Revision Control: Subversion

Subversion references

url	Description
https://subversion.cs.rpi.edu/websvn	Web based repository browser
http://svnbook.red-bean.com	Oreilly documentation for subversion
subversion.apache.org/	Subversion packages and binaries
http://tortoisesvn.tigris.org	Win32 GUI for subversion

Clients

• websvn
• win32

Checkin email

• A copy of each subversion checkin message will be emailed to the checkin author.
• TBRB: ${user1}@cs.rpi.edu, ${user2}@cs.rpi.edu (to be reviewed by)
  • For collaborative groups the keyword TBRB: can be inserted into checkin comments and all users listed will be sent a copy of the checkin email.
• listserve email lists
  • To automate notifying users about checkins an email list ${repository}-svn-notify can be created. All checkin messages for the repository will be sent to the email list and group members can subscribe/unsubscribe as necessary to receive checkin email.

Mailing lists

• To automate distribution of checkin messages / notification of source code changes request to have a listserve mailing list ${repository}-svn-notify created.
• After a repository has been updated all checkin messages will be CC'd to the mailing list for distribution.
• Group members can subscribe/unsubscribe from lists as necessary to receive the email.

HOWTO: Subversion

• How to checkout a subversion sandbox.
  • mkdir -p $HOME/sandbox
  • cd $HOME/sandbox
  • svn co https://subversion.cs.rpi.edu/svn/xyz
    • This command will check files out of the xyz repository into a directory named sandbox/xyz in your home directory.
  • svn co https://subversion.cs.rpi.edu/svn/xyz foobar
  • (see the Problems section at the bottom of the page if you have difficulty)

• How to checkout a subversion sandbox from a remote network
  • ssh ${user}@remote.cs.rpi.edu 'svn co http://subversion.cs.rpi.edu/svn/xyz ${full_path_to_local_sandbox}'

• How to check modified files into subversion ( file xyz/README modified )
  • cd sandbox/xyz
  • svn status # determine what files were modified
  • svn ci README # Check edits into subversion and enter a meaningful description of the changes made.
  • svn ci # 'svn ci' can also be run w/o arguments to recursively commit any changes made in the sandbox.

• How to place a new file under revision control
  • cd sandbox
  • date >> README
  • svn add README
  • svn status # will display 'M README' for a modified file
  • svn ci README # Checkin the edits

• How to create a new directory in subversion
  • cd sandbox
  • svn mkdir foo
  • svn ci foo

• How to determine what files have been modified
  • cd sandbox
  • svn status # recursively check for modified files. 'M'-modified, '?'-file is not under revision control.

• How to delete a subversion file
  • cd sandbox
  • svn delete README
  • svn status # 'D README' will be displayed
  • svn ci README # record the deletion

• How to remove executable attribute from files
  • svn propdel 'svn:executable' file1[, file2 .. fileN ]

• HOWTO: Ignore generated or unversioned files (directory attribute)
  • cd ${sandbox_directory_containing_elements_to_ignore}
  • svn propset svn:ignore ${list_of_elements} ${dot_directory}

Hooks

Subversion repository commit hooks can be configured to perform a variety of tasks.

• Send checkin email to a mailing list whenever changes are made in the repository.
  • Unit tests can be used as a gatekeeper to prevent checking in problem files
  • Syntax checks performed on source prior to checkin (~perl scripts)
• Checking in files can trigger misc actions to be performed.
  • Generate documentation
  • Rebuild index files

Request creation of a subversion repository

HOWTO: Grant/restrict user access

• Checkout a copy of the .subversion directory from a repository (r/w access required)
  • svn co https://subversion.cs.rpi.edu/svn/${repository}/.subversion
  • cd .subversion
• Modify the SVNAccess file to grant/restrict repository access
• Checkin edits made to the SVNAccess file.
  • Modified file will be screened for typos and invalid user logins.
  • If no problems are detected the new config file will be used by the subversion server.
• Contact labstaff@cs.nospam.rpi.edu if either a .subversion/SVNAccess file does not exist in your repository or if recent config edits are not active.

Repositories

• Several repositories exist or can be created for project work.
• A protected repository exists for faculty use where proposals, grants, etc can be created/maintained.

Problems

Subversion checkout using an https:// URL fails

This is a know problem involving kerberos tickets and subversion, there are two workarounds:

• Use kdestroy to eliminate your existing kerberos credentials prior to checkout, then use kinit afterward to re-authenticate your session.
• Checkout using an http:// URL instead of https://.
  • Item of note: Using http:// will transmit your login & password to the server in plaintext which can be vulnerable to snooping. Include the argument --no-auth-cache when using http:// to prevent caching your password in the local sandbox.

Workaround for Subversion (SVN) certificate verification error: insecure algorithm on Ubuntu 10.04

• svn: OPTIONS of 'https://server.com/repo': Certificate verification error: signed using insecure algorithm
• Add to the end of your ~/.subversion/servers file:
  • ssl-trust-default-ca = no
• Which will force having to manually verify certificates when a sandbox is initially checked out.

403 Forbidden

• If you receive the following message while trying to checkout code from a repository
  • svn: Server sent unexpected return value (403 Forbidden) in response to OPTIONS request for 'https://subversion.cs.rpi.edu/svn/${repository}'
• It means that the account you are trying to interact with the repository has not been granted access
  • This may be due to either your login not being listed in the SVNAccess file or your RCS/CS account was added and you are trying to gain access with the other account.
• Resolution
  • Contact the repository maintainer and request to be added
  • Contact labstaff if you are unsure who to contact or require additional help.

-- JoeyArmstrong - 28 Sep 2010
-- StevenLindsey - 08 Oct 2010