Rational Statemate uses the standard “lock” paradigm to prevent configuration items from being modified by more than one person at any time. When checking an item out, the following occurs:
● The project member can optionally lock the item, preventing anyone else from modifying it. Other project members continue to have read access to the item but they cannot lock it.
● A copy of the item is created in the project member’s designated disk space, which is called a workarea. Any project member can modify a copy of an item in their workarea, but only the project member who holds the lock on the item can check it in.When checking an item in, the following occurs:
● The project member can choose to retain or release the lock. Until the lock is released, no one else can modify the item. When more than one project member needs to modify an item, it is important to unlock the item.