Tags & svn:externals

Hi,

Several of our SVN users raised the following issue:

They are using svn:externals a lot as a very good method of achieving
code modularity & reuse.

When creating a Tag of their project they expect to get an invariable
copy of the code for posterity.

But, if folders contain externals definitions which do not have explicit
revisions, the Tag is neither invariable nor reproducible.

I always suggest, as a best practice, to use explicit revisions on all
externals but that is not always the case.

I've used svncopy.pl but it provides a partial solution only. It can
only "fix" the first level of externals.

If there is a hierarchy of externals (externals containing additional
externals within them) the script cannot help.

I was thinking about adding the following functionality to TortoiseSVN
when creating a Tag/Branch:

- Before creating the copy, traverse the requested folder and
look for externals.

- If found such externals, ask the user what to do with those
externals. Provide the following options:

1. Do nothing. Leave them intact.

2. Convert to explicit revisions (first level only). This is
similar to svncopy.pl script.

3. Perform a deep copy. Recursively convert externals definitions
to actual copies.

I would like to hear your opinion:

- Am I missing something?

- Does such functionality exist? (I hate to reinvent the wheel
J)

- Would such functionality be beneficial to the community?

Thanks,

Shay

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Received on 2009-04-21 14:58:11 CEST