Learn SVN on Windows in Under an Hour
Subversion (SVN) is a powerful version control system that allows you to track changes to your files and collaborate with others effectively. This article provides a concise guide to getting started with SVN on Windows in under an hour.
1. Installing TortoiseSVN:
The easiest way to use SVN on Windows is with TortoiseSVN, a user-friendly GUI client.
- Download the latest TortoiseSVN installer from the official website (https://tortoisesvn.net/).
- Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions. Ensure you select the “command line client tools” during installation. This will allow you to use SVN from the command prompt as well.
- Restart your computer to ensure all changes are applied.
2. Checking Out a Repository (Checkout):
To begin working with a project, you need to check out a working copy from the repository.
- Create a new folder on your computer where you want to store the project.
- Right-click inside the folder and select “SVN Checkout…”.
- In the “URL of repository” field, enter the repository URL provided by your team or hosting service (e.g.,
https://svn.example.com/myproject/trunk). - Click “OK”. TortoiseSVN will download the latest version of the project files to your local folder.
3. Making Changes and Committing (Commit):
After making changes to your files, you need to commit them to the repository.
- Right-click on the modified file or the containing folder and select “SVN Commit…”.
- Enter a descriptive log message summarizing your changes. This helps track the project’s history.
- Select the files you want to commit.
- Click “OK”. TortoiseSVN will upload your changes to the repository.
4. Updating Your Working Copy (Update):
To incorporate changes made by others, you need to update your working copy.
- Right-click on the project folder and select “SVN Update”.
- TortoiseSVN will download the latest changes from the repository and merge them with your local files.
5. Common SVN Commands (using TortoiseSVN):
- Add: Right-click on a new file or folder and select “TortoiseSVN” -> “Add…” to schedule it for inclusion in the next commit.
- Revert: Right-click on a modified file and select “TortoiseSVN” -> “Revert…” to discard your local changes.
- Show Log: Right-click on a file or folder and select “TortoiseSVN” -> “Show Log…” to view the history of changes.
- Branch/Tag: Right-click on a folder and select “TortoiseSVN” -> “Branch/tag…” to create a copy of the project at a specific point in time. This is useful for creating separate development lines or marking releases.
- Merge: Right-click on a folder and select “TortoiseSVN” -> “Merge…” to combine changes from different branches.
- Export: Right-click on a folder and select “TortoiseSVN” -> “Export…” to create a clean copy of the project without the .svn metadata folders.
6. Command-Line Basics (Optional):
Although TortoiseSVN provides a convenient GUI, knowing some basic command-line commands can be helpful. Open the command prompt and navigate to your working copy directory.
svn checkout <repository_url>: Checks out a working copy.svn update: Updates the working copy.svn commit -m "Your commit message": Commits changes.svn add <file/folder>: Adds a file or folder to the repository.svn status: Shows the status of your working copy (modified, added, deleted files).
Conclusion:
This guide covers the essential concepts and commands for using SVN on Windows. With TortoiseSVN’s intuitive interface, you can quickly grasp the fundamentals and start managing your projects efficiently. Remember to consult the official TortoiseSVN documentation for more advanced features and troubleshooting. By practicing these basic operations, you’ll be well on your way to mastering version control with SVN in no time.