Git-SVN Tutorial

Overview

Git-SVN is a Git command-line tool that allows you to interact with Subversion (SVN) repositories using Git. It provides a way to use Git as a client for SVN, allowing you to leverage Git's features while working with SVN repositories.

What is Git-SVN?

Git-SVN is a Git extension that allows you to work with Subversion repositories using Git. It enables you to clone, fetch, commit, and merge changes between Git and SVN repositories, making it easier to work with SVN while benefiting from Git's powerful features.

Installing Git-SVN

Installation on Windows

Install Git: Download and install Git from the official Git website.
Install Git-SVN: Git-SVN is included with Git for Windows. If you have Git installed, you should already have Git-SVN available.
Verify Installation: Open a command prompt and run:
```
git svn --version
```

Installation on macOS/Linux

Install Git: Use your package manager to install Git.
- macOS:
```
brew install git
```
- Linux:
```
sudo apt-get install git
```
Install Git-SVN: Git-SVN is included with Git on most systems. If it's not installed, you can install it separately.
- macOS:
```
brew install git-svn
```
- Linux:
```
sudo apt-get install git-svn
```
Verify Installation:
```
git svn --version
```

Basic Git-SVN Commands

Cloning an SVN Repository

To clone an SVN repository into a Git repository:

git svn clone <svn-repository-url> --no-minimize-url --authors-file=authors.txt

<svn-repository-url>: The URL of the SVN repository.
--no-minimize-url: Prevents URL minimization.
--authors-file=authors.txt: (Optional) Maps SVN authors to Git authors.

Fetching Changes from SVN

To fetch the latest changes from SVN into your Git repository:

git svn fetch

Committing Changes to SVN

To commit your local changes to the SVN repository:

git svn dcommit

Viewing SVN Logs

To view SVN logs:

git svn log

Creating a Branch in SVN

To create a new branch in SVN:

git svn branch <branch-name>

Merging SVN Branches

To merge changes from one SVN branch into another:

git svn rebase

Examples of Using Git-SVN

Example 1: Cloning an SVN Repository

Clone an SVN repository into a local Git repository:

git svn clone http://svn-server/repository/trunk --no-minimize-url

Example 2: Fetching Changes

Fetch the latest changes from the SVN repository:

git svn fetch

Example 3: Committing Changes

Commit your local changes to the SVN repository:

git svn dcommit

Example 4: Viewing Logs

View the SVN logs:

git svn log

Example 5: Creating a Branch

Create a new branch in the SVN repository:

git svn branch feature/new-feature

Example 6: Merging Branches

Merge changes from the feature/new-feature branch into the trunk:

git svn rebase

Common Use Cases

Migrating to Git: Use Git-SVN to migrate a project from SVN to Git while maintaining SVN history.
Hybrid Workflow: Use Git for local development and SVN for centralized version control in larger teams.
Working with Legacy Systems: Integrate Git with legacy SVN systems to benefit from Git features without abandoning existing workflows.

Summary

Git-SVN is a powerful tool for integrating Git with Subversion, allowing you to use Git's features while working with SVN repositories. By using commands like git svn clone, git svn fetch, and git svn dcommit, you can effectively manage your codebase and synchronize changes between Git and SVN.