Manage and control software assets across the lifecycle
IBM Rational ClearCase
Highlights
 Simplify development with
activity-based change
management
 Increase productivity with
parallel development and
automated workspace
management
 Manage costs by increasing
software reuse and recovering
investments
 Speed application delivery with
automated build and release
management
 Help meet compliance
requirements with user
authentication, audit support
and traceability
 Access directly from within
leading IDEs
 Scale from small workgroups
to geographically distributed
enterprises
Sophisticated version control
IBM Rational ClearCase software
® ®
configuration management products
enable you to effectively manage and
control software assets to help you
deliver better applications faster and
at lower cost. With features such as
version control, baseline management,
and build and release management,
you can provide all team members with
instant, controlled access to the infor-
mation they need to create, update,
build, deliver, reuse and maintain the
software critical to your business.
Rational ClearCase software includes
deep integrations with design, devel-
opment, build, test and deployment
tools, empowering you to manage
software assets across the full devel-
opment lifecycle. Security features
such as user authentication and audit
support help you meet compliance
requirements. Support for heteroge-
neous platforms and cross-platform
environments provides development
flexibility. By supporting multiple
approaches to distributed develop-
ment, including remote access to
centralized repositories and reposi-
tory replication, Rational ClearCase
software is ideal for teams that span
geographic locations.
The family of Rational ClearCase prod-
ucts includes IBM Rational ClearCase
LT, IBM Rational ClearCase and IBM
Rational ClearCase MultiSite software.
Rational ClearCase LT software is a
single-server version of the Rational
ClearCase solution that provides
version control, workspace manage-
ment, parallel development support
and support for disconnected usage.
Rational ClearCase software extends
these capabilities by adding multiple-
server support, automated build and
release management, and transparent
real-time access to files and directo-
ries. The Rational ClearCase MultiSite
offering provides Rational ClearCase
users with distributed development
support, including replication and syn-
chronization of development assets.
IBM Rational ClearCase products

Product Core capabilities Server architecture

IBM Rational ClearCase LT • Version control • Single server
software • Automated workspace management

• Parallel development support

• Support for disconnected usage

• Activity-based management and change sets

• Local, remote (WAN) and Web client access

• IDE integration

• Support for midrange development

IBM Rational ClearCase • Version control • Single server

software • Automated workspace management • Multiple, distributed servers

• Parallel development support

• Support for disconnected usage

• Activity-based management and change sets

• Local, remote (WAN) and Web client access

• IDE integration

• Transparent, real-time access to files and directories

• Build and release management

• Support for mainframe development

IBM Rational ClearCase • Replication and synchronization of Rational ClearCase repositories • Replicated servers
MultiSite software • Data integrity

• Web-based administration

Sophisticated version control
Rational ClearCase software controls
versioning for source code, libraries,
compilers, visual models, design
notes, documentation, binaries, Web
artifacts, test suites, databases and
any other project artifact that can be
represented as digital content, includ-
ing text and non-text files, directories
and links. The Rational ClearCase
product also controls versioning for
directories, subdirectories and all
file system objects. Developers can
see the version, branch and file they
are working on simply by viewing the
Rational ClearCase version tree.


Rational ClearCase software uses a
check-out/edit/check-in paradigm
similar to the model featured in many
traditional version control tools. Users
check out the files they need to work
on, edit them and then check in the new
versions. The ClearCase software also
offers access to more advanced func-
tions, allowing you to delete previous
versions, create and delete branches,
list version histories, and compare and
merge versions.
Activity-based change management
Rational ClearCase and IBM Rational
ClearQuest® change management
products work together to allow you
to define and manage changes to soft-
ware assets as activities. Through the
Unified Change Management capabil-
ity, file versions in Rational ClearCase
software are associated with activities
in Rational ClearQuest software. Deve-
lopers can then perform operations
directly on the activities rather than
on the collections of files associated
with them.
This activity-based approach to
change and configuration manage-
ment helps developers to work on
the right versions of the right files. It
allows them to create collections of
file versions, or “change sets,” for
each individual change. This enables
developers to manage their work at
the task level, instead of managing
individual files. It helps build engi-
neers ascertain that the right files are
incorporated into the build. Testers
can easily confirm that the right func-
tionality and builds are tested. Quality
assurance (QA) engineers can quickly
see and validate what has changed
between builds. And project manag-
ers can more easily track and assess
project status.
Parallel development
Rational ClearCase software provides
extensive support for parallel develop-
ment, allowing developers to work on
the same code base or release, more
easily resolve conflicts and reduce
confusion, and get more done in a
shorter amount of time.

Branching and merging capabili-
ties support the isolation of specific
changes or versions and the integration
of changes into releases. Advanced
differencing and merging technology
visually highlights conflicts for easy
resolution. Merging capabilities include
automatic, selective, subtractive and
directory options. Easy-to-use tools sim-
plify the navigation and management
of sophisticated branching structures.
The development and integration
stream models in Rational ClearCase
software define how and when devel-
opers deliver code changes. Through
private developer workspaces and
public integration areas, the devel-
oper’s need to work independently is
balanced with the need to integrate
the work of individuals with the work
of the rest of the team.

IBM Rational ClearCase version trees provide a visual history of parallel development branches.
Automated workspace management
Rational ClearCase software gives
developers fine-grained control
over their personal workspaces and
provides seamless access to the
exact file and directory versions the
developers need to work on.
The Rational tool provides two types of
views, or virtual workspaces, that sup-
port remote and local usage models.
Dynamic views provide transparent
access to versions of elements on the
network. Snapshot views provide the
flexibility to use local copies of file
versions while disconnected from the
network and the ability to easily syn-
chronize changes when reconnected
to the network.

Development teams can mix and
match their views based on their pref-
erences and project needs. Dynamic
views are useful on highly distributed
projects and are required for build
management tasks, including build
auditing. Snapshot views, used on
large and small projects alike, are
particularly useful for remote or dis-
connected development work.
Automated build and release management
Effective build management focuses
on two issues: streamlining the edit-
build-debug cycle and accurately
reproducing software versions. While
Rational ClearCase software is com-
patible with traditional build scripts,
native Microsoft® Windows® and
UNIX® make utilities, and IBM z/OS®
build facilities, it also offers upward-
compatible build utilities that have
clear advantages. By automatically
detecting dependencies, reusing
derived objects wherever possible and
producing detailed build audit trails,
Rational ClearCase software optimizes
build times while helping to ensure the
reproducibility of software versions.
Rational ClearCase software includes
the clearmake and omake build pro-
grams. These build utilities enable
functions such as configuration lookup,
binary sharing, parallel and distributed
builds, and build auditing. You also
can generate a detailed software bill
of materials (configuration record).
Configuration records can be used
to automatically determine when built
objects can be reused or shared by
developers using multiple views. This
feature is unique to Rational ClearCase
software. Reuse of built objects saves
both disk storage space and build time.
Rational ClearCase software also sup-
ports Ant build tools to help simplify
Java™ and cross-platform development.
Rational ClearCase software is inte-
grated with IBM Rational Build Forge
software for automated build and
release management. Rational Build
Forge software provides continuous
monitoring of the Rational ClearCase
source repository, and it executes
builds automatically either when a
change occurs or on a scheduled
basis. By executing build processes
across server pools, Rational Build
Forge software further accelerates
the build process. Together, Rational
ClearCase and Rational Build Forge
software quickly and easily enable
complete visibility and documentation
of the code-build cycle.
Automated deployment management
Rational ClearCase and Rational
ClearQuest software are integrated
with IBM Tivoli® Provisioning Manager
software to provide a reliable and
repeatable deployment process.
Rational ClearCase software creates
the bill of materials to be deployed as
a deployment unit. Rational ClearQuest
software tracks build artifacts through
the various test phases leading to
production. The Tivoli Provisioning
™
Manager solution deploys the approved
build files directly from the Rational
ClearCase application, and updates
the deployment record in the Rational
ClearQuest application. This allows
you to associate builds with deploy-
ments, provides a complete audit trail
from development through deploy-
ment, and extends traceability across
the lifecycle.

Support for mainframe and midrange
development
Rational ClearCase software supports
cross-platform development for appli-
cations deployed on IBM System z™
and IBM System i™ platforms.
For organizations developing and
supporting applications on the
IBM System z platform, Rational
ClearCase software supports both
the IBM z/OS and Linux® for zSeries®
environments. Developers creating
and maintaining applications using
traditional z/OS technologies, such
as Common Business Oriented
Language (COBOL) and Programming
Language One (PL/I), can access
Rational ClearCase facilities from
a native z/OS client, from a native
desktop client or from within their
integrated development environments
(IDEs). This allows z/OS developers
to work in their native environment
and access their assets in a Rational
ClearCase repository.
With the Rational ClearCase remote
build capability, you can submit build
requests from any supported client to
perform native z/OS host build and
promote operations. You can con-
figure the remote build capability to
return the derived objects, such as
load modules and listings, which can
be managed in the same fashion as
other Rational ClearCase software-
managed artifacts. You can create the
same detailed configuration records
for assets built on a z/OS host as
for other environments. This feature
enables you to re-create enterprise
The Rational ClearCase Remote Client feature provides WAN access for remote developers.
application builds as needed.
Access anywhere, anytime area network (WAN). The remote
For applications developed in System i
Rational ClearCase software allows client can be installed independently
environments, Rational ClearCase func-
for easy access from the environments or act from within the opensource
tionality can be accessed directly from
and locations where your team mem- Eclipse framework.
the IBM WebSphere® Development
bers work. From desktop clients, to
Studio Client for iSeries™ IDE. Rational Web clients provide access to Rational
remote and Web clients, to integrated
ClearCase software supports i5/OS ®
ClearCase capabilities in an easy-to-
IDE access, Rational ClearCase soft-
languages. Rational ClearCase soft- use browser-based interface. Web
ware enables development teams to
ware also provides support for System i clients simplify administration by elimi-
capture, control and securely manage
resources such as Web artifacts, Java, nating the need to distribute, install,
software assets.
Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition configure, maintain or upgrade soft-
(J2EE) and Enterprise Generation Desktop clients provide complete ware at individual user sites. The
Language (EGL). In addition to i5/OS Rational ClearCase functionality in a Rational ClearCase TSO Client tool
languages, Rational ClearCase soft- flexible Windows interface. Customiz- provides support for organizations
ware manages i5 language-supported able menus and toolbars allow users developing their applications on z/OS
operating systems. This allows i5, to tailor the interface so they have fast platforms, allowing them to develop
iSeries and IBM AS/400 ® users to access to the functions they need. in their native Time Sharing Option/
easily manage and control their Interactive System Productivity Facility
software assets from within their The Rational ClearCase Remote Client (TSO/ISPF) environment. This enables
traditional environment. tool enables remote developers to complete synchronization of mainframe
access versioned objects over a wide and distributed application lifecycles.


Multiple approaches to support
distributed development
Organizations and teams that span
multiple locations and time zones
require fast, reliable access to cur-
rent information. Rational ClearCase
software provides support for remote
access to a centralized repository,
as well as repository replication,
enabling you to choose the solution
architecture that best supports your
organizational needs.

Rational ClearCase software supports

remote access to a centralized reposi-
tory via WAN clients and through Web
clients. A single client can access Administrators can easily initiate and monitor synchronization between Rational ClearCase repositories.
data on more than one server, so
developers can construct workspaces repositories in the event of system Additionally, Rational ClearCase

from repositories in multiple locations.
Rational ClearCase MultiSite software
provides automatic replication and
synchronization of Rational ClearCase
repositories. Data integrity is main-
tained through automatic replication
of project repositories, resending
information in the event of network
failure, and automatically recovering
failure. Efficient transmission of only
incremental changes in Rational
ClearCase repositories reduces net-
work strain and improves performance.
Mastership capabilities give individual
sites exclusive ownership of ClearCase
metadata. This enables conflict avoid-
ance by preventing changes made
at one site from being overwritten by
changes made at another site.
MultiSite software features an easy-
to-use browser-based interface that
allows administrators to manage all
replicas from their local site. Using the
MultiSite Administration Console tool,
administrators can access Rational
ClearCase repository and server
information, initiate synchronization
between repositories and view syn-
chronization status.


Direct access from leading IDEs
Developers prefer to work within their
chosen development environments.
Rational ClearCase software provides
deep integration with leading IDEs,
including the IBM Rational Application
Developer for WebSphere Software
and IBM WebSphere Studio
Application Developer environments,
the open source Eclipse framework,
and Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 soft-
ware, enabling developers to perform
software configuration management
operations without leaving their IDE.
Heterogeneous platform support
Rational ClearCase software sup-
ports heterogeneous environments
and cross-platform development. On
the client side, you can develop in
virtually any development environ-
ment, including the Windows, Linux
(distributed and mainframe), UNIX,
Apple Macintosh (via Web browser)
and z/OS environments, as well as
the i5/OS, IBM AIX®, Windows and
Linux environments on the System i
platform. On the server side, you can
choose from a variety of supported
platforms to store your assets while
your development teams work in their
preferred development environments.
This platform flexibility is designed
to reduce administration costs and
enable development teams to easily
collaborate, regardless of their indi-
vidual development tools.
Asset-based development for
software reuse
There are many obstacles to effec-
tive software reuse. As development
activities become more distributed, the
challenge for architects and develop-
ers lies in knowing what assets exist,
where they reside and how to catego-
rize and reference them in design and
development activities.
IBM supports the Reusable Asset
Specification (RAS) process, which
defines a standard way to package
reusable software assets. The integra-
tion between the Rational ClearCase,
Rational Software Architect and IBM
Rational Rose XDE Developer solu-
® ™
tions provides development teams with
the ability to search, locate, download
and apply assets from reusable asset
repositories located locally or on
the Web.

Access control
User authentication is performed
through operating system authen-
tication mechanisms or through
industry standard directory servers
using the Lightweight Directory Access
Protocol (LDAP). Support for user-
and group-based permissions limits
access to files and directories. User-
based locks are available on Rational
ClearCase objects (branches, labels,
elements and metadata). Programmatic
authorization can occur based on the
action being performed.
Audit support
Rational ClearCase software records
operations against all objects stored
in its repositories. The history browser
shows a record of activities undertaken
during the development process;
automated history reports contain
changes made to folders and files.
Rational ClearCase software also
provides a build audit capability that
enables organizations to create a
record of the files that were used
to create an application and the
specific versions of code deployed
to production.
Integrated lifecycle support
Rational ClearCase software integrates
tightly with design, development, build,
test and deployment tools, enabling
you to manage software assets across
the full lifecycle. In addition, Rational
ClearCase software provides the
foundation for the IBM Rational Team
Unifying Platform and IBM Rational
™
Suite solutions, enabling full lifecycle
®
support across development disci-
plines, from creating requirements
through testing applications.
Unparalleled scalability Accelerate success with Rational services
Rational ClearCase deployments can IBM Rational tools are supported by
support thousands of users, working an extensive worldwide staff of profes-
in dozens of sites, managing tera- sional services consultants who bring
bytes of data. Whether your team is a years of experience to help you lay a
small workgroup at a single location, solid foundation for successful soft-
or a highly distributed team span- ware development projects. You can
ning multiple geographies, Rational engage Rational professional services
ClearCase software provides the for a variety of scenarios — from large-
scalability to support your evolving scale customized consulting projects
organizational needs. that are tailored to meet your organi-
zation’s unique needs, to short-term
Integration flexibility assistance with a single challenge.
Rational ClearCase software is tightly
integrated with a wide range of prod-
ucts that span the software lifecycle.
In addition, Rational ClearCase
software supports multiple applica-
tion programming interfaces (APIs),
including the Perl and common object
model (COM) APIs, providing an
open, extensible way to meet your
specific integration needs.

IBM Rational ClearCase products at a glance
IBM Rational ClearCase LT

Server platforms

• Microsoft Windows XP • HP-UX • Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Server

• Microsoft Windows 2000 • IBM AIX 5L ™

• Sun Solaris

• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 • Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Web servers

• IBM Rational Web Platform*

Client platforms

• Microsoft Windows XP • HP-UX • Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Server

• Microsoft Windows 2000 • IBM AIX 5L • Sun Solaris

• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 • Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Web browsers

• Apple Safari • Microsoft Internet Explorer • Mozilla Firefox

Integrations

• IBM Rational ClearQuest
• IBM Rational Web Developer
for WebSphere Software
• IBM Rational Application Developer
for WebSphere Software
• IBM Rational Software Architect
• IBM Rational Software Modeler
• IBM Rational RequisitePro®
• IBM Rational Build Forge
• IBM Rational Functional Tester
• IBM Rational Performance Tester
• IBM WebSphere Studio Site Developer
• IBM WebSphere Studio Application • Microsoft Visual Studio 2005
Develper (C#, J#, C++, VB)
• IBM WebSphere Studio Application • Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
Developer Integration Edition (C#, J#, C++, VB)
• IBM WebSphere Development • Microsoft Visual Studio 6
Studio Client for iSeries (C++, J++, VB)
• IBM WebSphere Development Studio • Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint
Client Advanced Edition for iSeries • Sun Java Studio
• IBM WebSphere Studio Enterprise • Sybase PowerBuilder
Developer
• Borland JBuilder
• IBM WebSphere Developer for zSeries
• All source code control (SCC)-
• Eclipse compliant tools

* Included with IBM Rational ClearCase LT, IBM Rational ClearCase and IBM Rational ClearCase MultiSite software.
Note: Not all versions of listed software are supported.

10
 IBM Rational ClearCase
Server platforms
• Microsoft Windows XP • IBM AIX 5L • Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
for IBM zSeries
• Microsoft Windows 2000 • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Sun Solaris
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 • Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM zSeries

• HP-UX • Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Server

Web servers
• IBM Rational Web Platform*

Client platforms
• Microsoft Windows XP • IBM AIX 5L • Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
for IBM zSeries
• Microsoft Windows 2000 • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Sun Solaris
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 • Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM zSeries
• IBM z/OS
• HP-UX • Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Server

Web browsers
• Apple Safari • Microsoft Internet Explorer • Mozilla Firefox

Integrations
• IBM Rational ClearQuest • IBM WebSphere Studio Site Developer • Eclipse

• IBM Rational Web Developer • IBM WebSphere Studio • Microsoft Visual Studio 2005
for WebSphere Software Application Developer (C#, J#, C++, VB)

• IBM Rational Application Developer for • IBM WebSphere Studio Application • Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
WebSphere Software Developer Integration Edition C#, J#, C++, VB)

• IBM Rational Software Architect • IBM WebSphere Development • Microsoft Visual Studio 6
Studio Client for iSeries (C++, J++, VB)
• IBM Rational Software Modeler
• IBM WebSphere Development Studio • Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint
• IBM Rational RequisitePro
Client Advanced Edition for iSeries • Sun Java Studio
• IBM Rational Build Forge
• IBM WebSphere Studio • Sybase PowerBuilder
• IBM Rational Functional Tester Enterprise Developer
• Borland JBuilder
• IBM Rational Performance Tester • IBM WebSphere Developer
• All SCC-compliant tools
• IBM Tivoli Provisioning Manager for zSeries

* Included with IBM Rational ClearCase LT, IBM Rational ClearCase and IBM Rational ClearCase MultiSite software.
Note: Not all versions of listed software are supported.

IBM Rational ClearCase MultiSite

Server platforms

• Microsoft Windows XP • IBM AIX 5L • Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Server

• Microsoft Windows 2000 • Red Hat Enterprise Linux • Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for
IBM zSeries
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 • Red Hat Enterprise Linux for
IBM zSeries • Sun Solaris
• HP-UX

Web servers
• IBM Rational Web Platform*

Web browsers
• Apple Safari • Microsoft Internet Explorer • Mozilla Firefox

* Included with IBM Rational ClearCase LT , IBM Rational ClearCase and IBM Rational ClearCase MultiSite software.
Note: Not all versions of listed software are supported.

11
For more information
To learn more about how IBM Rational
ClearCase products can help man-
age and control your software assets
across the lifecycle, visit:
ibm.com/software/rational/
offerings/scm.html
For more information on IBM Rational
professional services, visit:
ibm.com/software/rational/
services/professional/index.html
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2006
IBM Corporation
Software Group
Route 100
Somers, NY 10589
Produced in the United States of America
09-06
All Rights Reserved
AIX, AIX 5L, AS/400, Build Forge, ClearCase,
ClearQuest, i5/OS, IBM, the IBM logo, iSeries,
Rational, Rational Rose, Rational Suite,
RequisitePro, System i, System z, Team Unifying
Platform, Tivoli, WebSphere, XDE, z/OS and
zSeries are trademarks or registered trademarks
of International Business Machines Corporation
in the United States, other countries or both.
Java and all Java-based trademarks are trade-
marks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United
States, other countries or both.
Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in
the United States, other countries or both.
Microsoft and Windows are trademarks or regis-
tered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the
United States, other countries or both.
UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group
in the United States and other countries.
Other company, product and service names may
be trademarks or service marks of others. The
information contained in this documentation is
provided for informational purposes only. While
efforts were made to verify the completeness
and accuracy of the information contained in this
documentation, it is provided “as is” without war-
ranty of any kind, express or implied. In addition,
this information is based on IBM’s current product
plans and strategy, which are subject to change by
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for any damages arising out of the use of, or oth-
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RADS10958-USEN-00