Laymen's terms: How does svn work? Why is it good?

[superboyac]

My first question for the new year: what's up with svn?
To me, it sounds like DCupdater, except harder to use and with more geeky features.  When I say "geeky", I mean command line type of stuff with parameters and what not.  What are the basics of svn, how does it work?  Why is better than just downloading the latest installer and using that?  Is it easier?  Is it cool because it's command line?  What's the deal here?  What does a tortoise have to do with all of this?

[tomos]

I thought it was like FileHamster on steroids sortof incorporated with a family tree

Disclaimer: I've only ever used Filehamster ;-)

[Renegade]

My first question for the new year: what's up with svn?
To me, it sounds like DCupdater, except harder to use and with more geeky features.  When I say "geeky", I mean command line type of stuff with parameters and what not.  What are the basics of svn, how does it work?  Why is better than just downloading the latest installer and using that?  Is it easier?  Is it cool because it's command line?  What's the deal here?  What does a tortoise have to do with all of this?

SNV is Subversion. If you search for it it will become clear.

But man... Have you ever provided me with some rant material...

Yes. It's geeky. And more so than it needs to be.

It's version control software. Tortoise is a client for it. (Subversion is server-based.)

You use Tortoise to access SVN to get source code.

[f0dder]

As an end-user, you probably don't want or need subversion - as Renegade mentioned, it's version control for source code. (It can be used for other stuff than plain source code, but it's only really useful for text-based files that change in predictable ways).

The tortoise part is a friendly GUI so you don't have to much around with the command-line.

Aaaaand... there's better systems around than subversion - if you aren't going to deal with a legacy project, you do want when one of the newer DVCS systems; not only is the 'D' part immensely useful once you wrap your head around it, but subversion's network protocol is hopelessly horrible.

[Deozaan]

The Tortoise is for people who are "too slow" for command-line. Like me.

[superboyac]

Ah, glad to hear some real talk about it.  Thanks everyone, I love it.

[kyrathaba]

I use it if I'm working on a larger project.  Right now, I'm using it in conjunction with Beanstalk free account (not endorsing them, but I've had no difficulties).  Provides faster off-site backup than FTPing, with the added benefit of easily reverting to an earlier version of my source code if needed.

[Renegade]

I use it if I'm working on a larger project.  Right now, I'm using it in conjunction with Beanstalk free account (not endorsing them, but I've had no difficulties).  Provides faster off-site backup than FTPing, with the added benefit of easily reverting to an earlier version of my source code if needed.

All different projects have different logins. (Usually.)