Article updated July 2024 Source control, aka version control, is the method of tracking and managing changes to software code. Source Control Management (SCM) systems offer a running history of code changes and can be particularly helpful for teams of developers making changes to the same files. As a critical aspect of responsible software development, source control helps developers track code changes, see complete revision history, and revert back to a previous version of a project if needed.

As a full-stack developer working on complex web applications, I often face challenges with tracking code changes, understanding commit histories, and managing branches. GitLens for VS Code has completely changed how I handle these tasks. It helps me quickly identify who made changes, when they were made, and why, all without leaving my editor, saving me countless hours of digging through commit logs and trying to piece together a project’s history.

When it comes to improving your coding workflow, Visual Studio Code (VS Code) extensions are a fan favorite among devs worldwide. Well-known extensions like Prettier for code formatting, ESLint for identifying and fixing problems, and Live Server for launching a local server are fantastic, but there are plenty of hidden gems offering unique features these popular tools don’t cover. We turned to Reddit to find out which lesser-known VS Code extensions the community’s talking about.

Article updated June 2024 Is your current Subversion (SVN) version control system not meeting the needs of your development team? Perhaps you’ve heard of Git, but you’re so entrenched in SVN that converting to a new version control system seems like a daunting task. Fear not! No task is insurmountable when you have the power of the legendary GitKraken Desktop on your side.

Setting up your first Git repository is a bit like writing your first “Hello World” program – it’s a fundamental step in your development journey! And just like “Hello World” introduced you to the basics of coding, creating a Git repo is the first step towards effective collaboration and project management.

Picture this: you’re working on a big project with tight deadlines, juggling multiple pull requests, and just when you think you’re getting ahead, you hit a merge conflict that throws everything into chaos. Your inbox is flooded with GitHub notifications, you’ve lost track of which issues are the most urgent, and the code review feedback is as clear as mud. Sound familiar? Well, you’re not alone.

Writing optimal code is crucial for developers, and human collaboration is key to achieving this. Code review tools are essential for maintaining the integrity of well-built products, which are vital for software development. We are a team of developers that love building tools that optimize our worlds. As engineers, designers and product managers, we identified many challenges in standard Git workflows that inhibited us from working more effectively together.

TL;DR: GitKraken acquires CodeSee and launches the unified GitKraken DevEx Platform, enhancing workflows across all major development environments and setting new standards in developer tools. Dive in to discover our powerful new features and how they contribute to simplifying your coding life. Almost a decade ago, we introduced GitKraken Client with a clear mission: make Git simpler for developers.

When you’re working on a complex project, keeping track of all the who’s, what’s, and when’s of code changes can be a daunting task. From deciphering the origins of a specific line to understanding the entire journey your project has undergone through its various stages of development, the challenges can be numerous and nuanced – especially for devs working on large teams.

Code reviews can quickly become code catch-ups – you’re sifting through countless commits, trying to understand the story behind a particular piece of code. Who made this change? When was this pushed? Which files were modified? These blockers can make code reviews feel like wasted time digging through the project’s commit history. That’s where GitLens comes into play, providing powerful Git functionalities right into VS Code.