If you are developing code and not using version control, start right now. I mean it. Right this second. It will, without a doubt, make your life easier. Version control is the method by which changes to information in your project are managed. This includes the ability to view changes and history, as well as revert or roll back these changes. When setting up a new team project in TFS 2015, you have the ability to choose which version control you’d like to set up: Team Foundation Version Control or Git. You are even able to use both flavors of version control in the same project. Each of these options has its merits, which we will explore in this post.

The main difference between TFVC and Git is that TFVC is centralized and Git is distributed. In other words, with TFVC there is a central copy of the code on a server that acts as the code repository and developers will commit their changes to this single copy, whereas with Git the developers have their own copy of the repository on their hard drive where they commit changes before pushing to the master repository. You can read more about TFVC here, and more about Git here.

The biggest benefit for Git lies in the ability to commit locally before pushing to the master repository; this can significantly reduce the negative impact of a bad commit. That said, the learning curve for Git is much steeper than the learning curve for TFVC, thereby making TFVC the more new-user-friendly of the two options. Additionally, each of these version control options is advantageous for varying scenarios. For instance, Git has a much better branching experience, but TFVC takes the cake with the merging experience. You can read a more comprehensive compare and contrast of the two systems here.

As of TFS 2013, there has been out-of-the-box Git support. It is important to note that Git in Team Foundation Server is not Microsoft’s flavor of Git; it is the same Git that you know and love. Furthermore, Microsoft offers free unlimited private repos for Git, so simply stop paying for them. Conversely, TFVC is Microsoft’s proprietary source control offering. This allows for the smoothest experience and integration with the development lifecycle in TFS, as well as on-prem Active Directory support to enable unparalleled security for your intellectual property.
Still not sure which version control software to use or how to begin? Contact our team of experts at 1-888-PRAKTIK or sales@praktikconsulting.com and they will get you started.