#✥ mercury's bazaar

[rancorasael]

Asael didn't understand many things in the world. Vengeance was the one thing he knew he'd undoubtedly never get wrong. He'd done it already, again and again. Any time he came across some evil monster clad in white and golden suns, he put them through the same sort of bullshit trials they forced witches like him to endure back in Astoria. His questions were pitfalls, no answer would satisfy him because they fell from the tongues of someone he hated. Once they found themselves frozen in Asael's ice, nothing they could do or say could save their lives. And so far, no one he's gone after has gotten away.

He was willing to sacrifice his own body to eradicate the religion, so what was a promise like this really? From Asael's perspective, he was the one gaining way more than the other, and he was selfish enough about his revenge to accept that. It didn't matter where the help came from or what form it took, as confident as he was in his raw power Asael would accept any amount of assistance he could get on his journey. "I live to destroy them. I'm not going to risk anything that'll help me do that. You say all I gotta do to get weapons and stuff against the Vanguard is help you kill some people who should've been dead already? Then I'll do it. I'll—"

For a moment, Seraphiel's offer had Asael feeling close to his goals, so close that he got himself worked up. His body was still unstable, not just from his most recent spell misfiring but also from the years of strenuous abuse he suffered due to his ignorance of weaves. But even as Asael doubled over in pain, he still managed to look up to meet the other's eyes once again. He was strong, strong enough to stomach the pain he endured. This was **nothing**. "I'll do it. I'll do anything."

Seraphiel paused just a moment, allowing a slow smirk to play across his lips before he turned back to Asael. This boy—so easily confused, yet so fiercely committed to vengeance—had finally shown Seraphiel the angle he needed. No surprise it was flattery, the fuel for pride. Beneath the confusion and hostility, Asael’s spirit was defined by loss and the unforgiving need to make those responsible suffer. Seraphiel respected that tenacity; it was a fire he’d seen kindle in his own heart and fanned into a raging storm over centuries.

He met Asael’s eyes, an approving gleam flickering there. “It’s rare to meet someone who understands the world like you do. I hope I can trust you.” He placed just enough weight on the words to imply doubt, letting Asael prove himself further.

“And to show you my faith,” Seraphiel continued, his voice smooth and assured, “I’ll make sure you’re equipped with everything you need to see it through. My crew and I are at your disposal. Food, shelter, passage across any waters, blades sharpened and waiting—all of it yours if it means watching our enemies pay for their sins.”

[pinchofneven]

&&: @etienneulven Location: Mercury's Bazaar Notes: have you ever had a nightmare about running into your one-night stand at the farmer's market?

The streets of the spice market were bright, bustling and disorientingly loud. There was a perpetual cloud of incense cast over the streets, lulling the shoppers into dropping tens of gold pieces on pinches of salts from far-off lands. The infernal steered well clear of the salt basins. It was always the fresh herbs that Neven gravitated to first, as he found fresh oils worked the best for his brews. The basket at his hip was already burdened with fresh stock. Burdock root for fever, white willow to mute the pain, widow root as antiseptic and Sinarian mint just because he enjoyed the smell of it. The Iskaran crushed a leaf of it between his fingers, inhaling the sharp note on the air when he spied a familiar face passing through the market. His hair and gait were unmistakable, but the streak of white fur trailing after him confirmed it. A smile spread uncontrollably in wake of his excitement.

“Etienne!” Neven called after the figure. Fumbling through his pockets with his free hand, the alchemist hurriedly tossed a few gold to the stall’s owner, overpaying with insistence that he’d promptly return the basket. 

In the sepia shade of a vendor’s tarp, the cubi finally caught up. 

“So you did make it here in one piece. I was getting worried.” Neven panted, trying to hide just how winded he was by his chase through the market. After a brief examination of his past acquaintence’s exposed skin for any obvious wear or injury, Neven’s hooded gaze flicked comfortably between Etienne’s eyes and lips. “City life looks good on you.” He complimented, his voice soft as sage, as warm as cinnamon.

[resplendentoutfit]

Deathly Pale

The desire of women for ultra-pale skin didn't end with the Elizabethan era. In Victorian times, women still coveted the look of translucent white skin and applied the same causic, poisonous substances to their face, neck, arms and hands. Turbuculosis was a common cause of death in the era. The look of death was considered romantic for its tragic and poetic beauty. Even if a Victorian woman wasn't charmed by death due to turbuculosis, she still coveted pale, translucent skin. Tanned faces were the result of long hours of work out-of- doors, belonging to the lower classes.

“The death of a beautiful woman is, unquestionably, the most poetical topic in the world.” - Edgar Allan Poe

The two predominant beauty standards were the painted beauty and the natural beauty. The later was the preferred ideal of the average fashionable woman. The methods she employed to achieve good skin and complexion were all in an effort to look natural. The overly painted look was seen as racy - the province of prostitutes and "loose" women.

Upon a well-off Victorian woman's dressing table were arsenic, ammonia, and opium, among other toxic substances. The Ugly-girl Papers, Or, Hints for the Toilet was a book published in 1874 that contained a series of beauty articles for Harper's Bazaar. The author recommends coating the face with opium before bed and a brisk wash with ammonia in the morning. How refreshing.

Lotions containing lead were popular for whitening the skin as well as erasing freckles and other blemishes. Complexion wafers containing arsenic were widely advertised. These products were peddled to women as being harmless when, in fact, they caused headaches, nausea, and even paralysis.

To achieve eyes with a seductive gaze, Victorian women used Belladonna or Deadly Nightshade in the form of eye drops, which diluted the pupils. Eye irritation and even blindness were reported symptoms of this practice.

A little color over that deathly white facial palor was usually achieved with beet juice and sometimes, animal blood. It's intriguing to wonder how women came into possession of animal blood, though the answer may be as simple as a purchase from a local vendor. Vermillion, also known as red mercury, was used to tint the lips and was known to be poisonous.

Virginie Gautreau, the subject of the famous John Singer Sargent painting known as Madama X, was not only known to use products to whiten her skin, but was also purported to use indigo dye to paint veins over the ultra-pale veneer of her skin. I haven't found any sound evidence of this, however. What I did read in both The Collector and in an article at minsooki, was that over her arsenic pale skin, Virginie used a lavender powder to counteract the warmth of candlelight.

What's most troubling is that in the face of ample evidence of the health consequences of many of these products, women continued to value the look they provided, over their own health and safety.

References:

• Molly Brown House Museum: Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder: How Victorians Used Common Poisons to Become Drop Dead Gorgeous

• Awful Forever

• Atlas Obscura

• minsooki.com

• The Collector

[hiddenvaldis]

who? open to non troupe where? mercury's bazaar when? during the troupe 1 plot drop

The thing about rumors is that despite every attempt to stop them, they will only grow and grow and grow. In time, they will change and twist and bend, but the kernel of truth will always remain. Anyone keen enough can dig past the shell to find the pearl within, and Valdís delights of working out the precision necessary to do it. It's a test for a skill she rarely gets to use on the Sea's Peril and one she does not want to lose. Her occasional trips to hostile shores is more than enough to keep her sharp, and as good excuse as any to supervise the crew manning the merchant ship to ensure there isn't any funny business going on.

Mercury's Bazaar is an excellent place to start on her meandering journey through the streets of Eterna — a pulse point of commerce, all merchants flock to it's streets and in between the banter and barter the truth slips from careless lips. Not quite as careless as those found in the bars, but in plan daylight the clientele will probably be worthless to her.

Stopping before a booth full of books, she allows her eyes to move languidly across the covers. She is trying to figure out if there is any worthy addition to her personal library when she feels someone loom over her shoulder, blocking the light.

"You mind?" She snipes, glancing back to send the interloper an accusing look. "You are hogging the light. Move."

[princemordecai]

@morgansbond location: Mercury's Bazaar notes: little starter for our connect

The comforts of home, the people, the city, and the familiarity were nice. There were things that he'd taken for granted when he lived in Eterna; growing up here, it was easy to forget that life wasn't nearly as comfortable outside this city. He'd come and gone when he was a kid when he'd started down the Olympian path, but conflict to the south had opened his eyes to what he'd always taken for granted: freedom. People like Morgan were a reminder of how bad it was outside Lysaran borders and how, even in this Queendom, people use those with magic as scapegoats for all the world's troubles. It is as if all life's problems and conflicts could be traced back to some spell or accident of birth.

"It's been a long time." A few years, anyway. Morgan was one of the few Iskarans who had gotten out, a survivor of what could only be a burning house for someone like him. The bazaar was dark, but apart from the sky above, you wouldn't know how late it was. He missed the tangible electricity of the bazaar; people from all over Lysara congregated here, shopping, selling, and seeking. While the Tower of Olympia hung overhead, the world he'd known still felt so far away. Leander extended his hand towards the other, a sign of respect despite the gap between their stations. "Good to see you again."

[riaaanna]

Montreux Part 8: Suisse Bazaar and Departure - 3 Sept 2023

I'm really just making an excuse to squeeze in one last post for this incredible trip. The next morning after a full day of events at QSE and party night at the Casino, I checked out from my hotel late morning and took one last view at the lake and the statue.

Before going home I very quickly visited Bazar Suisse Montreux, which is a neat souvenir shop across the street behind the market square for all things Montreux/Switzerland and Queen. They also have a website so if you see anything you like you can probably find them here and buy them online.

It's a small but heavenly place - they have a ton of shirts with much better designs than whatever is on Queenonline right now and I think they're officially licensed too. There are CDs and vinyls, books, magazines, toys, keychains, fridge magnets, postcards, all kinds of merchandises you name them. I got myself the Montreux Celebration Days shirt and keychain (my only keepsake from that event because I almost entirely missed it for QSE) and some touristy Switzerland merch. I looked out for books that I haven't had yet but I have most of the important ones hmu if you want files.

As a bonus tho I did come here a second time a few weeks later (one post on that later!) to take a look at some interviews in magazines which, upon a super quick late-for-my-train search, I haven't found transcripts of online. These are all Brian's and I already posted them previously but I'll link them here:

And finally it was time time to actually go home. I took a short walk to the Montreux train station and headed to Geneva airport. The view from the train was sooo beautiful and as someone who has never been to Europe before this was so special to me. At the airport I waited and worked on my dissertation in the Montreux Jazz Cafe which was really cute. Not a few hours later I was back in rainy, gloomy London and took the train back to Manchester (and finished my dissertation on time!)

End of my Montreux series. As I mentioned before I went again after a few weeks, very much on a whim, and I might make a few posts on that we'll see. I was there mainly to enjoy the stuff that weren't available on the party day, which was joining the Freddie Tours (Extended Version) and getting my hands on some clean multitracks of Made In Heaven in QSE which weren't available then. So maybe look out for those! Thank you all for reading!

[ofkaedon]

Location: Mercury's Bazaar, Eterna

Tag: @haelimthewatcher

While only seven years have passed, it feels like a lifetime. Iskaldrik and the witchers have been in his rearview mirror as he moves forward. He was trained to be a witcher, though he would firmly tell you he is not a witcher - Kaedon has made a new reputation for himself among the thieve's guild and Eterna is the playground in which he gets to play. He really isn't all that concerned by what is going on around the continent of Taravell. It's all happening somewhere else to someone else and let's be honest, in full pettiness, he's not upset about what happened in Iskaldrik. It's a life he left behind.

He's in the bazaar on a job. At a glance though, he appears to be gazing through the bakery window perhaps eyeing the fresh rolls placed out and enjoying the sweet smell of freshly baked goodies. Enticing, yes, that is not what he is doing. In the reflection of the glass he sees the target he is currently following. Said target owes money to the guild and has done quite a good job avoiding them. That's where Kaedon comes in. He was trained in the harshest of conditions to track monsters, he's putting that skill to use, though this was definitely not what had been intended for.

The target moves from the table they had been eyeing and moves further in. Kaedon waits, silently counting the seconds in his head before he turns and moves to follow. But in those seconds as the target merges with the crowd, Kaedon's eye is caught by another figure crossing through his line of sight. He freezes in recognition - something he doesn't do - he doesn't believe in ghosts and yet, he swears he just saw one.

His head turns to follow the way his would-be apparition had gone. Standing there as a ghost of his past, Haelim.

It had been fifteen years and yet Kaedon felt eleven years old again, a witcher trainee hanging on every word of one of the few witchers he had looked up to. He remembers Haelim's sentencing as a criminal and traitor to the witcher cause, the other had been sent away then and forgotten. Kaedon had thought the wise witcher dead but always remembered the words that he was better than all that they were trying to make him become.

Kaedon was no longer the witcher trainee, again he was not a witcher and he remembers his target and....fuck...his target was nowhere in sight. He would have to try and pick up the target again back at the docks as they were sure to return there. And yet he can't bring himself to go and whether it was his heart or head that made the decision, he was crossing towards the other former witcher.

In the earshot of the other, "Excuse me," He said to catch the other's attention, "Haelim Wormwood?" A tone of questioning as if maybe this ghost of the past was just a mistaken figure for someone else.

[kayames]

Person: @ikarosx Location: Mercury's Bazaar? somewhere Ikaros would pick up supplies for questin Notes: flashback

Kay would like to think he's fairly resourceful on account of once he got an idea in his head it was hard not to just fall victim to the brainrot. He knew people, just because he had been shut out of nobility didn't mean he still couldn't get in contact with people who were important. Granted, an oracle and a prince were a lot harder to approach than just some guy who may or may not know where some old vampire grimoire was. However he was someone who took time to read every damn bulletin board in Eterna when it came to contracts, Thieves Guild or otherwise, and he knew Ikaros and that wonderful catsith of his wound up being dragged along by Abelas. Quests to go help animals took supplies, supplies could be bought in quite a few places. It was a waiting game, one he'd been playing a long time because it's a hard subject to broach. Finding Ikaros isn't the hard part, he'd seen the guy around a couple of times and yet he hadn't been able to bring himself to say anything. "You probably get this a lot, but once upon a time you did a reading for a noble witch and I've got questions about it." He's exasperated that he's even asking, having approached the oracle and what has to be the most wonderful cat he's ever seen on a whim.

[wantedbythemasters]

Aster Morrow | The Silvering Thief

Image from here

Age in 1902 (or the 3rd 1899): 37

Gender: Male, he/him

Height: 5’11’

Weight: 157 lbs

Sexuality: Gay

Race: Indian

Love Interest: May, but who knows what they actually are together

Factions: Criminals, Revolutionaries 

Open to RP: Yep!

Open to Shipping: You can try but it’ll probably take a while for him to warm up

Past Epithet: The Mercurial Thief

Desc:

Aster is a fairly successful criminal with feats such as robbing the Bazaar. He has tons of aliases, but most criminals who know him personally know him as Aster or Aster Morrow. He also lost his mind seeking for a while and ended up with a strange connection with Salt as a result. And he learned silvering from May who he has a complicated relationship with.

He’s trying to be a better person than he has been, but it hasn’t been easy for him. He tends to be pretty deadpan and pretends he doesn’t really care about anyone a lot of the time, even when he does.

He’ll probably go east eventually, but he's not in a rush. 

Parabolan Self:

In Parabola, Aster is known as the Eastbound Pirate. He often controls water and forms it into various weapons. He also has a ship called the Herald. Sometimes it has sails, and resembles a traditional pirate ship (like, with sails) and sometimes it has wings instead and flies. Aster also sometimes has wings on his Parabolan form.

Appearances:

The Star and the Candle - Major character

Tea Time - Major character

Flirting with disaster (in a different way) - Major character

There’s also an nsfw one that I’m not linking but it’s on AO3 ;)

Timeline:

1865-1869

Aster was born in the Neath to very irresponsible parents. He was often neglected while they partied and gambled. When he was about 4, his parents abandoned him at a church and an urchin gang took him in, but they didn’t treat him well.

1878-1887 

They cast him out earlier than usual, when he was around 13. But he quickly joined the Gracious Widow’s gang, and also met Maria, who he often ended up working with. Due to his past, though, he found it hard to trust her or anyone else.

Over the years, Aster also found work with the Topsy King and Cheery Man and became acquainted with their gangs as well.

In 1887, Maria told him she’d be leaving the Widow’s gang to work at the Parlour of Virture, and Aster was really upset about this and felt that she was using being a criminal as a gang and now she’d get to move on with her real family and a normal life, and he’d never be able to. She told him she viewed him as a brother and asked if he also wanted to be hired and he said he didn’t want a sister or to work with her, so she told him off. That was they saw each other for quite a while.

1898

In his early 30s, he began to experience strange feelings and visions and found himself seeking. The criminals and a certain hotel manager tried to help him break free, and seemed to be successful for a few months where Aster lived in the Flit and became close to the raggedy people, while learning silvering from May in an attempt to make it less likely he’d be tricked by Eaten again. However, Aster still had some of the same impulses and began steadily being pulled deeper into seeking, which the silvering lessons ended up exacerbating. Eventually, Aster ended up having the Shapeling Arts used on him to change his face, while Mr Eaten had him forget that anyone else had cared for him and hid his presence in Parabola so he could collect the candles with no one interfering. 

Meanwhile the actual Mr Candles, who’d been trapped somewhere in Parabola and who was REALLY TIRED of constantly being reminded of his trauma was also trying to stop this and managed to free Mr Mirrors who directed Aster in a slightly different direction which led to May finding Aster in Irem and Aster asking about Salt at the Avid Horizon.

Also, in Irem he saw a vision of the Neon Future, where he collected information for the criminals and revolutionaries to stay ahead of the masters and ensure that the Seventh City was here to stay.

[prcspero]

closed starter for @vuldak-juneau location: mercury's bazaar note: she's RICH

The last time he'd been in a bazaar, he'd had his shit jacked and knocked the fuck out. Knuckles probably still hated him for not bringing anything back and Prospero had been trying to wrap his head around if he cared or not. He probably should have given how devious those little children were. They'd probably find him here and try to steal from him again. His gaze flitted around the area to make sure nobody was indeed trying to, once again, jack his shit. So far, so good, it looked like. One could never be sure though. Once he was done observing the place, he turned his head to look at Juneau. "Did you get robbed in Hestia's Cove, too?" Probably not. She was tiny and looked like she was going to bite someone at any given moment. Also, she did not seem as paranoid as he was right now. Lucky. "Better question, did you hear about a Knuckles, too?"

[incubusnero]

Person: @ladyaylin Location: Mercury's Bazaar "When I set out this morning I didn't expect to see such a lady out and about." He can't even say it with any of the usual honeyed bravado, he is genuinely happy to see her. Rounding the corner past some trinkets on a table, he thought he'd been crazy to glimpse her side profile in his peripheral. Nero had to stop and blink before approaching her right in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of the bazaar. He is a man of many flings and affairs and the like, it's not his fault he was gifted with more charisma than a Sinarian snake charmer! The thing was, he remembered most of them and he did indeed have favorites, regardless of how things had ended. Aylin is one of those he knew really deserved better than the likes of him and the split had been amicable.

[breacher44]

Week 5 Homework

I am a Virgo

The colors most associated with my sign are brown and green. An animal that relates to my sign is a wolf. Wolves are intelligent and loyal, traits that match with being a Virgo.

The planet that is associated with my sign is Mercury. This planet relates to intelligence as well.

I included astrological signs for "earth" and "Mercury" which both are related to my astrological sign. Being a Virgo has to do with staying grounded, which is why the colors brown and green are used.

Attendance Prompt:

"She was a notorious, transatlantic bad girl: dosing her ballet teach with cocaine, editing the French Harper's Bazaar, carrying on a succession of high-profile affairs, and throwing parties to which she only invited pairs of moral enemies" (126)

Today, I still think of the color "shocking pink" as badass. However, I did not even know the story behind this color. It was very interesting to learn that this woman who embodied the color gave that color specific human traits and characteristics. Now, when I see it, I associate it with certain traits, something that many other colors are not able to do.

[coffeestainedcamera]

Finished the Wanderer quest! There'll be spoilers under the cut!

Mannnn, it's nice that I had a busy season at work and didn't get spoiled on social media bc of that lol. Experiencing it first-hand like that was truly something. It was painful to see Scara wipe himself from history, as I suppose he felt that it'd be a way to undo the damage he caused (not that it did much). Like, he did all sorts of horrific things throughout the story, but I also kind of felt bad bc he was ultimately someone who chose to channel his abandonment issues into the most destructive outlet possible. I really didn't want to see his story end like this, ig.

But I suppose wandering all over the place as an innocent amnesiac helped, as he's had the opportunity to see a better side of humanity here. That's what likely equipped him to accept the consequences of his actions. Plus, ig he was actually informed by the crew that the self-wipe didn't work.

Anyways, leaving his name as Wanderer felt too lazy, so I went with Mercury. Kind of as a nod to the fact that the protagonist ran into the new incarnation at a bazaar, plus the deity's association with travelers and speed. They do say, "run like the wind", after all. Also, bc Freddy Mercury is someone nice to share part of your name with imo.

Anyways, the wait for the follow-up will be painful! I want more info on the identity of the mysterious lady who gave the protag a talk about changing fate! And I want to see more of the ripple effects and weird consistency across the changed world!

[indiatourmantra]

Same Day Agra Tour by Car: A Perfect Day Trip to the City of Taj

Agra, the city of the magnificent Taj Mahal, stands with an upper rank amongst the most prominent tourist destinations in India. Whether one is interested in history and architecture or just someone who wants to see one of the world’s most iconic monuments, a Same Day Agra Tour by Car is the best way to explore this historical city. We will take you through all the things you would want to know to make the most of your day trip in Agra at this blog.

Why Choose a Same Day Agra Tour by Car?

Facilities: the benefit of traveling by car is that it is a personalized and flexible mode of travel. You don’t need to worry about train or flight timings as you can start the journey from anywhere in Delhi.

Comfort: Modern cars have air conditioning, so the journey from Delhi to Agra, about 3–4 hours, was quite comfortable.

Flexibility: You can alter the stops, and you spend as much time as you like at each location, which is challenging with guided group tours or pre-set itineraries.

How to Plan Your Day Trip

Early Pick up from Delhi Your driver will pick you up early in the morning; normally between 6 or 7 AM. This saves the morning jam as you reach Agra by 10 AM. This schedule will also help you spend enough time at all the spots without any rush.

Places to be visited at Agra Taj Mahal: Of course, any tour of Agra will highlight the Taj Mahal-the monument erected by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal-but a symbol of eternal love and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Go early, so you beat the crowds that pour in later. You may go around them and catch, if possible, some breathtaking views of the monument as light just starts peeping into the landmarks.

Agra Fort: Another one of the World Heritage Sites is the Agra Fort, built just a few kilometers from the Taj Mahal; actually, it was the handiwork of Emperor Akbar. This red sandstone fort presents an almost perfect amalgamation of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles. Walk through its halls and courtyards, and most importantly, pass through the higher points of the fort for a view of the Taj Mahal.

Mehtab Bagh: To see it from another angle visit Mehtab Bagh. This is a garden created over the Yamuna River. From that point you can have an extremely serene view of the Taj Mahal. It is especially beautiful when the sunset with the lighting that accentuates against the backdrop of the sunset. Itmad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb: People call Itmad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb the “Baby Taj.” It is beautifully designed that predicts the design of the Taj Mahal. This tomb was built by Nur Jahan as a memorial to her father. The tomb is famous for intricate marble lattice work and ought not to be missed by any serious student of Mughal architecture.

Lunch Break Agra is home to many restaurants where you might have authentic Mughlai dishes. You could stop for lunch in one of the known eateries or request your driver to suggest one. Afternoon Activities With the big sites out of the way early, you’ll be free to wander Agra’s famous marble handicraft stores or the busy Sadar Bazaar. This shopping area is famous for local crafts, leather goods, and sweets, like the city’s famous “petha.” Back to Delhi You will return to Delhi at the end of a day full of visits by a car with your driver. You’ll get back around 8/9 pm, depending upon how bad traffic is at that time.

Best Time to Visit Agra

Winter Season: October to March The time when everyone should plan to visit Agra is during the winter months-pleasant and calm weather while perfect for sightseeing.

Summers (April to June): In this season, Agra can be indeed very hot as the mercury goes on to scale 40°C.

Monsoon (July to September): There will be occasional rains during the monsoon season, giving the city a greenish glow but liable to inconvenience travel with torrential rains.

Conclusion

A Same Day Agra Tour by Car is a fantastic way to experience the rich heritage and stunning architecture of this historic city. From the timeless beauty of the Taj Mahal to the grandeur of Agra Fort, each monument tells a story of its own. The flexibility of a car tour allows you to explore Agra at your own pace, making it a memorable day trip.

So, pack your bags, hit the road, and get ready for an unforgettable journey to the City of Taj!

Contact Us

· Mob: +91 9319002744

· info@indiatourmantra.in

· Gmail: indiatourmantra@gmail.com

· Address: P 5 , Radha Kunj , Deori Road Agra 282001

[contentcentblogs]

The Evolution of Source Code Repositories: From SVN to Git and Beyond

Source code repositories are fundamental to modern software development, facilitating version control, collaboration, and project management. Over the years, these repositories have evolved significantly, driven by technological advancements and changing development practices. This article traces the evolution of source code repositories, from the early days of SVN (Subversion) to the rise of Git and explores the future trends shaping repository management.

The Rise of SVN (Subversion)

SVN, or Subversion, emerged in the early 2000s as a centralized version control system (VCS) designed to replace CVS (Concurrent Versions System). SVN offered features like atomic commits, versioned directories, and support for branching and merging. It became widely adopted due to its stability and familiar workflow for developers accustomed to CVS.

Limitations of SVN and the Emergence of Distributed Version Control

Despite its popularity, SVN had limitations, particularly in handling distributed workflows and scalability for large projects. This paved the way for the emergence of distributed version control systems (DVCS), with Git leading the charge.

The Dominance of Git

Git, created by Linus Torvalds in 2005, revolutionized version control with its distributed architecture and emphasis on speed, data integrity, and support for non-linear development. Key features that propelled Git's adoption include:

Distributed Development: Each developer maintains a complete copy of the repository, enabling offline work and faster branching and merging.

Branching and Merging: Lightweight branches allow developers to experiment and collaborate on features independently, with seamless merging capabilities.

Community and Ecosystem: GitHub, launched in 2008, and GitLab provided robust platforms for hosting Git repositories, enhancing collaboration, code review, and project management.

Advantages of Git Over SVN

Git's decentralized nature and robust branching model offered several advantages over SVN:

Performance: Git's local operations and efficient data structures (such as the commit graph) ensure fast performance, even with large repositories.

Flexibility: Git's support for branching, merging, and distributed workflows enables agile development practices and collaboration among geographically dispersed teams.

Popularity and Adoption: Git became the de facto standard for version control in both open-source and enterprise environments, driven by its vibrant community, extensive tooling support, and integration with CI/CD pipelines.

Beyond Git: Trends in Source Code Repositories

While Git remains dominant, newer trends and technologies are shaping the future of source code repositories:

Decentralized Version Control: Technologies like Mercurial and Bazaar continue to offer alternatives to Git, emphasizing ease of use and decentralized workflows.

Integration with DevOps: Source code repositories are increasingly integrated with CI/CD pipelines, enabling automated testing, deployment, and infrastructure as code (IaC).

Cloud-Native Repositories: Cloud-based repository platforms offer scalability, reliability, and collaboration features, catering to modern development practices and distributed teams.

Future Directions and Innovations

Looking ahead, the future of source code repositories is likely to focus on:

Enhanced Collaboration: AI-driven tools for code review, automated documentation generation, and intelligent issue triaging.

Security and Compliance: Integrated security scanning, vulnerability management, and compliance automation to safeguard code repositories.

Blockchain and Decentralization: Exploring decentralized version control systems leveraging blockchain technology for enhanced security, transparency, and verifiability.

The evolution of source code repositories, from SVN to Git and beyond, reflects the dynamic nature of software development and the continuous quest for efficiency, scalability, and collaboration. Git's rise marked a pivotal shift towards distributed version control, empowering developers with powerful tools and fostering a global community of contributors. As technology advances, source code repositories will continue to evolve, integrating AI, cloud-native solutions, and decentralized models to meet the demands of modern software development practices. Embracing these innovations ensures that repositories remain not just tools for version control, but catalysts for innovation and collaboration in the digital age.

[fashournalist]

The Lord not only answers our prayers, He hears our little wishes, too.

Yesterday, I checked the price of this sugar free chocolate wafer at Mercury. I wanted to buy it but upon knowing it was 68 pesos, I put it back on the shelf. I could afford it but I thought, that must be expensive for a small pack of biscuit. I'd rather buy a rice meal at 7-Eleven with my 68 pesos.

Then a while ago, our company iOPEX Technologies Philippines Inc. had a payday bazaar and for the first time, the merchants offered a free biscuit if you buy any of their products. And out of all the biscuits they could offer for free, they offered this specific biscuit which I just price-checked yesterday. 🥹 So there, I was still able to try the sugar free chocolate wafer and shared it with my Dad. It tasted good, though not as good as Loacker, but for a biscuit without sugar, it's already great.

I went home smiling, with a small takeaway of how God hears our wishes, and not just our prayers.🙏

The difference is that prayers are what we actively ask of Him, and wishes are little whispers of the heart but we don't necessarily pray for. Just a little sigh saying "Wish I had this, wish I could try this, wish I could see this person, wish I could go to this place...but it's ok if not" It's not as intense as our prayers which we actively seek God so we can pursue them.

And yet even during the times we don't tell Him what we want, He hears us, and surprises us from time to time. What they say is true: before we even come to God to ask Him for our desires, He already knows what we want. And if it's His will, He will grant it, in His time.

All these little things and tiny details make life beautiful, even during heavy days.

Perhaps some of you are thinking I have "mababaw na kaligayahan", and yes that is true haha. But I hope that when we value the little things, we get to appreciate life more. 🤗

God's love is everywhere, and we just have to be sensitive to find reminders of His love and His presence—whether it's the sunlight, the cold breeze, an encouragement from your colleague, your favorite song playing in the bus calming you during traffic, or even just getting the wafer you wanted to try for free. 💞

#gracedthoughts #reflections #littlethings