HP/ClearCase
Product Brief

A powerful UNIX software engineering toolset for version control, 
configuration management, and process control without changing the way 
you or your current environment works.HP/ClearCase(TM) is designed for 
large-scale and long-lived software development projects. It is 
targeted at teams of developers working in a UNIX local area network.
   HP/ClearCase manages multiple versions of evolving software, tracks 
which versions were used in software builds, performs builds and re-
builds of individual programs or entire releases according to user-
defined version specifications, and enforces project-defined 
development policies.

Highlights
o Complete Transparency - any UNIX application or command, without 
  modification, can transparently access versioned objects in a 
  repository. A HP/ClearCase repository is implemented as an extensible 
  part of the UNIX file system so that access to objects in the 
  repository is through the standard UNIX file system.
o Rule-Based Configurations - developers can easily create development 
  environments with simple, concise version selection rules to tune the 
  sharing and isolation of objects. The resulting "view" is created 
  quickly and with minimum storage overhead.
o Binary Sharing - different configurations share binaries 
  automatically and correctly, minimizing rebuilds and unnecessary 
  copies.
o Build Auditing - file system level auditing captures and records 
  complete configuration information for every build, supporting 
  complete rebuildability and maintainability.

HP/ClearCase Key Advantages
o HP/ClearCase controls versions of requirements, designs, tests, and 
  documentation. Every UNIX file system object, including source, text, 
  binaries, executables, libraries, bitmaps, and the directories that 
  name these objects, are stored and versioned in a highly reliable 
  repository.
o HP/ClearCase accurately and automatically records all dependencies, 
  enabling you to guarantee correct re-builds.
o HP/ClearCase is designed to grow as you grow. The system will work 
  efficiently for both small development efforts and large projects 
  involving hundreds of people with millions of lines of code.
o HP/ClearCase was designed with the knowledge that no two 
  organizations are exactly alike. The system offers a set of powerful 
  tools for developing customized policy controls and procedures.
o HP/ClearCase manages numerous development configurations 
  automatically, without copies or links. If twenty engineers are 
  working on three releases of a software system, they are not working 
  on three configurations, they are working on 20 or more configurations 
  that have many versions of sources and binaries in common.

Version Control
o HP/ClearCase maintains a blueprint of the variants of each object 
  (files and directories). There is no limit on the number, or nesting 
  level, of branches from the main development line.
o HP/ClearCase stores meta-data for each version and optimizes storage 
  via delta compression.
o HP/ClearCase contains powerful, n-way graphical compare and merge 
  capabilities for parallel development.

Build Environment Management
o A developer easily selects the versions of those objects that they 
  want to work on by applying flexible selection rules - configuration 
  specifications - to the repository.
o Engineers have a workspace in which they can perform their everyday 
  tasks - editing, building, debugging - in partial isolation but share 
  access to data in the actual development tree with other members of 
  the team.

Configuration Management
o HP/ClearCase builds using makefiles. It monitors file I/O to 
  accurately and automatically produce a complete record of all system 
  build dependencies including: objects used and versions selected, 
  command options used, and tools invoked. There is no need to specify 
  any dependencies.
o Parallel, distributed builds can be performed using several 
  processors, either on a single multi-processor host or on multiple 
  hosts in a network.

Process Control
o Triggers execute user-defined programs or shell scripts prior to, or 
  in response to, HP/ClearCase events (e.g. checkin.)
o Attributes are user-defined data attachable to any version or 
  object.
o Hyperlinks connect diverse objects to maintain logical relationships 
  for requirements tracking.

Who Should Use HP/ClearCase
o UNIX programming teams working on substantial software development 
  projects who wish to manage this software, over time, as a critical 
  asset of the business.
o Programmers familiar with make, RCS, SCCS, or DSEE who are looking 
  for a richer, more capable version control and configuration 
  management solution.
o Programmers and development teams looking to move to version control 
  and configuration management for the first time and who need the 
  solution to work with currently installed tools and methodologies.
o Companies wishing to gain control over the software development 
  process by implementing defined policies and procedures.

Key Features
o Versions ASCII text files
o Delta compression
o Versions binaries, libraries, and executables
o Versions third-party software file formats
o Versions directories and sub-directories
o Direct, transparent access to all versioned objects
o Maintains annotated history of source changes
o Checkin/checkout development model
o Parallel development support
o Multiple version labels
o Graphical n-way compare/merge
o Rule-based version selection
o Multiple active views of configurations
o Binary sharing
o Automated build audit
o Heterogenous, parallel, distributed builds
o No need to specify header-file dependencies
o make compatible build facility
o RCS, SCCS, DSEE, and UNIX file conversion utilities
o X/Motif and UNIX shell command user interface
o General name/value attributes
o Pre- and post-event triggers
o Automatic merge of versions built in parallel
o Client/server architecture
o Manages numerous configurations automatically, without copies or 
  links.

Product Support
HP/ClearCase comes with a comprehensive set of 
user documentation that describes the operation of the system. 
Additionally, a full program of customer support is available 
including software updates, education and training, consulting, and 
hotline product help service.

Platform Availability
o HP 9000 Series 700 systems

Software
o HP-UX 8.07 or later 

Typical Development Team Configuration
o Client machines: 16 MB RAM, 400 MB disk
o Server machines: 32 MB RAM, 1 GB diskUNIX is a registered trademark 
  of UNIX System Laboratories, Inc. in the USA and other countries.  
  OSF/Motif is a trademark of the Open Software Foundation.ClearCase is 
  a trademark of Atria Software, Inc.

HP/ClearCase, Product Brief
Copyright (C) Hewlett-Packard Company, 1992
Printed in USA 920601

Associated Files: none