Revision Control System

The Revision Control System (RCS ) is a software for managing versions of files on the computer. It is specifically designed for text files such as source code, configuration files or documentation for the administration and documentation of changes.

RCS manages individual files and therefore can not be used or only partially to manage entire projects. RCS is substantially similar to SCCS. Since RCS but unlike SCCS any checksum into the history file and the last current version saves overall, it is more susceptible to undetected defects in the History file as SCCS. Especially in the case of software development, it was replaced by CVS, which is a network-capable attachment to RCS was initially, but has since only the common file format with RCS.

RCS was originally developed in the early 1980s by Walter F. Tichy, who was employed at that time at Purdue University. RCS is now part of the GNU project, but is still further developed by Purdue University.