[Zope3-dev] Re: What do we want to bring from CVS to Subversion

[Casey Duncan]

On Mon, 26 Apr 2004 15:23:13 -0400
Jim Fulton <jim at zope.com> wrote:

> 
> I'm working on the cvs to subversion conversion for the ZODB, Zope 2,
> and Zope 3 projects. I'm currently doing the conversion of the full
> history with tags and branches.  This is taking a long time and
> creating a huge repository, which is OK, but, do we really need that
> much history?
> 
> I see 3 options:
> 
> 1. Convert the full history with branches. This will create
>     a rather large and complex repository.
> 
> 2. Convert the mainline history, but leave off the branches.
> 
> 3. Start with a clean slate and simply import the current head.
> 
> Note that, for Zope 2 and ZODB, current maintenance branches will
> remain in CVS.
> 
> I think that option 2 provides a nice compromise.  The main
> disadvantage of it is that it will leave current development branches
> high and dry. I'm not sure how big an issue this is.  In theory, these
> could be committed to the subversion heav via patch files.

If we lose any history, then I would suggest that means that we need to
keep CVS around forever for posterity. I find the history very valuable
to try to understand sparsely documented past bugfixes. Even a small
clue to intent is often valuable.

Also, referenced to collector issues are typically in the history.

Just in principle, it's a shame to loose history, excepting of course
the mail archive. It partially defeats the whole point of making checkin
comments at all.

I do think option #2 is pragmatic and will greatly reduce clutter at
little overall loss to the useful history content. 

-Casey