set up hardware environment  Implement development environment  Maintain hardware and development environments

 Write CM plan  Design development environment  Establish CM Policies  Assign and schedule work  Monitor project status 8

Typical Developer ClearCase Workflow

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Typical Workflow: Setting Up Your Workspace

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What Is a Versioned Object Base (VOB)?  A permanent, read-only data repository that:  Stores files, directories, and metadata  Stores version-controlled data  Displays its contents as files in a file system  Stores anything that can be represented as a file or directory  Can be replicated in two or more sites

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Projects and VOBs  A project can span more than one VOB  Multiple projects can share common VOBs

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What Is an Element?  A file or a directory, under source control, stored in a ClearCase VOB  Can be any object that can be stored in a native file system, including:  Source files  Directories  Binary files  Object libraries  Documents 13

What Is a Version?  An element consists of a set of versions, organized into a version tree  Each version represents one revision of a file under source control  Versions are displayed in a workspace or view

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What Is a View?  A ClearCase mechanism that allows users access to versions of elements in VOBs  An isolated workspace for a user or a group  Enables users to work in parallel

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What Is a Configuration Specification?  For each view, a set of ordered rules used to select at most one version of each element  Determine which versions of an element are visible in the view

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Types of Views

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Which Type of View Should I Use? Dynamic

Snapshot

• You want to access elements in repositories without copying them to your computer

• You are using Win 9X, Win ME, or ClearCase LT, which do not support dynamic views

• You want the view to reflect changes made by other team members at all times

• You want to work disconnected from the network • You do not need build avoidance

• Your project uses build auditing 18

Structure of a Dynamic View

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Structure of a Snapshot View

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Intro to ClearCase Explorer

Folder Pane

Details Pane

Shortcut Pane

Information Pane

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Creating a Dynamic View Base ClearCase

1 Launch the View Creation Wizard.

2 Select Dynamic View.

Toolbox tab 22

Creating a Dynamic View (cont.) 3 Choose a view name (or view-tag). 4 Select a drive letter to which you want to connect the new view, or you can select {none} and work directly on the MVFS (M:) drive. 5 Click Advanced Options.

6 Accept the default or specify the location of the view storage directory.

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Starting a View  Each view has a unique tag name  When you create a dynamic view, it starts automatically, or you can start a different dynamic view 2 Select the view you want to start, and then click OK. 1 Click Start View.

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Dynamic Views Drive

When started, the dynamic view always appears under the MVFS drive.

When you start a view, it can also be mapped to a logical drive.

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Mounting a VOB for Dynamic Views  The mount command activates a VOB for use on the local workstation  You access a VOB through its unique tag name

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ClearCase Online Manuals  Select Help > Help Topics to access the ClearCase online manuals  Manuals are in .pdf format

Online Manuals

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Help Topics Search the index

Search by keyword

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Module Review  What is SCM?  How does ClearCase help you manage change to software?  What tasks are involved in setting up your workspace?  What is a VOB? Element? Version? View?  How do you access particular versions of elements in a ClearCase VOB?  What is the difference between a snapshot view and a dynamic view?  How do you access online Help in ClearCase? 29

Module Lab  In this lab, you will:  Launch ClearCase GUI  Create a dynamic view  Mount a VOB

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