Fearless Coding With Subversion.
If you do not have a computer programming background you may not be aware of the magic that is Subversion.
When I write code, I make changes with reckless abandon, never worrying about breaking my existing work. Subversion allows me to behave recklessly by providing a nice safety net. I know that not only can I pull up the most recent version of my file, but many previous versions as well if need be.
This allows me to take risks, and solve problems in ways that I wouldn't normally try if I was being timid.
So, you may ask, how can I get a taste of this for myself? A newcomer on the web application scene Beanstalk will host a single repository for you if you want to try out Subversion without installing it locally.
If you are on a PC all you need is a Beanstalk account and Tortoise SVN. Tortoise SVN integrates directly into windows explorer allowing you to checkout (grab) and commit (save) your files with a right click.
Mac users don't have quite as many tools available, but then again who needs them when you have the command line so close at hand. For those of us who appreciate graphical interfaces Versions is a relatively new program that works very well (but probably won't end up being free). If you want Tortoise SVN style command menu integration try SC Plugin but don't expect a fully featured experience like you get on a PC with Tortoise. There are several other contenders in the Mac space, but none of them I have tried are stable enough or friendly enough to be worth mentioning.
So give Subversion a try, and see if coding fearlessly works for you.
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