TODO - Notes on Subversion

Mac Subversion for Amanda

I have spent some time reviewing how Amanda can use Subversion from multiple Mac and Windows machines and her web site...

Currently

Amanda's web site is updated by Subversion. A CGI is executed to run "svn update; svn status" so she can see the changes. This could be done by pointing to a branch or just about anything.

Then she maintains her SVN current by using WebDAV through Apache.

Better Ideas

There are basically three ways to go:

• Manual copy (your old way)
  • Have to remember what you renamed and deleted
  • Risky
  • No real control of versions etc
• Subversion Command Line
  • Hard to learn
  • If you update when you have deleted local files, they will come back
  • Rename and delete MUST be done with the command line tool (this is true of GUI too, but easier).
• Subversion Mounted (i.e. just having amanda available)
  • Issues with performance
  • No local copy (local copy is good for extra backup)
  • Crashes
  • Not available offline or on slow internet links
  • Every save becomes a new version - this is not so bad with HTML but is a problem with binary formats like graphics. E.g. Your repository is 24GB (which is fine, but big)
• Subversion via GUI
  • This one looks ACE - http://www.versionsapp.com/ but not available yet.
  • http://www.lachoseinteractive.net/en/community/subversion/svnx/features/ works now, not as nice, but might do.
  • Full integration into dreamweaver !!! http://www.dreamweaver-extensions.net/index.php/SVN-for-Dreamweaver--Windows-and-Macintosh/ This looks great, and for $59 it may be a way to go - you still need the other solutions for non-Dreamweaver locations
  • Could be slow/problem on large commits
  • Keeps a full local copy which is great for performance, backup and reliability of apps (ala Dreamweaver)
• RSYNC Local copy to Subversion Mounted
  • Keep a copy locally and then use rsync to update the remote version
  • Requires a quick command line script (although not that hard)
  • Requires you know where you are up to, e.g. which is the current up to date copy
  • Dangerous - either you may have folders removed locally or remotely OR you will not get delete support, and old files will keep coming back
  • But will work... well... in principle... assuming everything is done right...