# How to Choose the Best Version Control System for Your Team

## Table of Contents

## **Benefits of using version control**

1. Protect your software application by storing your source code in a [secure way](https://get.assembla.com/security).
2. Facilitate collaboration between software developers.
3. Provide visibility, traceability, and audibility.

## **Types of version control systems**

The best version control system varies according to the software team’s preferences and workflows. Depending on their project, they might choose one version control system over another.

There are two types of version control systems: distributed and centralized version control systems, with different implications in day to day work and operations.

### **Distributed version control systems**: Git

Distributed VCS systems (“DVCS”), like Git, are the predominant VCS of choice in the United States. DVCS allows you to “clone” a full copy of the source code repository to your local machine before making changes. Changes are often made to many files under a particular “branch” made within the local copy before creating a “pull request” to “merge” changes back into the original repository.

### **Centralized version control systems**: SVN and Perforce

Just because Git is the predominant choice, it doesn’t mean it is the best version control system for your team. Centralized version control systems are often better suited for projects that involve large repositories, legacy applications, binary files like design files, art assets (often used in game development), or other documents that cannot be handled in DCVS tools.

In this case, your team may benefit from centralized version control systems such as [SVN](https://get.assembla.com/subversion-cloud/) or [Perforce](https://get.assembla.com/perforce/). These centralized version control systems treat the “central repository” as the source of truth, and typical workflows usually involve three steps:

1. “Check out” the latest version of code from the central repository to your local machine.
2. Make changes to the file(s) you checked out on your local machine.
3. Commit your work to the central repository with a commit message describing your updates.

## How to Choose the Best Version Control System for your Team: free practical guide

Each version control type provides unique advantages, depending on your team’s previous experience, certain characteristics of your software, and the history of your project.

We put together a practical guide on [how to choose the right Version Control System](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/365/Choosing%20Your%20VCS.pdf) to help you determine the right version control for your project, focusing on the three most popular version control systems — **Git, SVN, and Perforce**.

In the guide, we take into consideration the **four key criteria** you need to consider to choose the absolute best version control system for your team: collaboration and ease of use, security, file type and data size, and your own software team’s expertise and bandwidth to handle and maintain the repository.