Glossary Updates12 new terms added to the glossaries · October 2, 2026, 22:44 CEST
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Glossary · Automation fundamentals, platforms and components

Version management

Also known as: Version control, Source control

German: Versionsverwaltung

In software and systems engineering, version management is the practice and tooling for recording, identifying and controlling successive versions of files, such as source code, PLC projects, configurations and documents, so that every state can be traced, compared, restored and released in a defined way.

  • Automation components

In one sentence

Version management records and controls versions of code, PLC projects, configurations and documents so every state can be traced and restored.

Example

Each PLC project change is committed with a ticket number, so the team can see who changed the conveyor logic, when and why, and restore the previous release.

How it applies

  • Engineering: Tools such as Git or automation-specific version management systems store PLC, HMI and drive projects. Binary project formats make comparison harder; some tools offer export or compare functions for automation projects.
  • Operation: Comparing the program running on a controller with the released version detects undocumented changes. Automatic backups of devices complement version management.
  • Documentation: Documentation belongs under version management too, linked to the product and software versions it describes. Release notes, Configuration baseline records and Traceability from requirement to version support audits and incident analysis.

Version management vs. configuration control

Version management tracks versions of individual items. Configuration control governs which versions together form an approved configuration and how changes to it are authorized.

By knowledge.aitechdoc.world · Published September 26, 2026 · Last reviewed

Source: AI TechDoc Blog editorial definition, based on common software and configuration management practice

Definitions follow the cited standards and specifications. Where a source is a copyrighted publication, such as an ISO, IEC or EN standard, the definition is a close paraphrase, not a verbatim quotation, so as not to infringe copyright. We recommend reading the original publication. The sections “How it applies” are editorial commentary by AI TechDoc Blog and are not part of any standard.

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