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Apache Subversion VS CVS (Concurrent Versions System)

Compare Apache Subversion VS CVS (Concurrent Versions System) and see what are their differences

Apache Subversion logo Apache Subversion

Mirror of Apache Subversion. Contribute to apache/subversion development by creating an account on GitHub.

CVS (Concurrent Versions System) logo CVS (Concurrent Versions System)

CVS is a centralized version control system, an important component of Source Configuration...
  • Apache Subversion Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-27
  • CVS (Concurrent Versions System) Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-23

Apache Subversion features and specs

  • Centralized Version Control
    Apache Subversion (SVN) uses a centralized repository model, which makes it easy to manage and control all project files in one place. All history and versions are stored on the server, making backup and repository management straightforward.
  • Atomic Commits
    Subversion ensures that commits are atomic operations. This means that either all changes in a commit are applied, or none are, helping to maintain the integrity of the repository.
  • Comprehensive Authorization
    SVN offers fine-grained authentication and authorization models. It can integrate with various authentication systems and allows granular access control on a per-directory and per-user basis.
  • Binary File Handling
    SVN handles binary files more efficiently compared to some other version control systems, reducing the size of repositories and improving performance when large files are committed.
  • Mature and Stable
    SVN has been around since 2000 and is widely used in enterprise settings. It is stable, well-documented, and has a vast community for support.

Possible disadvantages of Apache Subversion

  • Limited Branching and Merging
    SVN’s branching and merging capabilities are more cumbersome compared to distributed version control systems (DVCS) like Git. Merging in SVN can be complex and time-consuming.
  • Single Point of Failure
    As a centralized version control system, the SVN repository server becomes a single point of failure. If the server goes down, no commits can be made until it is back up.
  • Performance Overhead
    Working with a remote central repository can introduce latency and performance overhead, especially with large projects and many users.
  • Less support for Offline Work
    SVN generally requires network access to the central repository for most operations. This makes it less flexible for developers needing to work offline, compared to DVCS where local copies are complete repositories.
  • Complex Repository Management
    Managing SVN repositories, particularly for large projects, can become complex and may require significant administrative effort to handle repositories, backups, and access controls.

CVS (Concurrent Versions System) features and specs

  • Wide Adoption and Mature
    CVS has been around for a long time, making it a mature version control system with a large user base. This means extensive documentation and community support are available.
  • Simplicity
    CVS is relatively simple to use, which makes it suitable for projects that do not require complex version control features.
  • Compatibility
    CVS is compatible with many legacy systems and can be easily integrated into older development workflows.
  • Client-Server Architecture
    CVS supports a client-server architecture, which allows for collaborative development across different teams and geographical locations.

Possible disadvantages of CVS (Concurrent Versions System)

  • Lack of Atomic Operations
    CVS does not support atomic commits, which means partial commits can occur if a commit process is interrupted, potentially leading to inconsistent repository states.
  • Poor Support for Renames and Moves
    CVS does not handle renaming or moving files efficiently, as it requires manual interventions to maintain the history of files.
  • Single Branch Development
    CVS has limited support for branch management, which can complicate the development of larger projects where robust branching strategies are required.
  • Limited Merge Capabilities
    Merging in CVS can be challenging due to its less sophisticated merge support compared to modern version control systems.
  • Lack of Security Features
    CVS has fewer built-in security features, which may not meet the needs of projects requiring stringent access control and encryption.

Apache Subversion videos

Setting Up Apache Subversion on Windows

CVS (Concurrent Versions System) videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Apache Subversion and CVS (Concurrent Versions System))
Git
81 81%
19% 19
Code Collaboration
80 80%
20% 20
Version Control
100 100%
0% 0
Git Tools
69 69%
31% 31

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Apache Subversion and CVS (Concurrent Versions System), you can also consider the following products

Git - Git is a free and open source version control system designed to handle everything from small to very large projects with speed and efficiency. It is easy to learn and lightweight with lighting fast performance that outclasses competitors.

Mercurial SCM - Mercurial is a free, distributed source control management tool.

Atlassian Bitbucket Server - Atlassian Bitbucket Server is a scalable collaborative Git solution.

Git for Windows - We bring the awesome Git SCM to Windows

GitHub Desktop - GitHub Desktop is a seamless way to contribute to projects on GitHub and GitHub Enterprise.

Fossil - Simple, high-reliability, distributed software configuration management