Fossil (Software – Distributed Version Control)
Fossil is a powerful, all-in-one, distributed version control system created by
D. Richard Hipp (the author of SQLite). It was designed to be simple yet fully
featured:
Repository in a single SQLite file: Everything—history, code, wiki, tickets—is
stored in one file you can easily copy or back up
en.wikipedia.org
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fossil-scm.org
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de.wikipedia.org
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www2.fossil-scm.org
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lwn.net
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andreiclinciu.net
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.
Built-in web interface: Just run fossil ui and browse history, tickets, wiki pages,
timeline, branches, etc.
andreiclinciu.net
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fossil-scm.org
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mankier.com
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.
Integrated bug-tracker, forum, technotes: No need to hook up separate tools—it's
included
christies.com
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joaoduartepinto.medium.com
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mankier.com
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.
Multiple usage modes: Works distributed (like Git), centralized (like SVN), or
both, and supports an "autosync" mode that auto-pushes/pulls upon commit/merge
andreiclinciu.net
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fossil-scm.org
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lwn.net
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.
Lightweight & robust: The executable is small, self-contained, backed by SQLite
(ACID compliant), with built-in consistency checks .
Ideal for standalone hosting: Great on a Raspberry Pi or cheap VPS—just one binary
and a CGI wrapper
andreiclinciu.net
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fossil-scm.org
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joaoduartepinto.medium.com
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Why choose Fossil over Git? Better situational awareness via web UI, simpler mental
model, historic branch lineage, and turnkey setup as both VCS and project hub
www2.fossil-scm.org
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joaoduartepinto.medium.com
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joaoduartepinto.medium.com
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Use cases:
Solo or small-team development with zero infrastructure overhead.
Projects that want code, tickets, documentation, and discussions together.
Users preferring an easy-to-administer, all-in-a-single-tool approach.
🦖 Fossils (Paleontology – Traces of Ancient Life)
On the flip side, fossils (with one “l”) are the preserved remains or traces of
ancient organisms:
They include body fossils (bones, shells, teeth) and trace fossils (footprints,
burrows)
www2.fossil-scm.org
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lwn.net
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www2.fossil-scm.org
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joaoduartepinto.medium.com
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fossil-scm.org
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britannica.com
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education.nationalgeographic.org
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discovermagazine.com
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discovermagazine.com
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Fossilization is a rare process requiring rapid burial in sediment, followed by
mineral replacement over time
geologyscience.com
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education.nationalgeographic.org
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discovermagazine.com
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Remains older than ~10,000 years are considered true fossils—some date back
~4 billion years
education.nationalgeographic.org
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Types include:
Macro-fossils: Dinosaur bones, petrified wood
Micro-fossils: Pollen, tiny shells visible only with a microscope
education.nationalgeographic.org
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Fossils reveal Earth’s history: evolution, past environments, mass extinctions—and
even drive continental drift research .
Key categories like trilobites, brachiopods, mollusks, corals, and others are
documented in paleontological guides
geologyscience.com
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earthathome.org
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discovermagazine.com
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So, which one interests you?
The software tool Fossil (version control + wiki + tickets in one).
Fossils from Earth’s past (prehistoric remains and trace fossils).
Let me know which one you’d like to dive deeper into. If you want PDF documentation
—like a Fossil user manual or a paleontology field guide—I can help find those too!
