Re: Sparse Directories vs Externals

On Sun, Feb 22, 2009 at 11:40 AM, void pointer <rcdailey_at_gmail.com> wrote:
> Here is a quote from my co-worker in response to me asking "Why do you feel
> externals are so bad?":
>>
>> Because relative externals are only relative to the repository. They still
>> need to be hand modified in order to branch or tag properly.

Only if you use ^/ and *make* them that way. Using ../ paths works
just fine with branches or tags (it needs changing if you reorganize
your tree, of course.) We used to use a "fix-svn-externals" script
when we branched - once we went to 1.5 we ran it one last time and had
it make them all relative, haven't needed to touch them since.

>> I'd go as far as to say having externals in the primary part of the
>> repository should be a subversion anti-pattern.

I wouldn't go that far (or rather, duplicating source code or data is
a *worse* antipattern) but it's certainly reason to consider what
you're doing as far as packaging and delivery, at a higher level (ie.
should you be building and linking libraries instead, should your
build be in multiple phases, etc.)

-- 
_Mark_ <eichin_at_thok.org> <eichin_at_gmail.com>
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