The new version adds support for graphics files, command-line mode, and e-mail alert capability.

Seapine Software, Inc. has released version 3.1 of its software change management tool, Surround SCM. The Mason, Ohio company says it hasadded many new features, including a conversion utility from open source CVS to Surround SCM (Microsoft SourceSafe is already supported), a checked-out files report, command line mode for Analyzer, and an option to send an e-mail message when an invalid login is attempted.

According to Rich Clyde, Seapine Vice President of Product Development, the biggest and best new features are the enhancements to support graphics files. A thumbnail view lets users switch between a text listing of source files and graphical identification, and users can see full size image files from within SCM. A built-in image differencing (diff) utility displays two versions of an image file, so users can see what has changed between versions, or overlay two images to show changes at the pixel level.

Clyde notes that the software, though marketed to track software changes, can be used to track changes in just about anything across the enterprise, logging who changed it and when. That goes for Web sites, marketing materials, or "any asset at your company," according to Clyde. "We use it to track user documentation and quality test plans." Clyde says this type of tracking is important with rules such as Sarbanes-Oxley.

Seapine retains existing features, such as advanced branching, and cross-platform support for Windows, Linux, Solaris, and Mac OS X. The client-server architecture allows for remote access via TCP-IP, assuming the firewall is set up that way — a plus from a security standpoint. "You don't have to give the end user file permission," says Lyle. "The server has access." The software also has 512-bit encryption and role-based security.

Derick Lyle is Integration and Release Manager for Dendrite International, Inc., and has 100+ users using Surround SCM 3.0.4. "Our code management was becoming something of a problem," said Lyle. "After a while, it becomes difficult to focus on the right thing." Lyle had remote development groups and wanted something simple, effective, and secure. "That was kind of our shopping list," Lyle said. Surround translated local time zones, and was "beyond just robust." Lyle was also pleased with the branching management. "That visual representation has really helped them: They can quickly find the right place to make the change," said Lyle.

Before adopting Surround SCM last year, Dendrite used Microsoft's SourceSafe. "[Version] 3.x ... is not the most sophisticated package but, for the cost — in terms of what you pay for what you get — it was virtually a no brainer," said Lyle. "Some packages are priced out of the ballpark. We're a big company and a reasonably sized development shop, but we're not really that big. As you can tell, I really like Surround; it's made my life a whole lot easier. We will be upgrading at the end of this month." David Mytchak, Director of Software Architecture, for Paymetric, Inc. was in the middle of a "nightmare" after the company changed to Rational. "It was turning into a full time job," said Mytchak. "It was slowly consuming 100 % of my day just to support it.  I was worrying about making it accessible to the rest of team." Mytchak went looking for source control, and stumbled across Seapine 2.0x in 2003. He bought 20 licenses and has more now.

Mytchak said that, with the other solution, a company would have to hire one or two individuals just to maintain it, because it constantly needed tweaking; the system would not allow a check-in, etc. Conversely, "Seapine is not an administrative function. The only time we work on Seapine is if we have to add a user or remove a user if someone is changing groups. We're able to focus on our core business." Mytchak really raved about the price. He said he paid Seapine what he paid the other company for the renewal (maintenance fee).

Pricing for Surround SCM starts at $595.

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