New Features in StarTeam 2006
Borland has released StarTeam 2006, and a detailed list of its new features. Here’s a bird’s-eye view, with some editorial comments from me.
- Atomic checkins: This is a big deal, although it is a bit of an "about time, really" feature. It was conspicuous by its absence in past versions.
- 4 GB file support: Nice, although I have no personal need for it.
- VMWare support: Again, nice to have.
- New merge/compare tool: Finally!
- MPX in Enterprise: This was an Enterprise Advantage feature now available to Enteprise customers. I haven’t set up continuous integration on a StarTeam project, but ISTM you’d need this for it.
- Windows-only server features: Addition of the Check-out Trace Utility, Addition of the Vault Verify and Report, Email Customization for Automatic Email, Ability to Change Expired Passwords
- Native II is the only supported vault type. If you’ve been putting off upgrading your vault, the clock is running out.
- "This release brings an end to the StarTeam Windows client." The cross-platform client has caught up to the features of the Windows client and surpassed it. The cross-platform client adds many new configurability tools, such as an integrated layout designer, customizable tabs, and (finally!) the ability to choose fields in the history view. You can finally open referenced items in their respective views from the references pane.
- The bulk checkout command-line tool has been improved. In particular, I note that it’s (finally!) setting the error level on exit.
- The web client is now available in Japanese, French, and German.
- The Borland search server has been improved and includes, for example, the ability to search StarTeam custom fields.
Some features have been removed:
- You can no longer wrap a VSS or PVCS archive. If you’ve done this in 2005 you must convert the wrapped archive to native before upgrading.
- Some archaic DB servers (like SQL Server 7.0) are no longer supported. Oddly, there doesn’t seem to be any official support for SQL Server 2005 yet, although I hear it works fine.
- In addition to the Windows client, the "CR only" web client and StarDisk are also discontinued.
- The CaliberRM requirements publisher is now included with CaliberRM instead of with StarTeam.
- Standard Edition is discontinued. It will be supported through its previously published end-of-life dates, and SE users will be given the opportunity to upgrade to the (more expensive) Enterprise Edition.
An open question: The StarTeam data sheet shows that both Enterprise and Enterprise Advantage support integration with CaliberRM. Does this mean that you don’t need to purchase Enterprise Advantage to see your CaliberRM requirements inside of StarTeam? In other words, have Borland finally ended the insanity where they actually charged you significantly more if you wanted to integrate with their own product? The data sheet implies this, but it’s not conclusive. I’ll try to find out.