Add Command

The add command adds new files and directories to the CVS repository. The syntax of the add command for a directory is:

cvs add directory

Suppose, you want to create a directory named, test, the command for the same will be:

cvs add test

The syntax to add a file in the repository is:

cvs add filename
cvs commit filename

The commit command has to be used to actually create a file in the repository. The add command only schedules the file for addition. Suppose, for example, you want to add a new file, new.txt to the CVS repository, use the following command:

cvs add new.txt
cvs commit new.txt

Options of the add command
1) -b bug
This option marks the newly added file with bug identifier.
2) -k kflag
It is a sticky option that processes the keywords according to the kflag.
3) -m msg
Adds a new file in the repository with a message, msg. msg is like a comment or some additional information about the file. By using -m option, editor need not be invoked.
4) -r branch
Adds the new file onto a different branch. By default, the branch is the same as the directory.
5) -kb filename
The option -kb is used to add a binary file. For example, to add a binary file, new.gif, the code is:

cvs add –kb new.gif
cvs commit –m "New binary file" new.gif

A new file named new.gif has been added to the repository with the message New binary file.

Some food for thought
What is the difference between commit and add command?