Introduction and overview of the SCM plan and tools

Software Configuration Management (SCM) is a process used to manage and control software development projects. It involves the management of software artifacts, such as source code, documentation, and libraries, as well as the processes used to create and manage these artifacts.

An SCM plan is a document that outlines the processes and procedures to be followed for software configuration management. The plan includes details about the software artifacts to be managed, the tools and processes to be used for version control, change management, release management, and build management.

The SCM plan provides a framework for software development teams to ensure that software artifacts are properly managed throughout the development lifecycle. It helps to prevent errors and defects from being introduced into the software product and ensures that software products meet customer needs and requirements.

SCM tools are software applications used to manage and control software development projects. These tools are designed to facilitate the various SCM processes, including version control, change management, release management, and build management. SCM tools provide features such as revision history, change tracking, branching and merging, and automated build and release management.

Some commonly used SCM tools include Git, Subversion, Mercurial, and Perforce. These tools are widely used in the software development industry and are considered essential for ensuring that software products are developed and maintained in a controlled and consistent manner.