Version Control for Hardware
===========================

Version control is not limited to software. Mechanical systems evolve through iterations, refinements, and design tradeoffs just as code does. Applying structured version control principles to hardware design improves traceability, reduces integration errors, and prevents regression to outdated configurations. A disciplined approach ensures that every change is intentional, documented, and reversible.

Approaches
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CAD File Versioning
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Modern CAD platforms such as Onshape and Fusion 360 include built-in version history tools. Teams should:

- Create named versions at stable milestones rather than relying solely on autosave history  
- Use branching when testing alternative design paths  
- Tag versions associated with successful tests or competition builds  
- Lock finalized assemblies to prevent unintended edits  

Maintaining a clean version tree allows teams to revert to known stable configurations if experimental changes fail.

Part Numbering and Revision Tracking
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Each custom component should have a structured part number and revision identifier. A typical system may include:

- Assembly code  
- Subsystem identifier  
- Sequential part number  
- Revision letter or number  

For example: DRV-PLT-003 Rev B  

Revision tracking should reflect functional changes, not cosmetic adjustments. When geometry, tolerances, materials, or interfaces change, increment the revision and document the rationale.

BOM Management
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Bill of Materials must reflect the exact configuration of the robot at any given stage. Maintain:

- Part numbers and revision levels  
- Quantity per assembly  
- Vendor and sourcing information  
- Material specifications  
- Cost tracking  

Each competition release should correspond to a frozen BOM. Changes after freeze should require documented approval and revision updates.

Design Snapshot Documentation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At key milestones, capture full design snapshots including:

- Assembly renderings  
- Exploded views  
- Critical dimensions  
- Interface points between subsystems  
- Electrical routing diagrams  

Snapshots serve as reference baselines during troubleshooting and future redesigns.

Best Practices
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Commit or Save at Meaningful Milestones
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Avoid excessive minor saves without structure. Instead, create named versions at:

- Completion of a subsystem  
- Successful performance test  
- Major geometry or interface modification  
- Pre-competition freeze  

This creates logical restoration points in the design history.

Document Changes in Commit Messages or Design Notes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Each saved version should include a clear description of:

- What changed  
- Why the change was made  
- Expected performance impact  
- Risks introduced  

Good documentation transforms version history from a timeline into an engineering narrative.

Maintain a Release Strategy for Competition Builds
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Adopt a formal release cycle similar to software development:

- Prototype Release: Experimental configuration for validation  
- Alpha Build: Functional but incomplete integration  
- Beta Build: Competition-ready configuration for scrimmage testing  
- Final Release: Frozen configuration for official events  

Once a release is frozen, restrict changes to critical fixes only. Maintain a change log documenting any modifications made between events.

Applying version control rigor to hardware ensures repeatability, improves troubleshooting efficiency, and supports long term knowledge retention across seasons.