VCS Survey Summary (December 2004)

Total number of respondents 183
Most used VCS system: CVS 78, 89%
Use NetBeans as VCS Client: 54,65%

Which version control system do you use? (all that apply)

CVS
Subversion
PVCS
Visual Source Safe
Perforce
ClearCase
TeamWare
Other:

Results: 183 respondents

CVS	:	79.78%
Subversion	:	34.43%
PVCS	:	2.73%
VSS	:	9.29%
Perforce	:	6.01%
ClearCase	:	9.84%
Tteamware	:	5.46%
Other	:	6.56%

Which VCS functionality do you use often? (all that apply)

basic synchronization (refresh / update, commit)
file comparing and merging (diff for locally modified files)
adding and removing files / folders
examining status or history of files (status, log, annotate, diff between revisions)
creating tags and branches
diff-ing and merging between branches
setting up a new repository or a new project / module in existing repository

Results: 183 respondents

Basic synchronisation	:	98.88%
File comparing	:	92.74%
Adding and removing	:	93.30%
Status history	:	80.45%
Tags and branches	:	40.78%
Diff-ing and merging	:	43.58%
Setting up	:	30.73%

Which VCS functionality from above do you use rarely / not at all? (all that apply)

basic synchronization (refresh / update, commit)
file comparing and merging (diff for locally modified files)
adding and removing files / folders
examining status or history of files (status, log, annotate, diff between revisions)
creating tags and branches
diff-ing and merging between branches
setting up a new repository or a new project / module in existing repository

Results: 183 respondents

Basic synchronisation	:	0.56%
File comparing	:	0.56%
Adding and removing	:	1.68%
Status history	:	5.59%
Tags and branches	:	39.66%
Diff-ing and merging	:	40.22%
Setting up	:	54.19%

What kind of cooperation model you use?

optimistic - anybody can edit any file (files are not locked), concurrent modifications are solved manualy when detected
exclusive - only one person can always edit a file (it is locked for other users)

Results: 183 respondents

Optimistic	:	81.97%
Exclusive	:	18.03%

What is your primary VCS client?

NetBeans IDE
command line
WinCVS
Other:

Results: 183 respondents

NetBeans	:	54.64%
Command line	:	18.03%
WinCVS	:	3.83%
Other	:	23.50%

Do you use the advanced options of VCS commands?

Yes
No

Results: 100 respondents (use NB as their VCS client)

Yes	:	78.00%
No	:	22.00%

Do you use the VCS toolbar for most common commands?

Yes
No

Results: 100 respondents (use NB as their VCS client)

Yes	:	35.00%
No	:	65.00%

Do you use the VCS groups feature?

Yes
No

Results: 100 respondents (use NB as their VCS client)

Yes	:	12.00%
No	:	88.00%

Do you use Runtime window to inspect: (all that apply)

executed VCS commands
executed VCS commands properties
executed VCS commands output

Results: 100 respondents (use NB as their VCS client)

commands	:	43.00%
properties	:	16.00%
output	:	66.00%

Is it important for you to see the versioning status information for each file in the Explorer window?

Yes
No

Results: 100 respondents (use NB as their VCS client)

Yes	:	89.00%
No	:	11.00%

Do you use the Versioning window to explore old file revisions?

Yes
No

Results: 100 respondents (use NB as their VCS client)

Yes	:	84.00%
No	:	16.00%

Do you edit existing set of VCS commands or add new ones?

Yes
No

Results: 100 respondents (use NB as their VCS client)

Yes	:	16.00%
No	:	84.00%

Have you considered writing your own VCS profile?

Yes
No

Results: 100 respondents (use NB as their VCS client)

Yes	:	14.00%
No	:	86.00%

What do you think should be improved in NB VCS support? (all that apply)

overall workflow
integration with Projects
More features:
Other:

Results: 100 respondents (use NB as their VCS client)

Workflow	:	38.00%
Projects integration	:	42.00%
More features	:	27.00%
Other, most commonly: Integration with the rest of the IDE (e.g., refactoring) Merge / Diff improvements Support for Subversion	:	21.00%

Which connection method do you use?

local
pserver
ext
Other:

Results: 74 respondents (use NB as their VCS client, work with CVS)

pserver	:	71.00%
ext	:	26.003%
local	:	20.00%
other	:	2.00%

Which CVS client do you use:

Native (cvs.exe)
Built-in (JavaCVS)

Results: 74 respondents (use NB as their VCS client, work with CVS)

Buil-in	:	51.11%
Native	:	48.89%

What prevents you from doing most of VCS operations directly in NB?

Results: Q17, 83 respondents (do not use NB as their VCS client)

Most common areas of concerns:

• Stability / Quality
• UI & Workflow, not intuitive and hard-to-use
• Various features are either missing or inferior compared to other tools

What would potentially increase your usage of NB VCS support? (all that apply)

improved workflow
better integration with Projects
More features:
Other:

Results: 83 respondents (do not use NB as their VCS client)

Projects integration	:	50.60%
Workflow	:	32.53%
More features	:	27.71%
Other, most commonly: Improved GUI that follows workflow in my system Missing support for my VCS (mostly Subversion)	:	36.14%