Thank you @Craig.Regester  for the response.  Looking up that file in the docs (https://docs.intersystems.com/iris20201/csp/docbook/DocBook.UI.Page.cls?...
) it tells me that "For security reasons, the parameters.isc file is accessible only by the root user."  I am pretty sure there is a way to tell what it is currently running as without needing that level of access.  But it is good to know about this in the cases where root access is an option

Is there a single development server which all developers connect to?  If you are not able to have a fully isolated development environment for each developer then you will end up getting frustrated trying to use client-side source control.

You might want to consider the new server-side Git source control hooks which were recently launched:

https://community.intersystems.com/post/git-shared-development-environments

This won't solve your issue of working while not on VPN, but it will allow multiple developers to work against the same instance without stepping on each others' toes.  

Please note that 2021.2 is also available via the InterSystems Evaluation Service:  https://evaluation.InterSystems.com.  If you are a supported customer you can request evaluation keys or get full/community edition kits/containers.  Prospects can get Community Edition kits/containers (see https://community.intersystems.com/post/introducing-evaluation-service-c...).  

Quick note that the Announcement has been updated to include links to the specific course PDFs as well as links to the online version of those courses where one is available.

We are still looking for some more people from our larger implementation community to take part in this Beta Test - please sign up today if you haven't already done so! (and THANK YOU in advance :) )