Questions tagged [version-control]

This tag should be used for questions about version control in writing, such as how to use version control systems to document the changes of a bigger writing project.

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Is it a good idea to use Git for document management of technical documentation?

I have compiled the technical documentation for a physical product. It includes documents like user manuals, technical descriptions, maintenance instructions, etc. I have decided that all these ...
0 votes
2 answers
60 views

Technical Documentation and Training System Utilizing Markdown and Live Updates

This may not be the correct place to post this question, but I'm at a loss of where else it can go. I'm attempting to research a potential documentation system for my company to use that would replace ...
0 votes
0 answers
47 views

What to notice when applying conventional commit and semantic versioning for writing projects

I'm inspired by Conventional Commits, and would like to add some more structure elements for writing projects, e.g. documentations or personal or organizational knowledge management system. I'm ...
22 votes
5 answers
9k views

What's the best version control system for a book writer?

I'm a writer—no programming, only prose in text files, mostly in Emacs org-mode, some in markdown-mode. I want to implement a version control system for my writing projects. I work with two types of ...
12 votes
7 answers
5k views

What is the purpose of version control?

Just that: What do you need version control for? I've never had the feeling I needed to undo any changes in my (fiction or academic) writing. So what is version control good for? How do you write ...
8 votes
2 answers
6k views

Git plugins for MS Word?

Is anyone aware of a plugin for MS Word that allows me to keep my documents in a git repository (gitlab compatibility would be even better)? I'm aware that git diffs won't be very meaningful, merges ...
22 votes
3 answers
3k views

How should a writer use version control to track drafts, rewrites, and revisions?

I'm a writer, not a programmer. I'm just now for the first time learning about version control and how it works, and I am wondering how version control could streamline my workflow. In a previous ...
6 votes
2 answers
749 views

LaTex + version control writing package

This should be probably cross-posted to tex.stackexchange.com. However, since my question is more oriented towards writers who also have a firm grasp of technology, I'm posting it here in hopes of ...
8 votes
3 answers
127 views

What software can I use to synchronize corrections and modifications over similar documents?

I'm currently working on a large thesis, from which I derive some smaller publications such as papers. The work is in parallel. Often it happens that I copy some paragraphs from the thesis into a ...
8 votes
3 answers
1k views

Best Tool to Create User Guides

We are planning to create a user guide for internal use only. It's 150-page document in Word for a self-developed SW tool. The user guide will require constant update. No translation is needed. We ...
85 votes
21 answers
9k views

Do You Use Any Version Controlling Software/Methods As Writers? [closed]

As writers, do you use any version controlling software to track and monitor what you write? For example, if you accidentally deleted or overwritten a paragraph that you'd like to have it back? ...
3 votes
0 answers
66 views

Is there a place to publish my stories to share it? [duplicate]

First I did google for 4 hours before making this question but I did not found what I was looking for. Secondly probably there is a question similar that I couldn't found. I am programmer that ...
1 vote
3 answers
279 views

Scrivener 3 on older MacBook

I have an oldish MacBook Pro and want to buy Scrivener but the latest version is 3. It says it's suitable for OS 10.2 or later. My MacBook (which won't now update any further as it's late 2008 model)...
2 votes
2 answers
158 views

What websites or programs offer strong revision tools?

I'm wondering if there are any pieces of software that keep copies of revisions made on a document. So say I delete 500 words out of a document and save it. Is there a program that would realize I ...
8 votes
4 answers
1k views

Linking documentation to Git commit comments

Using git to track modifications to the project allows contributors to include comments with each commit. If the project's guidelines, and managers' control, keeps those comments limited to a format ...
3 votes
2 answers
749 views

How to create a useful diff of a markdown writing project iteration

I wrote a play that I performed this summer, and have done significant re-writes for an upcoming second performance run. In order to help me relearn my lines, I think it would be useful to see which ...
2 votes
1 answer
64 views

Managing Document Versions for Multiple Tenses

I need to create two versions of a document, one in future tense and one in past tense: Document A: The consultant will do X. Document B: The consultant did X. In the past, I've handled this by ...
1 vote
3 answers
340 views

Hosting my writing on Github - public or private repository?

I'm a developer and a writer. I use Github version control for some of my writing, to keep track of changes. I've got one ebook about Cycle touring that I have in a public repository on Github. I've ...
0 votes
1 answer
123 views

For a single author writing short stories in LaTeX, is it worthwhile to switch to a "real" version control system from Dropbox?

I'm currently using Dropbox to sync and backup my stories (which are generally in LaTeX). However, I've read that it's probably a better idea to switch to a "real" version control system, especially ...
6 votes
5 answers
4k views

Does using version control system make backups unnecessary? [closed]

Suppose I use Git, Subversion or any other version control system for managing my writing. So my texts are preserved together with change history and if I accidentally delete something I can use ...
6 votes
4 answers
1k views

Is Mac OSX Lion's Revision Control System useable by writers?

The upcoming Mac OSX Lion operating system is touting a new file revision control system called Versions (demo video here). What I'm using for version control right now is rather rudimentary - I ...