Filed under: Software, Internet Tools, Beta Beat, Developer
Versions goes beta
Almost a year ago, we wrote about Versions, a program designed to bring an intuitive and attractive interface to the Subversion version control system. Now, Made by Sofa has finally released the first beta.
Although Versions isn't the only game in town for accessing Subversion repositories through methods other than the command line, it is certainly the best looking, and at least in the few minutes I've spent with it, the most Mac-like. The application is beautiful and the interface is very easy to use and understand.
Although Versions isn't the only game in town for accessing Subversion repositories through methods other than the command line, it is certainly the best looking, and at least in the few minutes I've spent with it, the most Mac-like. The application is beautiful and the interface is very easy to use and understand.
After entering in the location of your SVN repository (or local folder if you are working on something locally), you are presented with three different options: Timeline, Browse, and Transcript. The Timeline view shows all the changes that have been made to the repository trac, clicking on a file name brings up a window showing the file before and after, side-by-side, making it extremely easy to see what was changed (changed lines are highlighted).
The Browse view basically looks like an FTP window and makes it easy to browse all the files and directories in a repository. From there, you can compare differences, show history and checkout the file if you want to make changes. If you have change access, you can then implement those on the fly.
The transcript menu is pretty much just a log of all your actions during your Versions session.
I have to say, I'm pretty impressed with Versions from what I have seen thus far. The application is intuitive and easy to use and the interface is very, very clean. That said, I know that most of the Open Source projects I follow are switching to Git in rapid succession, so it is unclear how that change will affect clients like Versions.
The beta version says it is expiring in 26 days, so if you are a developer who is either sick of terminal or a little scared of Subversion, give it a shot! Versions requires OS X 10.4.9 or higher, though the developers recommend 10.5.2 or higher.
The Browse view basically looks like an FTP window and makes it easy to browse all the files and directories in a repository. From there, you can compare differences, show history and checkout the file if you want to make changes. If you have change access, you can then implement those on the fly.
The transcript menu is pretty much just a log of all your actions during your Versions session.
I have to say, I'm pretty impressed with Versions from what I have seen thus far. The application is intuitive and easy to use and the interface is very, very clean. That said, I know that most of the Open Source projects I follow are switching to Git in rapid succession, so it is unclear how that change will affect clients like Versions.
The beta version says it is expiring in 26 days, so if you are a developer who is either sick of terminal or a little scared of Subversion, give it a shot! Versions requires OS X 10.4.9 or higher, though the developers recommend 10.5.2 or higher.
Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Michael Bleigh said 2:56PM on 6-04-2008
Seems like unfortunate timing...Subversion is on its way out. Let me know when it supports Git!
Reply
DJCarbon43 said 3:24PM on 6-04-2008
Git is for posers... Look at me! I'm leeter than you! I use something Linus pooped out of his butt!
Bogey said 3:40PM on 6-04-2008
SVN on it's way out? I hadn't heard that. Can you point me to somewhere where it's documented? And if so, any idea as to what might become it's replacement or at least where would people migrate to?
CaptSaltyJack said 3:40PM on 6-04-2008
SVN is on its way out? What planet do you live on?
DJCarbon43 said 3:48PM on 6-04-2008
Great, just great.
I'll do introductions...
EMacs vs. VIM, meet SVN vs. Git, SVN vs. Git meet EMacs vs. VIM.
Christina Warren said 4:05PM on 6-04-2008
Heh, OK, fair enough. For people that want to access SVN repositories from within Git, there are pretty easy ways to do it (http://www.robbyonrails.com/articles/2008/04/10/git-svn-is-a-gateway-drug and http://git.or.cz/course/svn.html), though the interface is hardly as slick as Versions.
Whether Git is better or not is almost irrelevant, but ever since Rails moved back in April, a slew of projects seem to be making the transition.
oZ said 9:54AM on 6-05-2008
Subversion is not on the way out if you're using subversion in a corporate environment, or have a real build process, or even like tagging. Don't be a fanboy. Saying Git is taking over is like saying Ruby on Rails is taking over. It's the new fad, but it'll be over soon.
Jérôme said 2:59PM on 6-04-2008
Versions indeed look really nice, but ZigVersion as GUI-Client works for me fine, too.
Reply
lpalli said 3:10PM on 6-04-2008
Very nice!
I think the ultimate GUI for Subversion for Mac.
Reply
Jason said 3:22PM on 6-04-2008
I might've cared a year ago, but I've switched primarily to Git. Seems like this app is a little too late to the party for me as well.
Reply
Think Adrian said 3:22PM on 6-04-2008
Finally! I've waited 1,5 yrs for the beta. Thought it might be vapor ware
Reply
Luke le said 3:32PM on 6-04-2008
Finally! I've been waiting for it like forever now (to be exact, since tuaw first reported about it). Can't wait to give it a try!
... And hopefully they add bazaar support it (dreaming)
Reply
CaptSaltyJack said 3:48PM on 6-04-2008
BTW, Sofa are the people behind the burning application Disco. I hope support for Versions isn't as horrible as it is for Disco!
Reply
Mike said 9:36PM on 6-04-2008
Exactly! Though the thing Austin Sarner in not involved into VersionsApp development makes things safer.
The best guarantee of not getting any money from me for any particular project is to get anyone of those Delicious Generation "developers" involved (mydreamapp, disco..)
Think Adrian said 4:42AM on 6-05-2008
i like disco, actually. Clean, simple, does what it's meant to do. Toast 8 was a downgrade with it's ugly, slow animation progress-window, and takes up so much space if all you want to do is burn an image or copy a disc.
CaptSaltyJack said 10:41AM on 6-05-2008
Right, I'm not saying Disco as an application isn't cool (though lacking in a few crucial things). I'm just saying the support is horrible.
FoundInTheFlood said 4:15PM on 6-04-2008
I don't even understand what this app does, could someone cut the neusprech and explain it in a way that people who never used this kind of applications understand what it's all about? i know repositorys only from the iphone, and what do they have to do with timelines?!?!
Reply
Christina Warren said 4:14PM on 6-04-2008
If you want to access the source code for an open source or collaborative project, Subversion is one of the most common ways those files and the various versions of the files (so that each change is recorded and logged) are managed and accessed.
Instead of using Terminal to access the files from the command line, this program allows a more FTP-client like approach, so that you can see the files and then select them, see what changes have been made, submit your own changes (if you have access), download the new builds, etc.
If you aren't a developer on a project or you don't want to access the latest builds of a program, this type of program probably won't interest you.
FoundInTheFlood said 4:18PM on 6-04-2008
aaaah ok thanks, so its a programmers thing ;)
Reply
Eric Clemmons said 4:49PM on 6-04-2008
I've had pretty good success with ZigVersion (http://zigversion.com/). It seems about as clean & uncluttered as you can get, and supports Diff'ing (via FileMerge) files (especially when Checking In)
Reply