Subversion (SVN)

Keep versions and track of data, and collaboration for large centralised projects in a personal or group repository.

Keep consecutive versions of data and save a history of changes and collaboration with this version control tool for large, centralised projects. It is especially useful for large projects that require centralisation or where you want to offer access to certain areas at a granular level.

Subversion logo

Subversion is largely used to store source code though it can also be used with other files, especially text files, if you're working with data that will change regularly as you or your collaborators add, amend or delete it.You store the files in a repository and when someone makes a change the previous version of the file is also retained along with a record of the changes. So you can see what the changes were and even revert the file to an earlier version. If several people wish to edit materials at the same time the system manages their access so that everyone can save their updates.

Staff and students at the University are entitled to a free personal repository. You can also request free group or project repositories for up to 10 gigabytes of space. More space is available for a charge.

As a repository owner, you manage it on behalf on your group or project but if you move to another institution the ownership could be passed on to another person at the University. You can grant different read/write access to people who are not members of the University. And you can give different people access to different areas of the repository.

You and the other members of the group would use an svn client such as Tortoise (for Windows) or command line to make changes and save files to the repository.

You can also ask for a web-based collaboration tool to get an interface to see what's in the repository, such as a basic wiki, an issue-tracking system, a timeline of project activity and advanced browsing of your repository data including visual differences between revisions and more. This tool is called SourcED and is based on the Trac open source system.

A video recording of an introductory presentation on 'Data storage options, collaboration and version control tools' by M. Wallis delivered as part of the Digital Research Services Lunchtime Webinars Series is available on Media Hopper.

Watch Video (18 min) Find out more about Subversion

Free or paid for:

Standard allocation: Free

Paid-for option: May be a charge if you require more than 10GB of space.

More about Subversion costs

Product Features

  • Version control for code and other files
  • More personal repository space available on request
  • Option to pay for additional space over 10GB
  • Web collaboration available via SourcEd (built with Trac open source code)
  • Alternative access option for Informatics iFriend users using Kerberos authentication
  • Access by external collaborators at a granular level
  • Online guidance
  • Email and phone support
  • Default quota of 50MB for personal repositories
  • Group / project repositories available on request up to 10GB
  • Uses Subversion software (1.6.x branch)
  • Access via University account (EASE/EASE Friend/Informatics iFriend) and registration for a Subversion account
  • Management devolved to repository owner, including access and permissions
  • Data stored in the UK on University of Edinburgh servers
  • Online documentation

Applicable Disciplines

  • Agricultural and Biological Sciences
  • Business, Management and Accounting
  • Computer Sciences
  • Energy
  • Health Professions
  • Material Science
  • Neuroscience
  • Physics and Astronomy
  • Arts and Humanities
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Earth and Planetary Sciences
  • Engineering
  • Immunology and Microbiology
  • Mathematics
  • Nursing
  • Psychology
  • Veterinary
  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Economics, Econometrics and Finance
  • Environmental Science
  • Medicine
  • Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics
  • Social Sciences

Terms & Conditions

The Computing Regulations govern the use of all University computing and network facilities by staff, students and anyone else authorised to use them.

Technical Requirements

  • Internet Access
  • Valid University of Edinburgh account: EASE, EASE Friend or an Informatics iFriend
  • Subversion registration / account
  • Svn client

Skills Required

  • Recommended: Experience with version control systems

Support and Training Available