Perforce Introduces New Process Automation for Tighter SCM Integration With Development Life-Cycle Models
Perforce's Open Architecture Allows Companies to Accommodate Various Development Methodologies

Enterprise-Wide

ALAMEDA, Calif., Nov. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Perforce Software Inc., today announced the latest release of its software configuration management system, 2004.2, which includes new capabilities to support quality and administrative automation. Building on the Perforce SCM system's open and highly scriptable architecture, five new server triggers allow companies to centralize SCM tasks ranging from standards enforcement to user management across the enterprise.

Content triggers enable quality automation to better ensure the enforcement of coding standards in changed files before being committed to the SCM system. Code reviews are no longer necessary to determine if changed files sharing dependencies are checked in together. File content can also be easily interrogated to verify comment formatting and inclusion of proper dates and keywords.

For administrative automation, form-based triggers simplify sophisticated SCM operations for casual users of the system. Operations to create new users, their workspaces, and those that support branching operations can now be pre- configured on either a group or per-user basis. Many of these specialized operations, which previously were tied to individual clients, can now be deployed enterprise-wide from the server. This removes the pain of supporting multi-platform environments.

New capabilities allow administrators and users to:

    -- Execute predefined workflow operations from integrations to builds to
       test automation.
    -- Automate the production of release notes for each version of the
       project.
    -- Maintain workflow rules for enhancement requests and defect tracking.
    -- Extend user permissions to restrict changes to SCM objects such as
       branch, user and workspace specifications.


National Instruments Uses Perforce's Open Architecture to Customize SCM Solutions for the Enterprise

"With many different groups relying daily on Perforce SCM, we really appreciate the flexibility of the system," explained Steve Lysohir, National Instruments Perforce administrator. "Each group has unique requirements and development methodologies, so Perforce's new triggers will make it even easier to accommodate each group's development style. The system's open architecture has always been a value to us."

National Instruments, a technology pioneer and leader in the field of virtual instrumentation, uses Perforce SCM company-wide to manage some of its digital assets. In addition to software and hardware development, National Instruments also relies on Perforce to support a variety of operations, including information technology, Web development, documentation, language localization, sales and marketing, and customer education.

"We listen to how our customers implement SCM in all environments and adapt our server to support them," said Christopher Seiwald, founder and chief technology officer of Perforce Software. "Our new trigger points give Perforce more hooks into a company's best-of-breed toolset, enabling Perforce to tightly integrate with automated application life-cycle management environments."

Availability & Pricing
Perforce SCM 2004.2 is available now. Interested developers are invited to download and evaluate Perforce SCM free from the Perforce Web site without obligation for a 45-day trial. This offer includes free technical support during the evaluation period. A free, fully functional, two-user version is also available from the Web site. End-user licenses, including one year of support and maintenance, start at $750 per seat; volume discounts are available. For additional price and license information, send e-mail inquiries to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.perforce.com.

About the Perforce SCM System
Perforce, the Fast Software Configuration Management System, tracks and manages software development for enterprises large and small. Perforce is easy to install, learn and administer; seamlessly handles distributed development, and supports developers across more than 50 operating systems. Perforce ensures development integrity by grouping multi-file updates into atomic changes, enables concurrent development, and intelligently manages multiple software releases using its Inter-File Branching system.