Web Subversion repository-browsing tool, with a twist

Question

I've seen a number of questions asking about a web SVN repository-browsing tool. However, of the ones I've taken a look at, they either require a specific username/password to be configured, rely on default access to the repository being available, or require a separate user database outside Subversion.

In a corporate setting, SVN repository admins may lock down the repository so that there isn't a "guest" or "anonymous" account that has access. And if they're using the domain username/password for access to these, it's not really a great idea to embed a real user's authentication details into a configuration file like that.

Is there a Subversion repository browser that takes username/password information from the user and uses that to authenticate any SVN requests made on their behalf?

EDIT: I should state that we already have a SVN repository served through authenticated HTTPS. We access this through thick clients like TortoiseSVN and Subclipse. I'm looking for a web-based client that provides browsing through previous revisions, diffs, and so on, but which doesn't require pre-configured authentication information to connect to the repository.

Answer 1

SVN can actually be served up through Apache and allow LDAP authentication. I've set this up before.

There is a prepackaged windows snap-in like server that is kept current with SVN versions called VisualSVN, this is basically an SVN repository served through and apache wrapper with the LDAP modules built.

http://blogs.open.collab.net/svn/2007/03/subversion_ldap.html

http://www.visualsvn.com/

This would keep you from having to maintain credentials within SVN. At least passwords.

I must note, VisualSVN Server is freeware and requires no licensing

Answer 2

The next version of ViewVC, 1.1.0, supports the Subversion authz rules. This is close to release so you could grab it and use it today. Subversion has it setup on their own repository:

http://svn.collab.net/viewvc-experimental/svn/trunk/

Basically, you would just set it up with the same authentication and authorization rules that you use for the SVN repository and ViewVC will enforce all of the same rules.

Get it here:

http://www.viewvc.org/

Mark