How to use the command 'fossil' (with examples)
The ‘fossil’ command is a distributed version control system that allows users to manage their source code and track changes across multiple projects. It provides a set of subcommands that perform various operations such as version control, commit, and help.
Use case 1: Check the Fossil version
Code:
fossil version
Motivation:
Checking the Fossil version is useful to ensure that you are running the correct version of the command-line tool. Different versions may have different features or bug fixes, so it is important to know which version you are using.
Explanation:
The ‘version’ subcommand is used to display the current version of Fossil. When you execute ‘fossil version’, it will return the version number of Fossil installed on your system.
Example output:
Fossil version 2.15 [df0deaa37e] 2021-08-27 13:32:39 UTC
SQLite version 3.36.0 2021-06-18 18:36:39
Use case 2: Show general help
Code:
fossil help
Motivation:
When you are new to Fossil or need a quick reminder of the available subcommands, the ‘help’ command provides a comprehensive list. This is particularly useful when you want to explore the functionalities and learn more about the command-line tool.
Explanation:
The ‘help’ subcommand displays a list of available subcommands in Fossil. It provides a brief description of each subcommand and how to use them. By executing ‘fossil help’, you can quickly access information about the subcommands and their usage documentation.
Example output:
usage: fossil COMMAND ?OPTIONS?
or: fossil help ?COMMAND?
...
...
...
The most commonly used fossil commands are:
add Add file content to the repository
cat Extract the content of files or check-in as text
checkout Update the current checkout to a new version
clone Clone a repository into a new directory or rename a repository
commit Record changes to the repository
...
...
...
Use case 3: Show help on a Fossil subcommand
Code:
fossil help commit
Motivation:
When you need detailed information on a specific Fossil subcommand like ‘commit’, the ‘help’ command allows you to retrieve the specific usage documentation. This is useful for understanding the command’s options, arguments, and how to use it effectively.
Explanation:
The ‘help’ subcommand followed by the desired subcommand (e.g., ‘commit’) displays the detailed usage documentation for that subcommand. It provides information about the command’s purpose, available options, and how to structure the command for different use cases.
Example output:
Usage: fossil commit ?OPTIONS?
Record changes to the repository
Options:
-R|--repository REPO Select repository (default: ./_FOSSIL_)
...
...
...
Use case 4: Execute a Fossil subcommand
Code:
fossil commit -m "Initial commit"
Motivation:
Executing a Fossil subcommand like ‘commit’ helps save changes made to the repository and create a new version of the project history. This is essential when you want to keep track of modifications and collaborate with other developers on the same project.
Explanation:
The ‘commit’ subcommand is used to record changes to the Fossil repository. By executing ‘fossil commit’, you can save the changes made to the repository along with a descriptive message using the ‘-m’ option. This command will create a new version in the repository’s history.
Example output:
Committing to /path/to/repository
2 files committed, 0 files skipped
Copying to ../backup/repository...
Conclusion:
The ‘fossil’ command is a powerful distributed version control system that provides a range of subcommands to manage source code and track changes. By using the ‘fossil’ command, you can check the version, access general help, retrieve help on subcommands, and execute various operations like committing changes. Understanding these use cases enables efficient utilization of Fossil’s capabilities.
