Apache Subversion

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What Does Apache Subversion Mean?

Apache Subversion (SVN) is a free and open-source software developed by the Apache Software Foundation that acts as a control system for tracking changes to files, folders and directories. It is used to assist in recovering data and recording the history of changes made over time. It was designed to replace the Concurrent Versions System (CVS), a program designed to save and retrieve multiple source code changes that had many inherent bugs and feature flaws.

Techopedia Explains Apache Subversion

In addition to detailed recordings of changes and metadata for files and folders, Subversion’s features include:

  1. Easy implementation of new network functions
  2. Consistent storage and handling of text and binary files
  3. Efficient creation of branches and tags
  4. Easy use with programming languages

Development of Subversion by Karl Fogel and Ben Collins-Sussman began in 2000 and has evolved as an open-source project. Its vision is to be a centralized version control system that acts as a reliable safe haven for valuable data. It also aims to maintain a simple model with the ability to support the needs of different users and projects.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert

Margaret is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.