Original author(s) | Atria Software |
---|---|
Developer(s) | IBM |
Initial release | 1992 |
Stable release |
9.0.0.4 / March 15, 2017
|
Operating system | AIX, HP-UX, Linux, Linux on z Systems, Solaris, Windows, z/OS (limited client) |
Type | Software configuration management |
License | IBM EULA |
Website | www |
Rational ClearCase is a family of computer software tools that supports software configuration management (SCM) of source code and other software development assets. It also supports design-data management of electronic design artifacts, thus enabling hardware and software co-development. ClearCase includes revision control and forms the basis for configuration management at large and medium-sized businesses, accommodating projects with hundreds or thousands of developers. It is developed by IBM.
ClearCase supports two configuration management models: UCM (Unified Change Management) and base ClearCase. UCM provides an out-of-the-box model while base ClearCase provides a basic infrastructure (UCM is built on base ClearCase). Both can be configured to support a wide variety of needs.
ClearCase can accommodate large binary files, large numbers of files, and large repository sizes. It supports branching, labeling, and versioning of directories.
ClearCase was developed by Atria Software and first released in 1992 on Unix and later on Windows. Some of the Atria developers had worked on an earlier, similar system: DSEE (Domain Software Engineering Environment) from Apollo Computer. After Hewlett-Packard bought Apollo Computer in 1989, those developers left to form Atria. Atria later merged with Pure Software to form PureAtria. That firm was acquired by Rational Software, which was purchased by IBM in 2003. IBM continues to develop and market ClearCase. In September of 2016, IBM announced a strategic partnership with HCL Technologies that will allow for accelerated development.
DSEE introduced many concepts that were adopted by ClearCase. The Apollo Domain file system allowed special handler programs to intervene during file access. DSEE made use of this feature to invisibly substitute a versioned copy when a particular file was opened. With the versioning specification resident in the user environment, all accesses to versioned files were redirected, including such mundane accesses as printing, viewing in a generic text editor etc.