We've been having a right good old natter on the ScottishCFUG Google Group, in particular about why Version Control is essential to all software development.

One of the group members asked:

All that you mention sounds very cool but i want to see what benefits it can bring a sole developer.

A reply by Alan Williamson, in my opinion, was so important I wanted to repeat it here.

and there in is the trap that many lone consultants/developers face; stop thinking of yourself as a single entity, but as a member of a team that, at present has only one member.

Alan also followed this up by stating:

I really don't know how anyone can work without version control and still claim to develop software. Bold statement? yes, but i stick by it.

I agree 100%. Any software development company who is without Version Control is ... well, it is appauling. Not only are they putting their clients at risking by not taking their business and indeed livihood seriously, but they are also inflicting damage to themselves by not making themselves as proficient as they could be, but they are also damaging their own reputation... I look on any software development firm who doesn't use Version Control as one who shouldn't be in this business. Calling them amateur, well I think I'm being rather generous.

In the past, when I've been the client, one stipulation I've also insisted on being in any contract is that the company doing the work has a Version Control system in place. If they didn't, end of conversation.

Even as a sole developer you should be using Version Control.

So, just to finish up, here's a couple of reasons why you should be using Version Control. Feel free to add more by leaving a comment.

• Provides a history of all changes
• Recover accidental deletions
• Helps co-ordinate new releases by deploying a build corresponding to a specific revision.
• Supports development by X number of developers
• Enables remote working if your repositories are public facing (and secure).
• It's not just for code. You can store all your contracts, legal documents, staff policies in Version Control.

It's been a while since I've been to London (July 2004) but I'm heading down from Glasgow this Sunday (14th) to see some old Uni friends, catch up with a few CF compadres and ... let's be honest, to drink heavily :) Interestingly enough, Peter Bell is in London at the same time so we've already agreed to meet up for a few beers. (Bizarrely Peter is currently in Edinburgh so it's strange that in meeting up, we're doing so in London) Mark Drew, Kev McCabe, Neil Robertson-Ravo and potentially a few others are joining us so if there's anyone else in the area, pop along and I'll buy you a beer. The plan is to meet in Point 101 at 6.30pm and then we can head elsewhere if required. So if you're planning on showing up, leave me a comment, or email me directly at andy@my_domain_name_up_there :)

Not much else to say other than Scotch on the Rocks 2007 is a go! http://scotch.scottishcfug.com Stephen has more info on the conference here

There's been a discussion brewing today. It started off about the potential need for a ColdFusion User Group in Northern England (the UKCFUG in London and and the ScottishCFUG in Edinburgh being too far away) and from there it digressed to the topic of where are all the UK based ColdFusion developers. As an aside, the ScottishCFUG have moved to an entirely online medium, using Adobe Connect to deliver all their meetings. This removes a lot of the restrictions often highlighted by people who don't attend. We also try and arrange quartely meetups, whether it be the pub, Karting or the as yet ill-fated poker night, to maintain that real life interaction. From the various blog postings about CFDevCon, there were around 200 developers in attedance yet neither the UKCFUG nor the ScottishCFUG sees anywhere like that for the Groups monthly meetings. In fact, you're lucky to get 20. In regards the ScottishCFUG, we have around 160 folks on the old mailing list, and 60 subscribers to the more recent Google list. So, have we really lost 100 folks? The answer is no, because I still have discussions with folks from the old list who have never signed up for the new one. The UK CF Developer list was also talked about. Whilst there seems to be a steady stream of posts, it always seems to be the same people posting. I can't confirm numbers on that list (run by Russ Michaels) but it's fair to say that neither the SCFUG or UK CF Developer list are a fair representation of just how many CF developers there are based in the UK. So, this brought up a roll call to try and find out where these CF developers are, and more importantly why they don't attend User Group meetings, post on lists, etc. So I'm taking this opportunity to appeal to the UK CF community to come forward and let themselves be know. Why not register yourself on the UK CFDeveloper Frappr map. Additionally why not post here and say why you attend/don't attend User Group meetings, why you don't post to lists, etc. From a Scottish perspective I'm pointing fingers at Alienation Design, Network Build, NHS Tayside, Fife Council, Edinburgh University, Robert Gordon University to name but a few.