Hey It’s Easier Than You Think (Xcode 4 and Subversion)

I love how the new Xcode 4 shows you code changes side-by-side with it’s version editor view. But I had a little problem. I’m a subversion fan. Yes, I know, totally not cool. I keep this flaw a secret and I don’t force my preference on my co-workers nor do I tweet about it. I’m sure with years of therapy and the love and support of my family I’ll get over it.

But in the meantime I’m working on an iPhone game and I have a free subversion repository from my ISP. I want to continue to use this fee repository even though Apple gently nudges you to GIT with Xcode 4.

I’m stubborn. I tried GIT and it’s not doing anything for me. My change control needs are small. The functionality that makes GIT great is way more than I need: I’m not working on a large team with a complex build system that has to commit changes with the finesse of a tightrope walker.

Today I went back to subversion and my free repository when I had to update my iPhone to the release candidate 3 of the Cocos2d framework (which is host on Github BTW). Back when Xcode 4 was release I just could get Subversion and Xcode to play nice. But being stubborn, I tried again and to my surprise succeeded.

I don’t think Apple changed much. I think I was just impatient and misinformed. There is a lot of silliness about how to set up Xcode 4 to work with a Subversion repository on the Internets. What worked for me is the functionality that Xcode gives you out-of-the-box (without using the terminal). It was point-and-click but just not automated.

If you’re interested here is how you get a hosted subversion repository to work with Xcode 4. Have fun and don’t sweat the snickers from your more version control evolved friends 🙂

1. Create a new Subversion repository that you can access via your protocol of choice (mine is the open Internet and HTTP because that’s what Dreamhost provides). Leave this  repository empty–we’ll use Xcode 4 to set up all the directories. Just remember your URL and password.
2. Open Xcode 4 and go the  Repository  tab in the Organizer Window.  Click the tiny little plus sign in the lower left corner to add a connection to a Repository. Enter in the URL and password and wait for the little circle to turn green. Xcode 4 should automagically detect the type of repository. Be patient. This process takes a bit of time and there is absolutely no feedback: Apple forgot to spin the beach ball here.
3. When you get the green circle click on the root directory icon on the left under the name of the repository and create 3 directories using the New Directory button on the bottom: trunk, branches, tags. Be patient again and wait for the directories to show up in the center pane of the Organizer window.
4. Click on the name  repository  on the left and enter the names of our your 3 directories in the 3 fields provided. (See the  genius  of naming them trunk, branches, tags?) If your spelling is good you’ll get 3 more green  circles.
5. Click on the Trunk directory on the left and then click on the Import button on the bottom. Select the folder that contains the project you want to put under source code control. Now go away. Get a drink and watch an  episode  of South Park. You have to be patient because not only is there no beach ball, spinner, or progress bar, there is  no green circle!
6. When you come back you should see your imported directory listed on the main pane. If you click the arrow to the left of it you’ll find your Xcode 4 project file and a subdirectory of files. Remember to be patient. Your poor overworked laptop has to ask the Subversion server for all this info and it takes way longer than 200 milliseconds to get back to you.
7. Make sure your original Xcode project is closed and hidden away for safe keeping. Click on the imported project in the main pane of the Organizer window and click on the Checkout button on the bottom. Select a location on your hard disk to store your working copy of the project that won’t conflict with the original project. It should be OK to overwrite the original but I’m just paranoid. (Years of experience will do that to you.)
8. Get a cup of coffee and troll Reddit for some laughs. When you come back Xcode should ask you in a dialog box if you want to open the project that you just checked out. Say yes and run it just to be sure it’s all there. (Paranoia again, sorry.)
9. Now make a change to your and look for the little M to the right of the file name in the Project Navigator pane to show up. Be patient. If it’s not showing go back the the Organizer Window, back to your Project folder (by selecting its name on the left), and click the Commit button. The little M should now and forever show up next to your modified files in the Project Navigator.

I’m still having a little problem committing from the context menu in the Project Navigator but I can commit just fine from the Organizer Window. Maybe that’s just how Subversion works with Xcode or more maybe I have to be even more patient. I’ll let you know!