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16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An updated guide and reference to Subversion, January 16, 2007
This review is from: Practical Subversion (Expert's Voice in Open Source) (Paperback)
The second edition of Practical Subversion has been updated, but not substantially changed. The new edition has somewhat higher production quality and editing. The reference material on the various svn subcommands has been updated to be more current. This is very important because the first edition was badly out-of-date in this area.
The book has many good features, such as the "Best Practices" chapter, the comparison of Subversion against other version control systems. and the API documentation. These sections have been cleaned up and, in a few cases, extended to provide a real benefit to the reader.
Unfortunately, I don't think the book went far enough with the practical "guide" content. More information about how to use version control and the special features of Subversion in particular would have been a better use of space than repeating the reference material that can be had freely on-line.
Like the first edition, this book tries to be both a solid reference and a practical guide. Unfortunately, the authors do not separate these two missions in the book. This leads to a kind of split personality, where the practical advice is interrupted by reference material and vice versa. I found this to be a bit distracting, and think it prevents this from being a great book.
That being said, this is a good book that covers Subversion quite well. I have recommended it to people already on the strength of the "Best Practices" chapter alone. If you are using Subversion, the practical usage information in this book should help you make better use of the tool.If you are considering using Subversion, the comparison of Subversion against other tools is a very important resource.
Although I think the structure of the book could be improved, I still don't mind recommending the book.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good coverage on a popular version control system choice..., February 9, 2007
This review is from: Practical Subversion (Expert's Voice in Open Source) (Paperback)
The version control system known as Subversion is quickly taking over the title of open source leader from the old standby, CVS. If you already have some background knowledge in version control systems and you want to start using Subversion, the book Practical Subversion (Second Edition) by Daniel Berlin and Garrett Rooney would be a good way to transition yourself over...
Contents:
Introducing Subversion; A Crash Course in Subversion; Repository Administration; Migrating from Other Version Control Systems; Advanced Apache Integration; Best Practices; Integrating Subversion with Other Tools; Using the Subversion APIs; Subversion Command Glossary; Subversion Compared to Other Version Control Systems; Index
Unlike some books that cover version control systems (either generally or one in particular), this one doesn't try and take you from ground zero to expert. While there is some background material, the overall tone is one that assumes you are functionally literate on the subject and are particularly interested in Subversion. While that might limit the potential audience a bit, it makes it much more focused and valuable for those who want to bypass entry level material. The chapters cover both administrative and user-based functions, but tend to be a bit more heavy on the setup and administration end. For something that could be a rather dry subject, the authors do a good job in keeping things moving forward and interesting. I also found the chapter on version control system comparison to be valuable. All systems are *not* the same, and there are some underlying structural differences that will have a significant impact on what does and doesn't convert over, should you choose to switch systems.
All in all, a good book on Subversion, and one that will get you started in the right direction.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Required Reading (for client API), November 29, 2006
This review is from: Practical Subversion (Expert's Voice in Open Source) (Paperback)
Great book, *required* reading if you're planning on using the Subversion client API. This is the only book I've found that talks in a serious way about coding/interfacing directly with the Subversion libraries.
The authors speak with authority as to "best practices" and things to which you should pay attention -- in part because they are key contributors to the Subversion project. I like their view on issues and tradeoffs, and it's clear to me they've "mapped out" the whys & hows for the Subversion design. (A whole chapter entitled, "Best Practices" is a GREAT SIGN that they have it figured out.)
We've also found it a very handy for configuring the Subversion server, advanced Apache integration, and for other "pithy answers" when you need detailed explanation of what are your options for some technical install/management issues.
It's an easy read, but with pithy info, in a nice writing style. It's good to read, and (especially the later chapters) are very handy as a "reference". The section on other tools, (e.g., Trac, etc.) is pretty light, but that's probably the best you can do since detailed description of other tools belong in other books.
Well worth the money. (No, I'm not affiliated with the authors or APress in any way.)
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