two computer development and build enviornment for personal use

[xarora]

I don't know much programming. But I am interested in learning it. I have some kowledge of Java, Linux, MySQL, Ant and SVN. But I am NOT an expert in anything.

Here is my situation:

I have two computers. From all the books I've read, the general recommendation is that build-environment should be separate from the development environment. I want to use one computer exclusively as my build environment or production environment. And one computer for development. I have also read in the books that a "source control" is very important. Something like SVN. So, I need help in setting up my build-environment.

Currently, when I write some java code, I write it in Eclipse and then save it. I keep making back-up copies and I rename old versions. And I don't use version-control(like SVN). And I do everything on just 1 computer. For example, if I am writing a calculator program. I keep renaming my directory as calculator_001 , calculator_002. This works for me without any problems.

But I just want to be a little more professional and set-up an enviornment like used by professional companies.

In the end: I want to develop in my development machine, and then check-in the code into build-machine, and then run it on build-machine as well and see it from browser. That's all. I will be mainly developing JSP based web applications. I will also like to use PHP, MySQL sometimes.

Can someone guide me through the process? I am NOT asking for handholding. I will do all the techncial work. I do NOT need instructions on how to install linux, or how to install java. I just need some help in putting this all together and making a professional enviornment for myself.

Thanks!

[dumparun]

Hi,

You may need to install a CVS (concurrent Versioning system) to start with. You may do some googling on this, and once you complete the set up, you can configure your Eclipse to always be in sync with your CVS (which can be a remote machine also). So one of your problem of backing up data and renaming is done. Please read about CVS a bit. Eventhough CVS needs to be backed up, but it can be automated also and you have good control over it.
So one problem is solved.

You are doing good by doing development in Eclipse, that solves a lot of issues for you.

Now i didnt really understood about the build machine stuffs. Are you talking about any methodology used. Please elaborate

[xarora]

I am looking to mimic the set-up that's used in companies, and by professionals. Since I have two computers: I'd like to use one as exclusively as my build-machine that has source control server (SVN or CVS). Where as my development box as development, where I can locally test and then check-in to build-machine. And then run a build.

My question is: how to set-up this enviornment and how to make it all work? I can install all the softwares (such as mysql, ruby, svn etc.) but I don't know how to make them all work together. How a build-machine should be setup.

For example, something along these lines:
Step 1: Install Linux on your build machine
Step 2: Install Ruby at /user/bin
Step 3: Install Torotoise SVN at /usr/bin and configure user/repository as your repo directory
Step 3a. Create users for TorotoiseSVN
Step 4: Install and run SSH-d on your build-server
Step4a create a working directory folder for ssh-user

and so on ? ( I know I missed a lot of steps, and they are probably not in correct order).

Do you know what I mean?

At the moment, there is only a 1-person development taking place and so I don't really need a set-up like that. It doesn't interfere with my build currently.

But the major reason for doing this are:
1. Learning:
a. I want to understand how a build-machine is configured, and what are it's uses. While setting-up one myself, I will get a taste of what it's like.

b. While setting-up, I will also learn best-practices. For example, I will learn what are best practices when it comes to configuring Tomcat in terms of : where should it be installed? what privileges (should root install it, or a user?), what configuration is best. And why is something done the way it's done. Similarly, I will learn about the whole process of "checking-in" and then "checking out" in correct locations (where should the repository be?, how does Ant checkout code from svn, and how does it do the build?). I will also learn how to install mysql and how to configue it (which port should it be, should I create mysql users, if yes, then what access rights will these users have. Should I have one user that can read/write on db. Or should I have two separate users - one can read only, one can read/write both).


2. Preparing for future:
a. I want to be able to add my friends (located in different parts of the world) to be able to connect to my build-machine (which will also have SVN) and be able to check-out code, and check-in changes.

b. I want to be able to scale-up this model.

Hope I am making sense.