What is CVS?

[ZAmodeo]

Salutations, everyone!
I guess this question is self explanitory. I've read various things about CVS and CVS trees, but I don't know what they are even though I have a feeling nearly everyone else does. I know it's a way to get programs, but I don't know what it does to get you them, whether it's P2P or what. Also, while I'm at it, what's this compiling thing? Is it getting software to work with your system or customizing it somehow? I think it has somehthing to do with CVS, like CVS offers uncompiled files....That's why I'm asking, I really don't know what this stuff does. Thanks in advance for the info!

[binaryDigit]

http://www.cvshome.org/

cvs is used to manage source code for developers.
although i have heard of people who use cvs to do backups for other files. it allows several delevopers to edit the same source code at the same time and resolves conflicts from mismatched entries.

compiling is the process of taking source code and turning it into machine code that can be run (executable)

that is the very generic definition.

for example the gnu c compiler (gcc) takes source code and compiles it into assembly. then invokes an assembler (gas) and turns that into machine code.

there are many more steps involved then just that, but it is a basic overview of what is happening.

not everyone knows this, so don't feel bad :D