There is various software in the digital world that help in one way or another. GitHub and SVN are two very widely known platforms and systems, respectively, that are useful in their way. They have quite different functions and features. People all over the world use GitHub and SVN immensely, so it is important to know the points that differentiate them from each other.
GitHub vs SVN
The main difference between GitHub and SVN is that GitHub is a platform that is open source and acts as a host for software development control. On the other hand, SVN or Subversion is a control system that is a centralised version and is widely used due to its availability as open source.
GitHub is a very widely known and used platform. It is a distributed version control platform. Github provides many convenient features like working even in offline mode, which is great for users when they do not have access to the internet and do not lag in their work.
SVN or Subversion is a very popular centralised version control system. Although its popularity has seen a downfall in the last few years. It also needs an all-time internet connection in order to maintain code commitment, and it also doesn’t have a centralised repository in order to maintain code.
Comparison Table Between GitHub and SVN
| Parameters of Comparison | GitHub | SVN |
| Model | Github is basically a Distributed Version model. | SVN is a centralised version model. |
| Code Maintenance | Multiple repositories are used by GitHub to access and maintain code. | SVN does not include repository for the purpose of code maintenance. |
| Connection | GitHub can even work without an internet connection. | SVN cannot work without an established internet connection. |
| Learning feasibility | The commands and comments in GitHub are a bit difficult to understand and learn. | SVN is comparatively easier to learn. |
| User interface | GitHub doesn’t have a great user interface. | SVN has an amazing user interface. |
What is GitHub?
GitHub is a hosting platform that is very renowned and used around the world for software development control. It works efficiently in providing access control to a huge number of features such as managing tasks as well as bug tracking for any project that a person is working on. The Github platform can be accessed by firstly using a command-line interface that is available throughout the standard GitHub. The public repositories which are available on the Github site can be accessed by registered as well as non-registered users.
In order to make the best use of Jet hub, it is advised to create an account. By creating an account, the user also has access to make a contribution to the site in the content department. GitHub is a distributed version model, and multiple repositories are used by the GitHub platform in order to access and maintain codes. The best part about Github is that it doesn’t need an internet connection at all times, and therefore things can be worked on even with a weak or no connection to the host. The difficult part about using the Github platform is that the commands and comments that are used are a bit difficult to learn and understand. Also, it does not have a very pleasing user interface which in a way decreases its customer engagement.
What is SVN?
The second in line, which is SVN or more popularly known as Subversion, is known as a centralised version control program. It is one of the most widely used systems. SVN has a million code lines, and one of the reasons for this is that it has been in the market for several years now, and the organisations that started using it at the very initial stage have contributed a lot to it. It is maintained very nicely even after so many years of its launch resulting in a lot of users due to its affordability.
SVN is regarded as a centralised version control platform. Although it does not have a centralised repository for the need of code maintenance. One more thing that is not very pleasing about SVN is that the connection needs to be active at all times for the purpose of code commitment, and therefore it cannot be carried on in offline mode.
There is also the problem of a node failure, which, when it occurs, results in the breaking of some code which severely impacts the builder floor of the work and creates a bulge for the developers. The final code that is developed in SVN is stored in an additional repository which is known as the trunk. The command lines used in SVN are easy to understand and learn, making it a very beginner friendly platform. Also, it has a great user interface that attracts users.
Main Differences Between GitHub and SVN
- GitHub is a Distributed version model, whereas, on the other hand, SVN is regarded as a centralized version model.
- A number of repositories are used to access and maintain codes by GitHub, whereas SVN does not make use of a repository for code maintenance.
- GitHub can be accessed even without the internet, whereas SVN can only be accessed with an internet connection.
- The commands in GitHub are not very easy to learn and take a great amount of time to expertise. On the other hand, SVN is way easier to learn as compared to GitHub.
- The user interface of Github is not very impressive, while SVN’s user interface is quite commendable.
Conclusion
Github and SVN are both very useful, and this completely depends on the user which one they choose to work with. There are several features on which the comparison can be made while choosing the best for the user. Some of which can be used even without a connection which helps maintain the workflow, whereas SVN does not allow to keep the tasks going in an offline mode, ultimately creating a problem for the developers sometimes.
Another comparison for selection can be that Github’s comments and commands are a bit difficult to understand and learn, whereas, on the other hand, SVN is a very simple and easy to understand platform. SVN also has a better user interface as compared to Github.
References
- https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/2568225.2568322
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0950584916304050