Explain branching in CVS.

You can isolate the changes made in software files to a separate line of development so that one stream does not affect the other. This separate line of development is called a branch. Branching enables you to simultaneously develop, upgrade, and test the existing software according to your needs. Merging allows you to commit all the changes that you make in a branch to the main branch called repository. You can create various development paths from a new or main branch.
Branching controls the changes you make in the software development process. It enables you to enhance the existing software to release newer versions. Branching also enables software maintenance, which is an important feature of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
Branching involves creating isolated changes to the software, as the need arises. For example, after releasing version 1.0 of a software application, you want to add new features to it to create version 2.0. If end users of version 1.0 complain about some bugs present in it, you cannot simply debug version 1.0 because the files used to create version 1.0 were also used to create version 2.0. To overcome this problem, you need to create a branch, which is an isolated copy of all the files of version 1.0. You can now make the required changes to the branch without affecting files of version 2.0.
The branching feature of CVS enables you to:
- Make changes in the source file of software.
- Tag and commit work repeatedly during the software development process.
- Make changes to the released version of software.
- Share the source code with a group of developers.