Mercurial
 | |
| Original author(s) | Matt Mackall |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Matt Mackall; others |
| Initial release | April 19, 2005 (0.1)[1] |
| Stable release |
6.6.1 (December 7, 2023) [±] |
| Preview release | 5.7.0 RC0 (January 19, 2021) [±] |
| Written in | Python, C |
| Operating system | Cross-platform |
| Type | Revision control software |
| License(s) | GNU General Public License v2.0 |
| Website | mercurial.selenic.com |
Mercurial is a free open-source distributed revision control (or "source control management" [SCM]) tool for software developers.
Product history
Mercurial was devised by developer Matt Mackall as a replacement for revision control software BitKeeper. On April 6, 2005, BitKeeper developer Bitmover announced the free version of BitKeeper would no longer be available. This prompted Mackall to begin work on a replacement system which he called Mercurial.[2] On April 19, Mackall released the first open-source version of Mercurial as version 0.1 to be a simple, scalable, and efficient version control replacement tool.[1] Much later, when asked about the origin of the Mercurial name on the associated Google Group, Mackall responded[3]:
Shortly before the first release, I read an article about the ongoing Bitkeeper debacle that described Larry McVoy as mercurial (in the sense of "fickle"). Given the multiple meanings, the convenient abbreviation, and the good fit with my pre-existing naming scheme (see my email address), it clicked instantly. Mercurial is thus named in Larry's honor. I do not know if the same is true of Git.
On September 19, 2006, Mercurial joined the Software Freedom Conservancy, home of free and open-source software (FOSS) projects, in order to focus less on administration and more on producing project code.[4]
In April 2009, Google Code announced it would be supporting Mercurial (alongside Subversion) for its open-source software projects.[5] In September 2010, Microsoft's CodePlex.com donated $25,000 to the Mercurial project to help developer Mackall accelerate development as a full-time effort.[6]
Features
The features of Mercurial include[7]:
- distributed
- speedy data structures
- platform-independent
- extensible
Hardware/software requirements
The main installation requirement for Mercurial is Python 2.4 to 2.7, though most distributions will already contain this. Consult the installation information for more.
Videos, screenshots, and other media
- Several Mercurial-related videos can be found here.
- Screenshots for Mercurial are available on software.informer.
Entities using Mercurial
Further reading
External links
- Mercurial wiki
- TortoiseHg, a Windows GUI for Mercurial
- MacHg, a Mac GUI for Mercurial
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mackall, Matt (20 April 2005). "Mercurial v0.1 - a minimal scalable distributed SCM". Indiana University. http://www.ussg.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/0504.2/0670.html. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
- ↑ Mackall, Matt. [http://mercurial.selenic.com/wiki/Presentations?action=AttachFile&do=get&target=ols-mercurial.pdf "Towards A Better SCM: Revlog and Mercurial"] (PDF). Selenic Consulting. http://mercurial.selenic.com/wiki/Presentations?action=AttachFile&do=get&target=ols-mercurial.pdf. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
- ↑ Toft, Peter; Mackall, Matt (15 February 2012). "Why did Matt choose the name Mercurial?". Google. http://groups.google.com/group/mercurial_general/browse_thread/thread/737fd2337a7b4b59/90d9fc0f98381fe6?show_docid=9776a64773dedbde. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
- ↑ "Mercurial Joins Software Freedom Conservancy, Retains Services of Software Freedom Law Center". LXer. 19 September 2006. http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/69900/. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
- ↑ Paul, Ryan (27 April 2009). "Google Code to support Mercurial version control system". Ars Technica. http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2009/04/google-code-adds-mercurial-version-control-system/. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
- ↑ Feugey, David (9 September 2010). "Microsoft CodePlex.com finance le projet Mercurial". silicon.fr. http://www.silicon.fr/codeplexcom-microsoft-finance-le-projet-mercurial-41806.html. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
- ↑ "Mercurial source control management". Selenic Consulting. http://mercurial.selenic.com/about/. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
