When working with Subversion (svn), it is important to properly manage changes to files and directories. This includes creating compatible patch files when using the svn cp (copy) or svn mv (move) commands.
When using svn cp, a copy of the source file or directory is created at the specified location. This can be useful for creating backups or for working on different versions of a file. However, if changes are made to both the original file and the copied file, it can become difficult to merge the changes together.
To avoid this issue, it is recommended to use the svn mv command instead of svn cp. This command not only creates a copy of the file or directory, but also preserves the history of the original file. This means that changes made to the original file can be easily merged with the copied file.
But what happens if you have already used svn cp and need to generate a patch file for the changes made to both the original and copied file? This is where the use of compatible patch files comes in.
Compatible patch files are created by using the svn diff command with the --git option. This ensures that the patch file is generated in a format that is compatible with both svn and git. To generate a compatible patch file for changes made to a copied file, follow these steps:
1. Use the svn diff command with the --git option to generate a patch file for the changes made to the original file:
svn diff --git original_file > original_file.patch
2. Use the svn diff command with the --git option to generate a patch file for the changes made to the copied file:
svn diff --git copied_file > copied_file.patch
3. Use the patch command to apply the changes from the original file patch to the copied file:
patch copied_file < original_file.patch
4. Use the svn diff command with the --git option again to generate a patch file for the merged changes:
svn diff --git copied_file > merged_changes.patch
5. Use the patch command to apply the merged changes to the copied file:
patch copied_file < merged_changes.patch
By following these steps, you can ensure that the changes made to both the original and copied file are properly merged and can be easily applied to the copied file in the future.
It is important to note that in order for this process to work, the original file and the copied file must have the same base revision. If changes have been made to the copied file since it was created, the base revision may need to be updated before the patch can be applied.
In conclusion, when using svn cp or svn mv, it is important to generate compatible patch files in order to properly manage changes and ensure that they can be easily applied in the future. By using the svn diff command with the --git option, and following the steps outlined above, you can ensure that your patch files are compatible with both svn and git, and that your changes are properly merged and preserved.
