Version Control System

At its core, a version control system (VCS) is a tool designed to track changes in files over time. Most often, it’s used in software development, but it’s also incredibly useful in fields like content creation, UI/UX design, or any area where multiple people are collaborating on a shared project.

Instead of saving over the same document repeatedly — and not being able to go back — a VCS stores a history of every change. 

Imagine if you could press rewind on any design you've been iterating for days—powerful, right? That’s what a version control system can do.

Here’s why a VCS is indispensable, especially for teams like those at Tenet working on explosive growth marketing projects or sleek UI/UX designs:

Let’s say Tenet is helping a client design a custom CMS or mobile app. Without VCS, multiple team members updating the same project file could lead to conflicts or overwriting someone’s work. With version control, everyone works from the same version, with every edit tracked.

Made a mistake? Realized the previous design was better? A VCS allows you to roll back to any previous version with ease. This is especially valuable in experiments, like CRO, where tweaks and testing cycles are frequent.

When global teams — like those across Tenet’s 15+ countries — contribute to one project, things can get messy. A version control system keeps everyone’s additions organized and prevents unnecessary conflicts.

Curious about who introduced that genius feature or caught that critical bug? VCS logs don’t just show every change — they also assign authorship. This is crucial for accountability and tracking progress across SaaS app development, app builds, and beyond.

There are two main kinds. Let’s take a peek:

Centralized Version Control Systems (CVCS) 

Think of a “central hub” approach. Teams rely on a single server where files and their histories are stored. Team members pull updates from and push changes back to this central server.

• Advantage: Simplicity and less infrastructure.
• Limitation: If the central repository goes down… well, you’re stuck.
• 🛠 Example: Subversion.

Distributed Version Control Systems (DVCS) 

Here, every contributor has their own copy of the project’s entire history. No central hub is required to function day-to-day. Even if the main repository crashes, individual copies remain unaffected.

• Advantage: Nothing is lost even if the server is down.
• Limitation: More complex to understand for beginners.
• 🛠 Example: Git (Yep, the one powering platforms like GitHub!).

Here's a comparison table that outlines the key differences between Git and Version Control Systems (VCS) in general:

If you’re new to this, here’s a quick checklist showcasing the perks of VCS:

• History Tracking: Every file change is stored, meaning you never lose work.
• File Conflict Resolution: Avoid overwriting someone else’s updates.
• Backup Safety: With tools like Git, your work is safe even if your laptop crashes.
• Streamlined Teamwork: Excellent for large teams working together on cross-platform apps.
• Branching Without Breaking: Experiment freely, with zero anxiety about “breaking” something critical.

Short answer: Yes! Whether you’re an indie designer crafting brand designs or a software team pushing daily UX updates, VCS tools can get anyone on the right track.