Version Control with Subversion - Electrical and Computer ...

svn diff
It could be a file, or the root of a copied directory. + means the item is part of a subtree scheduled for
addition-with-history, i.e. some parent got copied, and it's just coming along for the ride. M + means
the item is part of a subtree scheduled for addition-with-history, and it has local modifications. When
you commit, first the parent will be added-with-history (copied), which means this file will automatically
exist in the copy. Then the local modifications will be uploaded into the copy.
The fifth column will only show whitespace or an S. This signifies that the file or directory has been
switched from the path of the rest of the working copy (using svn switch) to a branch.
The sixth column shows information about locks, which is further explained in the section called
“Locking”. (These are not the same locks as the ones indicated by an L in the third column; see Three
meanings of “lock”.)
If you pass a specific path to svn status, it gives you information about that item alone:
$ svn status stuff/fish.c
D stuff/fish.c
Guided Tour
svn status also has a --verbose (-v) switch, which will show you the status of every item in your
working copy, even if it has not been changed:
$ svn status --verbose
M 44 23 sally README
44 30 sally INSTALL
M 44 20 harry bar.c
44 18 ira stuff
44 35 harry stuff/trout.c
D 44 19 ira stuff/fish.c
44 21 sally stuff/things
A 0 ? ? stuff/things/bloo.h
44 36 harry stuff/things/gloo.c
This is the “long form” output of svn status. The first column remains the same, but the second column
shows the working-revision of the item. The third and fourth columns show the revision in which the
item last changed, and who changed it.
None of the above invocations to svn status contact the repository, they work only locally by comparing
the metadata in the .svn directory with the working copy. Finally, there is the --show-updates (u)
switch, which contacts the repository and adds information about things that are out-of-date:
$ svn status --show-updates --verbose
M * 44 23 sally README
M 44 20 harry bar.c
* 44 35 harry stuff/trout.c
D 44 19 ira stuff/fish.c
A 0 ? ? stuff/things/bloo.h
Status against revision: 46
Notice the two asterisks: if you were to run svn update at this point, you would receive changes to
README and trout.c. This tells you some very useful information—you'll need to update and get the
server changes on README before you commit, or the repository will reject your commit for being outof-date.
(More on this subject later.)
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