8 Recording Old Versions

It is very important to keep backup files of all source files of GNU. You can do this using a source control system (such as RCS, CVS, Git, ...) if you like. The easiest way to use RCS or CVS is via the Version Control library in Emacs (see Concepts of Version Control).

The history of previous revisions and log entries is very important for future maintainers of the package, so even if you do not make it publicly accessible, be careful not to put anything in the repository or change log that you would not want to hand over to another maintainer some day.

The GNU Project provides a server that GNU software packages can use for source control and other package needs: savannah.gnu.org. You don't have to use this repository, but if you plan to allow public read-only access to your development sources, it is convenient for people to be able to find various GNU packages in a central place. Savannah is managed by savannah-hackers@gnu.org.

All GNU maintainers are encouraged to take advantage of Savannah, as sharing such a central point can serve to foster a sense of community among GNU developers and help in keeping up with project management.