# Introduction

This is the User Guide for the Flexible Configuration Management system which is known as FCM. It is designed to tell you everything you need to know if you want to develop code which has been configured within FCM. In addition it also provides the extra information you will need if you are system manager of a project within FCM.

Note: some hyperlinks in this document lead to pages that are internal to the Met Office, and so will generally not work when this document is viewed externally. Please accept our apologies if this causes you any inconvenience.

This guide consists of the following sections:

- System Overview: A brief description of the main features of FCM.
- Getting Started: How to start using FCM. It includes a tutorial for you to work through and familiarise yourself with some FCM activities.
- Code Management System: How to use the code management system to manage code changes.
- Code Management Working Practices: Recommended ways of working with the code management system.
- The Extract System: How to extract code from the repository ready for building.
- The Build System: How to compile code using the build system.
- System Administration: How to configure and maintain a new system within FCM.
- FCM Command Reference: Detailed information about each of the fcm commands.
- Further Information: Where to find further information about FCM and about configuration management in general.
- Annex: Quick reference: A quick reference to many useful FCM code management system commands.
- Annex: Detailed definitions of what declarations are allowed in the following configuration files:
  - central/user
  - extract
  - build
  - build package