Unified Versioning Using Resource Description Framework

Abstract

Version models provide frameworks for representation and manipulation of basic information required by version control, an important component of Software Configuration Management (SCM) with identification, control, recording and tracking of the evolution of software objects such as documents, source files, structure, and their interrelationships. At present, there exist various version models making it difficult to interchange and integrate version information. A unified version model, based on Resource Description Framework (RDF), is developed, which can represent all version control approaches including state-based and change-based versioning as well as extensional and intensional approaches and uniformly express evolution of software objects and their relationships. The model is general and embraces existing models as special cases. Therefore, besides serving as an internal representation scheme, the model can be used as an interchange format for different SCM systems resulting in ready system interoperation and integration. It will also facilitate linkage with other systems on the Web as RDF is a core technology for the Semantic Web. Basic operations for data manipulation are formulated based on RDF programs such as query existing versions, and construction or assembly of new versions.