Ask a Jedi: Getting started with SVN
Joshua asks:
I'm wanting to start a project and I'm wanting to do it using methods like SVN, Versioning, Builds, etc. I've never done any of this and was curious if you had any pointers or guides out there about this. I just don't know where to start on learning or practicing.
I have to admit that I take a fairly simple view to Subversion. I don't follow the guidelines for creating versions, builds, etc.
I can say that I make heavy use of the online book for SVN:
Version Control with Subversion
The book does a good job of covering server and repository setup, and it also discusses recommended repository layout for handling stuff like versioning and builds.
Outside of Subversion itself, I can make the following recommendations for clients:
- On Windows, I loved TortoiseSVN. It acts as a mod to Windows Explorer and makes it real easy to work with SVN.
- On the Mac, I've used ZigVersion, but have not been happy with it. Frankly, I haven't like any Mac SVN client.
- Luckily though there is Subclipse, a very well done Eclipse plugin for Subversion. This will obviously work on both Mac and PC, so it may be the best choice.
Again - I barely scratch the surface of SVN myself, so I can't offer a lot of advice. I will share one thing that I wish I had known early on. If you want to create a copy of your SVN repository to share with others, use the Export command. This creates a version of your code without any of the .svn folders. For a long time I was doing Check Outs and manually cleaning up the .svn folder stuff. Dumb.
I'll also point out a recent article by Mark Drew: Using keyword substitution in Subversion. This demonstrates a cool feature of SVN you may miss out on if you skim the docs (as I did!).
Comments
Thanks a ton Ray!
This is a great starting point for me.
Hope all is well!
-Josh
This is a great starting point for me.
Hope all is well!
-Josh
# Posted By Joshua Rountree
| 1/21/08 10:41 AM
Bid Mad Kev - just download Subversion. The install should be rather simple. Once you have SVN installed, this gives you access to the SVN command line tools. Then you would use what the book describes to you. Does that make sense?
# Posted By Raymond Camden
| 1/21/08 10:50 AM
I recommend SmartSVN as a great cross platform SVN client. I use it on my Mac and my PC and it works great. I use their free community version. I also paid for their SmartCVS product since we use CVS at work and it was so useful.
# Posted By Kurt Wiersma
| 1/21/08 10:50 AM
@Big Mad Kev
I've been using TOW (Trac on Windows) for over a year with no probs. Give it a try!
http://traconwindows.wordpress.com/
It includes Trac, SVN and an Apache install pre-configured for Trac and also a few sample projects to get started with.
Since the setup is done from batch files tho, it's a bit complicated to get everything setup as a service. I recently used this article to get everything setup in a very short amount of time:
http://www.pulseaudio.org/wiki/TracOnWindows
A bit old, but it still worked fine for me.
-Ramsey
I've been using TOW (Trac on Windows) for over a year with no probs. Give it a try!
http://traconwindows.wordpress.com/
It includes Trac, SVN and an Apache install pre-configured for Trac and also a few sample projects to get started with.
Since the setup is done from batch files tho, it's a bit complicated to get everything setup as a service. I recently used this article to get everything setup in a very short amount of time:
http://www.pulseaudio.org/wiki/TracOnWindows
A bit old, but it still worked fine for me.
-Ramsey
# Posted By Ramsey Tapia
| 1/21/08 11:27 AM
I ditto what Kurt said. SmartSVN is great if you need a client and you're not into using Subclipse. It's way better than TortoiseSVN in my opinion.
Another option instead of running SVN in-house is to use a service provider like CVSDude. It's a cheap alternative as you don't have to manage it platform and it include Trac or Bugzilla, WebDAV storage and email lists. It's worth the investment as they do 10 minute hot backups which I doubt most people think about if they run SVN in-house. It's easy to get SVN running, but then you have to deal with backups which everybody forgets to do. Who cares if you have version control when you don't have backup to restore from in emergencies?
Another option instead of running SVN in-house is to use a service provider like CVSDude. It's a cheap alternative as you don't have to manage it platform and it include Trac or Bugzilla, WebDAV storage and email lists. It's worth the investment as they do 10 minute hot backups which I doubt most people think about if they run SVN in-house. It's easy to get SVN running, but then you have to deal with backups which everybody forgets to do. Who cares if you have version control when you don't have backup to restore from in emergencies?
# Posted By Peter J. Farrell
| 1/21/08 11:40 AM
Some mac notes: SmartSVN worked pretty well for me, even better after i upgraded to the pro version, which was well worth the price. Also, in Leopard svn now comes pre-installed, and i think it's the latest version or pretty close to it (it's 1.4.4).
# Posted By Rich Rodecker
| 1/21/08 11:41 AM
oh yeah, about CVSDude, I used them for a while, and they were excellent, but I feel like they are actually a little bit overpriced. Subversion really isn't that hard to pick up and you'd be making a much better investment learning how to use it yourself.
# Posted By Rich Rodecker
| 1/21/08 11:45 AM
Aaron West has a fantastic article series on setting up Apache and Subversion, + more:
http://www.trajiklyhip.com/blog/index.cfm/2007/3/1...
http://www.trajiklyhip.com/blog/index.cfm/2007/3/1...
Are there instructions on how to work with the Leopard Subversion? I haven't been able to find anything about how to get Subclipse to log into it, create archives in there, etc.
# Posted By Lola LB
| 1/21/08 12:10 PM
Lola, Subclipse (afaik) won't let you manage (ie create) a repo. You would follow the docs for SVN to make your repo on your leopard box. Then you would use Subclipse to talk to the existing repo.
# Posted By Raymond Camden
| 1/21/08 12:14 PM
Great topic, Ray.
FWIW, I could of course be reading this completely wrong, but I think BigMadKev is going to be coming out with something to "install Subversion and get it up and running quick. Like in under 30 minutes with Apache and Trac".
I am fairly certain he's no SVN/Trac newbie.
What say you, Kev?
FWIW, I could of course be reading this completely wrong, but I think BigMadKev is going to be coming out with something to "install Subversion and get it up and running quick. Like in under 30 minutes with Apache and Trac".
I am fairly certain he's no SVN/Trac newbie.
What say you, Kev?
# Posted By Marc Esher
| 1/21/08 12:30 PM
I use subversion in my every-day work activities, and I've used both Subclipse and TortoiseSVN, as well as command line on linux. I have to say that I've always been very disappointed with Subclipse - All of its features (especially its diff tool) is very, very sub-par compared to Tortoise's. I deal with coworkers all the time that have to do complete checkouts of repositories because subclipse screwed up their workspace during a large switch or merge action.
I'm disappointed to hear that you haven't found a good Mac SVN client, Ray. I'm going to be buying a macbook in the next week (I haven't used Mac's since my old PowerPC 60 Mhz box and the old apple CRT's... oh how time flies) and I'm starting to look into software more.
I'm disappointed to hear that you haven't found a good Mac SVN client, Ray. I'm going to be buying a macbook in the next week (I haven't used Mac's since my old PowerPC 60 Mhz box and the old apple CRT's... oh how time flies) and I'm starting to look into software more.
# Posted By Ken Sykora
| 1/21/08 1:06 PM
For Dreamweaver users, check out SubWeaver (http://sourceforge.net/projects/subweaver) for SVN integration.
# Posted By Matt Schmidt
| 1/21/08 1:46 PM
You might also look at using a 3rd party SVN/Trac. One I know of is http://www.devjavu.com -- there are others out there as well.
Marc,
You been keeping tabs on me?
Yeap you were indeed right :)
Just finished putitng the final touches http://inner-rhythm.co.uk/TV/ and I counted up the time it took to install SAT (Subversion, Apache & Trac) to be 15 Minutes 38 Seconds :)
Guys I'd really appreciated your feed back on my new project. I hope to bring more videos over the next few weeks to help developers of all standards come up to scratch.
The idea being that you have the written tutorial like everywhere else on the net, but also a video to go with it, so you get a feel.
Once again feed back appreciated.
You been keeping tabs on me?
Yeap you were indeed right :)
Just finished putitng the final touches http://inner-rhythm.co.uk/TV/ and I counted up the time it took to install SAT (Subversion, Apache & Trac) to be 15 Minutes 38 Seconds :)
Guys I'd really appreciated your feed back on my new project. I hope to bring more videos over the next few weeks to help developers of all standards come up to scratch.
The idea being that you have the written tutorial like everywhere else on the net, but also a video to go with it, so you get a feel.
Once again feed back appreciated.
# Posted By Big Mad Kev
| 1/21/08 3:03 PM
+1 to Cutter's comment. When I was bumbling through setting up SVN as a first timer, Aaron West's write up helped me exponentially.
I have a step-by-step set of instructions on setting up CFEclipse with SVN and then testing with cfcunit and selenium.
Here's the link..
http://labs.fusionlink.com/katapult/index.cfm?page...
Here's the link..
http://labs.fusionlink.com/katapult/index.cfm?page...
# Posted By John Mason
| 1/21/08 8:32 PM
Well I'd stay tuned to an announcement later today/tonight :D