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TortoiseSVN VS Apache Subversion

Compare TortoiseSVN VS Apache Subversion and see what are their differences

TortoiseSVN logo TortoiseSVN

The coolest interface to (Sub)version control

Apache Subversion logo Apache Subversion

Mirror of Apache Subversion. Contribute to apache/subversion development by creating an account on GitHub.
  • TortoiseSVN Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-03-27
  • Apache Subversion Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-27

TortoiseSVN features and specs

  • User-Friendly
    TortoiseSVN has a graphical user interface (GUI) that integrates seamlessly with Windows Explorer, making it accessible and easy to use even for beginners.
  • Open Source
    TortoiseSVN is an open-source tool, which means it is free to use and has a community of developers contributing to its improvement and maintenance.
  • Extensive Documentation
    The tool comes with extensive documentation and tutorials, making it easier for new users to learn and for experienced users to troubleshoot issues.
  • Highly Customizable
    TortoiseSVN offers a range of customization options to fit different workflows and user preferences, including integration with various diff tools and customizable menus.
  • Strong Integration with SVN
    As a subversion (SVN) client, TortoiseSVN provides strong support for SVN-specific features like revision graph, blame, and detailed commit messages.

Possible disadvantages of TortoiseSVN

  • Windows-Only
    TortoiseSVN is designed specifically for Windows and does not natively support other operating systems like macOS or Linux, limiting its cross-platform usability.
  • Steeper Learning Curve for Non-GUI Users
    Users who are more accustomed to command-line interfaces might find the GUI-centric approach to be cumbersome or less efficient.
  • Dependency on SVN
    TortoiseSVN is tied to SVN as a version control system, which may not offer the same modern features and flexibility as newer VCS tools like Git.
  • Performance Issues with Large Repositories
    Performance can degrade when dealing with very large repositories or a high number of files, which can hinder productivity.
  • Lack of Advanced Collaboration Features
    TortoiseSVN lacks some of the advanced collaboration features found in other version control systems like Git, such as easy branching and merging.

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.

TortoiseSVN videos

TortoiseSVN Features : Repository | Importing Project | Check Out | Reverting & Committing Changes

More videos:

  • Tutorial - TortoiseSVN (Subversion) Tutorial

Apache Subversion videos

Setting Up Apache Subversion on Windows

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to TortoiseSVN and Apache Subversion)
Git
51 51%
49% 49
Robo-Advisor
100 100%
0% 0
Code Collaboration
0 0%
100% 100
Project Management
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, TortoiseSVN seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 8 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

TortoiseSVN mentions (8)

  • Ask HN: How did Git become the standard when Windows is the majority OS?
    TortoiseSVN is a subversion client integrates with Windows Explorer (SVN commands show up in right-click menu). Version 1.14.5 was released in September 2022, so some Windows users still use subversion. https://tortoisesvn.net/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • New programmers need to learn how to use git.
    SVN would be one popular flavor, with for example https://tortoisesvn.net/ being a fairly popular client. Source: over 2 years ago
  • PL/SQL and version control software
    Have used Tortoise SVN for PL/SQL. Wouldn't necessarily recommend it over git, but it does a fine job. Source: over 2 years ago
  • I have another developer on board. However, we're both remote, and cannot pay for online services to host repositories for source control. Are there alternatives to help transfer blueprints and code efficiently?
    For a project I was working on I setup https://tortoisesvn.net/ on my own computer and they could connect and sync data to and from the repo. It has version control, etc etc. Source: over 2 years ago
  • PTC Windchill Academic Shutdown
    You can have a look at TortoiseSVN (https://tortoisesvn.net/). Source: over 2 years ago
View more

Apache Subversion mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Apache Subversion yet. Tracking of Apache Subversion recommendations started around May 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing TortoiseSVN and Apache Subversion, you can also consider the following products

Xversion - Super easy enterprise class version control.

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.

VisualSVN - VisualSVN - Subversion plugin for Visual Studio

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

SmartSVN - SmartSVN is a graphical client for the Open Source version control system Subversion (SVN).

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