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Software Configuration Management in an Object Oriented Database


Mick Jordan
mjj@Eng.Sun.COM

Michael L. Van De Vanter
mlvdv@Eng.Sun.COM

Sun Microsystems Laboratories
2550 Garcia Avenue
Mountain View, CA 94043 USA

Abstract

The task of configuration management for software development environments is not well supported by conventional files, directories, and ad hoc persistence mechanisms. Typed, immutable objects combined with ubiquitous versioning provide a much more sound basis. A prototype configuration management system currently under development relies upon persistent objects provided by a commercial object-oriented database system. Mechanisms and policies developed for this prototype simplify programming with persistent objects; results include simplicity of both design and implementation, as well as flexibility, and extensibility. Initial measurements suggest that performance is acceptable.


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