Version Control Systems (VCS) are essential for tracking changes in code and collaborating on software development projects. There are command-line interfaces (CLI) for various version control systems that allow developers to manage their code repositories efficiently.

Here are some CLI-based version control systems:

  1. Git: Git is one of the most widely used distributed version control systems. Its CLI provides a robust set of commands for tracking changes, branching, merging, and collaborating on code. Some common Git commands include:
    • git clone: Clone a remote repository.
    • git init: Initialize a new Git repository.
    • git add: Add changes to the staging area.
    • git commit: Commit changes with a message.
    • git pull: Fetch and merge changes from a remote repository.
    • git push: Push local changes to a remote repository.
    • git branch: List, create, or delete branches.
    • git merge: Merge changes from one branch into another.
    • git log: View commit history.
  2. Mercurial (Hg): Mercurial is another distributed version control system with a CLI interface. It offers similar features to Git, including branching, merging, and distributed development. Common Mercurial commands include:
    • hg clone: Clone a remote repository.
    • hg init: Initialize a new Mercurial repository.
    • hg add: Add changes to the staging area.
    • hg commit: Commit changes with a message.
    • hg pull: Fetch changes from a remote repository.
    • hg push: Push local changes to a remote repository.
    • hg branch: List, create, or close branches.
    • hg merge: Merge changes from one branch into another.
    • hg log: View commit history.
  3. Subversion (SVN): Subversion is a centralized version control system that uses a CLI for managing code repositories. While it’s less commonly used today than Git or Mercurial, it still has a dedicated user base. Some SVN CLI commands include:
    • svn checkout: Checkout a remote repository.
    • svn import: Add a directory to the repository.
    • svn commit: Commit changes to the repository.
    • svn update: Update the working copy with changes from the repository.
    • svn branch: Create a branch.
    • svn merge: Merge changes from one branch to another.
    • svn log: View commit history.
  4. Bazaar (bzr): Bazaar is a distributed version control system designed for ease of use. Its CLI provides commands for managing repositories and collaborating on code. Common Bazaar commands include:
    • bzr init: Initialize a new Bazaar repository.
    • bzr branch: Create a new branch.
    • bzr checkout: Checkout a branch.
    • bzr commit: Commit changes to the branch.
    • bzr update: Update the working copy with changes from the branch.
    • bzr merge: Merge changes from one branch to another.
    • bzr log: View commit history.
  5. Perforce (P4): Perforce is a centralized version control system used primarily for managing large codebases and binary assets. It offers a CLI interface for managing repositories and files. Common Perforce commands include:
    • p4 clone: Clone a remote repository.
    • p4 init: Initialize a new Perforce repository.
    • p4 add: Add files to the repository.
    • p4 submit: Submit changes to the repository.
    • p4 sync: Sync the workspace with changes from the repository.
    • p4 branch: Create a branch.
    • p4 integrate: Integrate changes between branches.
    • p4 changes: View a list of submitted changes.

These CLI-based version control systems cater to different workflows and preferences. Developers can choose the one that best fits their needs and the requirements of their projects. Each system has its own set of commands and concepts, so it’s essential to become familiar with the specific VCS you’re using.