This tutorial will guide you through the advanced features and concepts of Subversion (SVN), a popular version control system. We'll cover topics such as branching, merging, and conflict resolution. For more in-depth information, check out our Complete SVN Guide.

Overview

Subversion is a powerful tool for managing version control of files and directories. It allows you to track changes, collaborate with others, and maintain a history of your project. In this tutorial, we'll dive deeper into some of the more advanced features of SVN.

Branching and Merging

Branching in SVN allows you to create a separate line of development that can be worked on independently of the main line. This is useful for experimental features, bug fixes, or when working on a new version of your project.

Creating a Branch

To create a new branch, you can use the following command:

svn copy <url-of-main-line> <url-of-branch> -m "Creating a new branch"

Merging Changes

Once your branch is complete, you can merge the changes back into the main line. This can be done using the svn merge command:

svn merge <url-of-branch> <url-of-main-line>

Conflict Resolution

Conflicts can occur when two changes to the same part of a file are made, and both changes are committed. SVN will notify you of conflicts, and you will need to manually resolve them.

Resolving Conflicts

To resolve a conflict, follow these steps:

  1. Open the conflicting file in your preferred text editor.
  2. Review the conflicting changes and choose the correct version.
  3. Save the file.
  4. Commit the changes using the svn resolve command:
svn resolve --accept <choice> <file>

Where <choice> can be base, mine, or theirs.

Advanced Tips

  • Use the --depth option with svn copy to create a shallow copy of a branch.
  • Use the --ignore-ancestry option with svn merge to merge changes from a branch that has been moved or renamed.
  • Use the svn log command to view the history of changes in a branch or repository.

SVN Workflow

For more advanced topics and best practices, refer to our Advanced SVN Techniques guide.