How to Seamlessly Migrate from SVN to Git: A Step-by-Step Guide

Achieve a Seamless SVN to Git Migration with TortoiseGit

Author: Tim Connolley

29 July, 2024

Many development teams utilize SVN for version control due to its robustness and suitability for certain types of projects. However, as projects grow and evolve, the dynamic features and widespread familiarity of Git become more appealing. If your team is considering migrating to Git to take advantage of its branching capabilities and distributed nature, this guide will help you make the transition smoothly while preserving your project’s full history. 

Preparing for Migration 

Before diving into the technical steps, it’s important to set clear goals for your migration: 

• Conserve History: Ensuring all historical data is retained during the transition. 
• Simplicity and Speed: Achieving a straightforward and efficient migration process. 

Unfortunately, not all tools and methods meet these requirements effectively. For instance, the method outlined in [Microsoft’s official documentation] (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/repos/git/perform-migration-from-svn-to-git?view=azure-devops) did not perform adequately in preserving complete history and setting up Ruby as required by [this guide on Medium] (https://rajaramtt.medium.com/migrate-svn-to-git-with-history-955ebcc5fb45) seemed too cumbersome. 

Successful Migration Using TortoiseGit: Step-by-Step

The solution that worked for us involved using TortoiseGit, a familiar tool for those accustomed to TortoiseSVN. Here’s a detailed walkthrough:

1- Install Necessary Tools

First, ensure that you have the necessary tools installed: 

Git: [Download and install Git] (https://github.com/git-guides/install-git). Choose the version appropriate for your operating system and follow the installation instructions. 

TortoiseGit: [Download TortoiseGit](https://tortoisegit.org/download/) and integrate it with the Windows Shell during installation. This will allow you to access Git features directly from the Windows context menu.

2- Clone the SVN Repository

Locate the Repository Folder: Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the location where you want your new Git repository to reside. Right-click on the folder to access the context menu. 

For Windows 11 users, you might need to select ‘Show More Options’ to see the full context menu. 

Initiate the Clone: Select ‘Git Clone…’ from the TortoiseGit options. A dialog box will appear. 

Repository URL: Enter the URL of your SVN repository. If it’s already on your clipboard, it should autofill. 

Destination Path: Confirm the directory where your new Git repository will be cloned. 

From SVN Repository: Ensure this option is checked. 

Start the Clone: Click ‘OK’ to begin the cloning process. This may take some time depending on the size of your SVN repository. 

The command executed by TortoiseGit will look something like this: 

```bash 

git.exe svn clone -- "https://your.svn.repo.url" "C:/path-to-your-new-git-repo" -T trunk -b branches -t tags --username your-svn-username 

``` 

3- Configure the .gitignore File 

After cloning, you might want to set up a `.gitignore` file to keep unnecessary files out of your Git repository: 

Create a .gitignore File: You can start with a template from [GitHub’s collection of .gitignore templates] (https://github.com/github/gitignore). 

Customize Based on SVN Settings: Alternatively, adapt your .gitignore settings from your previous SVN ignore configurations, as detailed in [Microsoft’s guide] (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/repos/git/perform-migration-from-svn-to-git?view=azure-devops). 

4- Push to a Remote Git Repository

Finally, link your local repository to a remote server:

```bash 

git remote add origin https://your.git.repo.url 

git push --set-upstream origin main 

``` 

If you do not have a remote repository set up yet, you may need to create one on platforms like GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket. 

Conclusion

Migrating from SVN to Git can rejuvenate your project with new possibilities for collaboration and version control. By following these steps, you can ensure a smooth transition while maintaining the complete history of your development efforts. We invite you to share with us your experiences and any issues you encounter during your migration. Happy coding!