There is a lot of buzz right now around distributed source control tools, with the peak of the buzz around Git. It turns out that this is not a fad; these tools really are better for many teams. I will show examples of using Git with Java projects, pointing out strengths and weaknesses. Git's most obvious current weakness is lack of mature tool/IDE integration, though as you will see this is not that great of an obstacle in practice.

Kyle Cordes is an occasional software development consultant with experience in a messy pile of technologies, including Java, Delphi, Ruby, C++, .NET, XML, assembly language, database systems, PHP, J2EE, and more. His recent projects include wireless data access, mobile and PDA applications, and high volume enterprise applications, as well as development methodology assistance and software project leadership. Kyle has used Java since 1995, .NET since 2001, and is a "Sun Certified Java Developer for the Java 2 Platform".

Building on that, Kyle's Oasis Digital keeps busy with challenging software projects, typically to help customers build a competitive advantage in their markets, by providing software development, training, and advice to clients around the country. Kyle speaks at user groups and other events, and is also a principal in a vertical market "Software as a Service" business. Visit http://kylecordes.com for more information.