CVS command output

CVS will output filenames with different kinds of characters that prefix their names. For example, you might see:

P: file1.c
U: file2.c
M: file3.c
C: file4.c
?: file5.c
A: file6.c
R: file7.c

where: P means the file was ``patched'' with a newer version. Patchs are small lists of changes. CVS does this if it is more efficient than downloading a whole copy of the file.

• U means the file was ``updated'' to get a newer version. A copy of the file was downloaded.
• M means that you have a modified version in your directory so that it is different from the repository version.
• C means that there is a conflict between your changes and changes committed by someone else. This implies that two people are working on the same file at the same time.
• ? means that you have a file in your local copy that you have not told CVS about. If you want to keep it you need to do a ``cvs add''.
• A means that you explicitly added the file.
• R means that you explicitly removed the file.