A lot of people in the development community often misconstrue the discipline of software configuration management as another function of IT.  I’m sure other software configuration management Engineers agree with me when I say:  We are NOT anything close to being I.T. !   SCM is so much more than Information Technology management/support.  Don’t mistake this as IT bashing because IT is a highly respectable field; SCM Engineers just want to be recognized as a separate entity with its own uniqueness and specialties rather than be clumped together.  It’s true that software configuration management encompasses part of IT because our direct dealings with server infrastructures, but thats as far as it goes when it comes to IT related work within SCM.

Software configuration management is a multi-discipline field.  SCM is a diverse yet highly specialized discipline that can be attributed to a particular set of skills. These skills includes (but not limited to) the following:

1. Multiple Scripting Languages: *NIX Shells, PERL, Python, XML, XSLT, PHP
2. Multiple Programming Languages: C, C++, Java, C#, ASM
3. Extensive I.T. Knowledge
4. Great Organization Skills
5. Essential Communication Skills
6. Skilled Time Management
7. Ability to Prioritize Tasks
8. Multi-Process Enforcer: Build and Release, Installation, Archiving, and Development Processes
9. Architect and Implement Build Infrastructures
10. Architect and Implement Server Infrastructures
11. Manage all SCM Tools: Source Control, Build, Install, Bug Tracking, Collaboration
12. Installer Framework Expert
13. Bug Tracking Integration into Source Control Tool Specialist
14. Multi-Tools In-House Trainer for Internal Development Groups
15. Spend an ungodly amount of time convincing upper management of the values SCM brings to development groups in the long term by enduring some pain, given the proper resource to effect changes NOW; A daunting task considering how a lot of companies are mostly consisted of short-sighted “What the heck is SCM?” management personnels.
16. etc.. etc.. etc…

With almost a decade worth of experiences in this field, I find that the above list accurately depicts the skills a quality SCM Engineer must possess and yet it is still being added to in every year & project. As the popular saying goes, “One should never stop learning,” SCM as a whole can be considered as such.  Being in SCM is being onboard a neverending train ride, sometimes you’re going uphill, sometimes down, sometimes in a dark tunnel with no end in sight, but when everything is smooth and working properly–the ride is a breeze and might I fearlessly add: quite enjoyable!