What version control systems have file-level permissions?

Question

I could suggest migrating from VSS due to its inability to grant and deny file-level permissions. The question is what version control systems allow.

Update I mark the answer of SVN as “correct” as it has the most feedback. However, there is no right answer. I will make my recommendations to the management based on all your feedback.

Answer 1

subversion does too, but the ACL is managed in the configuration file

Answer 2

Perforce does.

Answer 3

I do not answer your question, but I believe that this is not a very useful feature for resolving to VCS. People should know where they are allowed to commit, people should reconsider their obligations, and if someone commits where they should not:

• You will catch him in the review
• You roll back the change (what VCS is for)
• You will find out why: was it a mistake or intentionally?

If you are concerned that people will make unauthorized changes, you will have a social problem that the permissions will not be fixed. If you are worried that people accidentally make changes to the wrong code, you will have another social problem (lack of review) that the permissions will also not be fixed.

Answer 4

Whatever other shortcomings, IBM Rational Clearcase supports file level controls. It also has other mechanisms that you can use - especially triggers that can be written to result in an error otherwise resolved.

Answer 5

Mercurial does with the added Acl extension

Answer 6

If you are using VSS now, Team Foundation Version Control (TFVS) is a logical upgrade, especially if your corporate mandate is Microsoft-only tools.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms364074.aspx

Answer 7

Take a look at Plastic SCM and its ACL model.