What is one key benefit of using source control in software development?

Using source control in software development significantly enhances collaboration and tracking of changes among team members. This is achieved through features such as branching and merging, which allow multiple developers to work on different features or fixes simultaneously without interfering with each other’s work. Each change made to the codebase is tracked, enabling a detailed history of modifications alongside the ability to revert changes if needed. This ensures that any team member can understand how the code has evolved over time, making it easier to manage updates, resolve conflicts, and maintain code quality.

Collaboration is further improved because source control systems often include tools for code reviews, facilitating discussions about changes and encouraging best practices. While other aspects like faster development and reduced setup time can be advantageous, the primary utility of source control lies in its comprehensive approach to managing changes and fostering teamwork effectively. Additionally, automatic documentation is not a primary function of source control; it typically requires manual input or separate tools to generate comprehensive documentation based on code changes.