Perforce Introduces Parallel Sync Capability to Accelerate Software Development

Key Points:

• Parallel Sync enables simultaneous transfer of multiple files within a P4D environment, maximizing available CPU and network resources
• The new capability can improve workspace sync time by nearly 50 percent in cross-continent transfers of large file sets
• Faster, more performant source code management environment benefits both developers and DevOps

ALAMEDA, Calif. (July 15, 2014)Perforce Software today announced the addition of a new version management capability that increases productivity across the development pipeline. By boosting the P4 sync function of P4D, Parallel Sync allows users to transfer multiple files simultaneously and significantly reduce overall workspace sync times.

P4 sync is the primary command for transferring updated files between a versioning depot and the development workspace—the first step in any development pipeline. The new Parallel Sync capability better leverages CPU and network resources on modern development machines and enables the system to transfer multiple files simultaneously via the P4 sync command. This results in faster workspace creation for developers as well as automation tools, allowing teams to complete tasks faster.

Parallel Sync is especially beneficial for teams practicing Continuous Delivery in highly automated environments where Continuous Integration processes must obtain the latest code changes ahead of every test. Faster transfer of changes at each step of the Continuous Delivery pipeline speeds up the entire build-to-deploy process without any new investments.

As projects grow in size and span multiple locations, Parallel Sync also helps teams maintain streamlined workflows by speeding up file transfers and large workspace refreshes across the WAN. In a test involving a cross-continent transfer of large file sets, Parallel Sync cut sync times by nearly 50 percent.

“Our customers continue to automate their development pipelines in order to release better products faster,” said Murtaza Amiji, director of product management at Perforce. “Parallel Sync offers a tremendous advantage to companies with highly automated environments and hundreds of thousands of files. We’ve seen significant productivity and performance improvements in these environments.”

Parallel Sync and Perforce’s federated versioning architecture, also announced today, are available immediately in the latest release of P4D.