A very good description from "Software Configuration Management A Roadmap":

SCM is the control of the evolution of complex systems.

Source Code Administration

Source Code is the intellectual property of any organization. Understanding and properly protecting this valuable asset is SCM's highest priority.

Software Builds

Software building, otherwise known as integration, is the process of taking all source code files that make up an application and compiling it into build artifacts such as binaries or executables.

SCM ensures that this building process adheres to the following best practices:

Change Control

The ability to apply proper controls to the software development process to ensure only appropriate and approved changes are being added to the application.

Configuration Management

Managing the build and runtime environment for an application to ensure the integrity of the application.

History

In the 1980s, the first source control systems were built by companies in house. They were exclusively for file control.

As the these systems matured and more features and controls were required, the first commercial products were being developed and sold in the 1990s.

By 1998, the SCM tool market was over one billion dollars annually.

By the late 1990s, the first fully functioning SCM tools that included source control, change control, build management and defect tracking were being developed and sold.

Now, the SCM market is over $10 Billion annually. The tools are evolving at a rapid rate. They include many development processes such as Agile, CMMI and Iterative methodologies.

Many experts consider SCM to be one of the very few Software Engineering successes.

Purpose of this Site

This site is to be a central repository for the collection of best practices, processes, methodologies and tools that surround SCM.

The purpose of this site may be impossible to accomplish, but the attempt will be made.

Software Configuration Management Blog The Software Configuration Management Blog is a place to stay up-to-date with additions and changes to www.scmwise.com

How SOX is affecting SCM SOX reporting and testing requirements are mandating formal approvals and reviews of people who have access to application source code.

Software Build The Software Build, otherwise known as integration, is the process of taking all source code files that make up an application and compiling it into build artifacts such as binaries or executables.

Agile Agile attempts to minimize risk by developing software in short iterations. This development methodology is about adaptability. Because of the chaotic nature of software development, it may be impos

CMMI and SCM CMMI, Capability Maturity Model Integration, is a process

Six Sigma and SCM Six Sigma and SCM, Software Configuration Management,

ITIL Information Technology Infrastructure Library ITIL, Information Technology Infrastructure Library, is a set of best practices that support the delivery of Information Technology[IT] services.

Software Engineering and SCM SCM is a discipline of software engineering. It is the actual building of the software application and the enforcement of the SCM best practices.

Software Testing Software Testing are the practices and process for testing and ensure software quality.

Configuration Management Configuration Management and SCM

Release Management Release Management is the process for managing the software release.

Software Development Process A Software Development Process is the methodology used to develop software.

Subversion Subversion is the fastest growing SCM Source Control Tool.

Source Code Source Code is the intellectual property of any organization. Understanding and properly protecting this valuable asset is SCM's highest priority.

Listing of Forrester Reports of SCM Tools This is a listing of Forrester Reports of SCM tools.

SCM Jobs SCM Jobs can be challenging, rewarding and financially lucrative.

SCM Salaries This page is a survey of SCM salaries of different SCM roles.

Contact Us This is the SCMWise.com Contact Page

SCMWise EZine SCMWise EZine distributes news and information that closely relates and impacts Software Configuration Management on a day-to-day basis.

Feature Driven Development Feature Driven Development, FDD, is a short-iteration development process. It consists of five basic activities: Develop an Overall Model, Build a Feature List, Plan by Feature, Design by Feature, Bu

Configuration Management Database Configuration Management Database is a central repository for all configuration items in a

CM Proposal This page is a CM Proposal for a company to structure their CM Team.

Disaster Recovery The purpose of this page is to establish a standard for disaster recovery for systems, applications and their configurations.

SCM War Stories SCM War Stories are a collection of typical SCM anti-patterns that most experienced SCM Engineers have all lived through.