Git – SubGit

Version control is an important aspect of modern software development, enabling teams to collaborate efficiently and manage code changes effectively. While Git has become very popular many projects still use Subversion (SVN). Transitioning from SVN to Git can be challenging, but SubGit simplifies this process by providing a seamless migration solution. This article will explore what SubGit is, its benefits, and how to use it to migrate from SVN to Git.

SubGit is a tool designed to bridge the gap between SVN and Git, allowing for smooth and incremental migration from Subversion to Git. It synchronizes a Git repository with an SVN repository, and helps developers to use Git while maintaining compatibility with the existing SVN infrastructure.

Key Features of SubGit

• Bidirectional Synchronization: SubGit ensures that changes in the SVN repository are reflected in the Git repository and vice versa.
• Incremental Migration: Teams can gradually transition to Git, allowing some members to use Git while others continue with SVN.
• Preservation of History: SubGit maintains the full history and metadata of the SVN repository during the migration process.
• Ease of Use: SubGit is designed to be straightforward, minimizing the complexity of migrating between version control systems.

Smooth Transition

SubGit allows teams to transition from SVN to Git without disrupting their workflow. Developers can continue working with SVN while others adopt Git, ensuring a smooth and gradual shift.

Full History Preservation

SubGit ensures that the entire commit history and metadata from the SVN repository are preserved in the Git repository. This includes commit messages, authorship information, and timestamps.

Minimal Downtime

Since SubGit supports bidirectional synchronization, there is no need for extensive downtime during the migration. Teams can continue their work uninterrupted.

Simplified Workflow

By using SubGit, teams can take advantage of Git’s powerful features, such as branching, merging, and distributed workflows, while maintaining a connection to their existing SVN repository.

Prerequisites

• An existing SVN repository.
• A Git repository (either local or remote) to synchronize with the SVN repository.
• Java Runtime Environment (JRE) installed on your machine.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Download and Install SubGit

First, download SubGit from the official website and install it on your machine.

wget https://subgit.com/download/subgit-3.3.12.zip
unzip subgit-3.3.12.zip
cd subgit-3.3.12/bin

Step 2: Initialize SubGit in Your Git Repository

Navigate to your Git repository directory and initialize SubGit.

./subgit configure --svn-url path/to/svn/repo /path/to/git/repo

This command sets up the necessary configuration files and prepares the Git repository for synchronization.

Step 3: Import SVN Repository to Git

Run the import command to synchronize the SVN repository with the Git repository.

./subgit import /path/to/git/repo

This command imports the SVN repository’s history and contents into the Git repository.

Step 4: Verify the Migration

Check the Git repository to ensure that all SVN commits have been successfully imported.

cd /path/to/git/repo
git log

You should see the entire commit history from the SVN repository in the Git log.

Step 5: Enable Bidirectional Synchronization (Optional)

To enable ongoing synchronization between SVN and Git, install the SubGit daemon.

./subgit install /path/to/git/repo

This command ensures that any changes made in the SVN repository are reflected in the Git repository and vice versa.

SubGit is a powerful tool that simplifies the migration from Subversion to Git. By providing bidirectional synchronization, preserving full history, and ensuring minimal downtime, SubGit makes it easy for teams to transition to Git without disrupting their workflow.