# Version Control Techniques

- Show: [The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast)
- Published: 2023-02-03
- Length: 51m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2023-02-03-version-control-techniques
- Listen: https://agileembeddedpodcast.com/episodes/version-control-techniques-NcN7FkGm

## Summary

Jeff Gable and Luca engineer discuss version control strategies for complex embedded software, debating the merits of monorepos versus multi-repo architectures and the use of feature flags versus long-running branches for managing product variants. They emphasize the importance of continuous integration, automating build pipelines, and treating documentation and infrastructure as code to manage the inherent complexity of hardware-software coupling. The conversation also covers code review bottlenecks, advocating for pair programming and strict rules to prevent technical debt accumulation.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2023-02-03-version-control-techniques#t=1) Introduction: The Complexity of Embedded Version Control
- [6:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2023-02-03-version-control-techniques#t=405) Managing Product Variants and Long-Running Branches
- [11:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2023-02-03-version-control-techniques#t=696) Feature Flags vs. Branches for In-Progress Work
- [23:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2023-02-03-version-control-techniques#t=1421) Monorepo vs. Separate Repositories and Submodules
- [30:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2023-02-03-version-control-techniques#t=1849) Code Review Bottlenecks and Pair Programming
- [39:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2023-02-03-version-control-techniques#t=2382) Principles: Lean into Pain and Automate
- [45:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2023-02-03-version-control-techniques#t=2710) Documentation as Code and Future Topics

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- GitHub (tool)
- Bitbucket (tool)
- GitLab (tool)
- AWS (company)
- Siemens Healthineers (company)
- Jenkins (tool)
- Git flow (tool)
- Envy model (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [250: Yolo Snarf (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-04-08-250-yolo-snarf-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [Firmware for Hardware Engineers with Phillip Johnston](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-09-07-firmware-for-hardware-engineers-with-phillip-johnston) (The Amp Hour)
- [Prepping For Hoverboards - Gallionic GitHub Gabble](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-12-31-prepping-for-hoverboards-gallionic-github-gabble) (The Amp Hour)
- [#007: AI, Open Source, and the Future of Embedded Development: How Much Code Will We Actually Write?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2025-04-29-007-ai-open-source-and-the-future-of-embedded-development-how-much-code-will-we) (Coredump Sessions)
- [440: Condemned to Being Perfect](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-01-13-440-condemned-to-being-perfect) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2023-02-03-version-control-techniques. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast.