<h1>Fossil: Distributed Revision Control, Wiki, and Bug-Tracking</h1>

<p>
Fossil is a
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revision_control">
distributed software revision control system</a> that includes an integrated
<a href="wikitheory.wiki">wiki</a> and an integrated
<a href="bugtheory.wiki">bug-tracking system</a> all in a single, 
easy-to-use, stand-alone executable.
Fossil is
<a href="http://www.fossil-scm.org/fossil/timeline">self-hosting</a>
since 2007-07-21 on
<a href="http://www.hwaci.com/cgi-bin/fossil/timeline">two separate servers</a>.
You can download the <a href="../../../timeline">lastest sources</a> and
<a href="build.wiki">compile it yourself</a>.
Or you can grab
<a href="http://www.fossil-scm.org/download.html">precompiled binaries</a>.
</p>

<p>Feature Summary:</p>

<ul>
<li>Flexible workflow:<ul>
    <li>Disconnected, distributed development like
      <a href="http://kerneltrap.org/node/4982">git</a>,
      <a href="http://www.monotone.ca/">monotone</a>,
      <a href="http://www.selenic.com/mercurial/wiki/index.cgi">mercurial</a>,
      and <a href="http://www.bitkeeper.com/">bitkeeper</a>
    <li>Or, client/server operation like 
      <a href="http://www.nongnu.org/cvs/">CVS</a> and
      <a href="http://subversion.tigris.org/">subversion</a>,
    <li>Or, operations on local repositories,
    <li>Or, all of the above at the same time</ul></li>
<li>Integrated, distributed <a href="bugtheory.wiki">bug tracking</a> and 
<a href="wikitheory.wiki">wiki</a>.</li>
<li>Built-in web interface that supports deep archaeological digs through
the project history.</li>
<li>All network communication via 
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTTP">HTTP</a> with 
<a href="quickstart.wiki#proxy">proxy support</a>
so that everything works from behind restrictive firewalls.</li>
<li>Everything (client, server, and utilities) is included in a 
single self-contained executable - trivial to install</li>
<li>Server runs as <a href="quickstart.wiki#cgiserver">CGI</a>, using
<a href="quickstart.wiki#inetdserver">inetd/xinetd</a>
or using its own 
<a href="quickstart.wiki#serversetup">built-in, standalone web server</a>.</li>
<li>An entire project contained in single disk file
(an <a href="http://www.sqlite.org/">SQLite</a> database.)</li>
<li>Uses an <a href="fileformat.wiki">enduring file format</a> that is 
designed to be readable, searchable, and extensible by people not yet born.</li>
<li>Automatic <a href="selfcheck.wiki">self-check</a>
on repository changes makes it exceedingly
unlikely that data will ever be lost because of a software bug.</li>
<li>Ridiculously easy to 
<a href="build.wiki">install</a> and 
<a href="quickstart.wiki">operate</a>.</li>
</ul>

<p>User Links:</p>

<ul>
<li>The <a href="concepts.wiki">concepts</b> behind fossil</li>
<li><a href="build.wiki">Building And Installing</a></li>
<li><a href="quickstart.wiki">Quick Start</a> guide to using fossil
<li>Fossil supports <a href="embeddeddoc.wiki">embedded documentation</a>
    that is versioned along with project source code.</li>
<li>The <a href="selfcheck.wiki">automatic self-check</a> mechanism
helps insure project integrity.</li>
<li>Fossil contains a <a href="wikitheory.wiki">built-in wiki</a>.</li>
<li>There is a
    <a href="http://lists.fossil-scm.org:8080/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fossil-users">
    mailing list</a> available for discussing fossil issues.</li>
<li><a href="qandc.wiki">Questions &amp; Criticisms</a> directed at fossil.</li>
</ul>

<p>Developer Links: </p>

<ul>
<li><a href="pop.wiki">Principles Of Operation</a></li>
<li>The <a href="fileformat.wiki">file format</a> used by every content
file stored in the repository.</li>
<li>The <a href="delta_format.wiki">format of deltas</a> used to
efficiently store changes between file revisions.</li>
<li>The <a href="delta_encoder_algorithm.wiki">encoder algorithm</a> used to
efficiently generate deltas.</li>
<li>The <a href="sync.wiki">synchronization protocol</a>.</li>
</ul>

<p>Competing Projects:</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.ditrack.org/">DITrace</a>
     - A Distributed Issue  Tracker</li>
<li><a href="http://www.distract.wellquite.org/">DisTract</a>
     - Another distributed issue tracker based on 
     <a href="http://www.monotone.ca/">monotone</a>.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.monotone.ca/">Monotone</a> - distributed
     SCM in a single-file executable with a single-file SQLite
     database repository.</li>
</ul>
