Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Apache Subversion VS Perforce

Compare Apache Subversion VS Perforce and see what are their differences

Apache Subversion logo Apache Subversion

Mirror of Apache Subversion. Contribute to apache/subversion development by creating an account on GitHub.

Perforce logo Perforce

Self-hosted Version Control Software
  • Apache Subversion Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-27
  • Perforce Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-21

Perforce

Release Date
1995 January
Startup details
Country
United States
State
Minnesota
Founder(s)
Christopher Seiwald
Employees
250 - 499

Apache Subversion features and specs

  • Centralized Version Control
    Apache Subversion (SVN) uses a centralized repository model, which makes it easy to manage and control all project files in one place. All history and versions are stored on the server, making backup and repository management straightforward.
  • Atomic Commits
    Subversion ensures that commits are atomic operations. This means that either all changes in a commit are applied, or none are, helping to maintain the integrity of the repository.
  • Comprehensive Authorization
    SVN offers fine-grained authentication and authorization models. It can integrate with various authentication systems and allows granular access control on a per-directory and per-user basis.
  • Binary File Handling
    SVN handles binary files more efficiently compared to some other version control systems, reducing the size of repositories and improving performance when large files are committed.
  • Mature and Stable
    SVN has been around since 2000 and is widely used in enterprise settings. It is stable, well-documented, and has a vast community for support.

Possible disadvantages of Apache Subversion

  • Limited Branching and Merging
    SVN’s branching and merging capabilities are more cumbersome compared to distributed version control systems (DVCS) like Git. Merging in SVN can be complex and time-consuming.
  • Single Point of Failure
    As a centralized version control system, the SVN repository server becomes a single point of failure. If the server goes down, no commits can be made until it is back up.
  • Performance Overhead
    Working with a remote central repository can introduce latency and performance overhead, especially with large projects and many users.
  • Less support for Offline Work
    SVN generally requires network access to the central repository for most operations. This makes it less flexible for developers needing to work offline, compared to DVCS where local copies are complete repositories.
  • Complex Repository Management
    Managing SVN repositories, particularly for large projects, can become complex and may require significant administrative effort to handle repositories, backups, and access controls.

Perforce features and specs

  • Performance
    Perforce offers high performance, particularly with large codebases and binary files. It can handle large repositories efficiently, providing quick access and version control.
  • Scalability
    Perforce is highly scalable, making it suitable for large enterprises with numerous users and extensive projects. It can handle thousands of users and massive amounts of data without significant performance degradation.
  • Security
    Perforce provides robust security features, including detailed permissions and audit trails, ensuring that sensitive data is protected and that changes are well-documented.
  • Code Review and Collaboration
    Perforce includes integrated code review tools and collaboration features that help teams work together more effectively, streamlining the development process.
  • Binary File Handling
    Perforce excels in managing binary files, which can be a challenge for other version control systems. This makes it suitable for game development, multimedia projects, and other fields that work extensively with non-text files.
  • Branching and Merging
    Perforce offers advanced branching and merging capabilities, making it easier to manage complex development workflows, such as feature development, bug fixes, and releases.

Possible disadvantages of Perforce

  • Cost
    Perforce can be expensive, particularly for small teams or organizations. The licensing costs can be a significant investment compared to other version control systems, such as Git.
  • Complexity
    Perforce has a steep learning curve and can be complex to set up and manage. This may require dedicated personnel or training for team members to utilize it effectively.
  • Administrative Overhead
    Managing a Perforce server can require considerable administrative effort, including hardware maintenance, backups, and updates. This may not be ideal for organizations with limited IT resources.
  • Centralized Model
    Perforce uses a centralized version control model, which can be a disadvantage compared to distributed version control systems like Git, where developers can work offline and have a full copy of the repository.
  • Less Popular
    Perforce is less popular than other version control systems like Git, which means there may be fewer community resources, third-party integrations, and developers familiar with the system.
  • Integration with Modern Tools
    While Perforce does offer integrations, it may not be as seamlessly integrated with modern CI/CD pipelines and DevOps tools compared to more widely adopted systems like Git, potentially limiting automation possibilities.

Apache Subversion videos

Setting Up Apache Subversion on Windows

Perforce videos

Perforce Configuration with CodeCollaborator and PeerReview Complete

More videos:

  • Review - Perforce with shelving operation, Perforce with shelve code review system

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Apache Subversion and Perforce)
Git
55 55%
45% 45
Code Collaboration
54 54%
46% 46
Version Control
50 50%
50% 50
Git Tools
53 53%
47% 47

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Perforce seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Apache Subversion mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Apache Subversion yet. Tracking of Apache Subversion recommendations started around May 2021.

Perforce mentions (1)

  • Repo Structures
    It absolutely is in every industry that isn't games. In games, Perforce is king. Source: over 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Apache Subversion and Perforce, you can also consider the following products

Git - Git is a free and open source version control system designed to handle everything from small to very large projects with speed and efficiency. It is easy to learn and lightweight with lighting fast performance that outclasses competitors.

Mercurial SCM - Mercurial is a free, distributed source control management tool.

Atlassian Bitbucket Server - Atlassian Bitbucket Server is a scalable collaborative Git solution.

GitHub Desktop - GitHub Desktop is a seamless way to contribute to projects on GitHub and GitHub Enterprise.

GitKraken - The intuitive, fast, and beautiful cross-platform Git client.

Azure DevOps - Visual Studio dev tools & services make app development easy for any platform & language. Try our Mac & Windows code editor, IDE, or Azure DevOps for free.