What does "Modify files with subversion/git" mean?

Question

% rails
...
General Options:
...
-c, --svn                        Modify files with subversion. (Note: svn must be in path)
-g, --git                        Modify files with git. (Note: git must be in path)

What do these "Modify files" options do for me?

Edit: It is unclear to me what using one (or both?) of these options actually does. As in, how do they alter workflow? What svn/git commands would I then not be issuing myself, or possibly what type of more esoteric commands will I now end up having to issue? Fundamentally, where are the docs on this feature?

Answer 1

'-c' will direct rails to retrieve and store data from a subversion source code repositry. '-g' will drect reails to retrieve and store code in a git repository.

In both cases the source code repositry must be installed and configured, and, you should have previously set your local environment to point to the desired instance , project directories etc.

Answer 2

Many dewelopers use a version control system to manage their projects. For Rails apps Subversion and Git are the most popular choices, Git tending to take over these days.

These systems help teams of developers collaborate by editing files without 'stepping on each other's toes'. That is to say if 2 collaborators edit 2 different parts of the same file at the same time, both edits will safely saved.

Even solo programmers find that using svn and git brings lots of advantages.

If you modify o file, renaming it or otherwise, you need to then commit these changes to the repository. The command above saves one step by commiting the changes to the repository on top of changing the file itself.

You need to look for info about the basics of Subversion and Git. One way is to go to Github.com.

Answer 3

Looks like --git was added in r8772 in response to ticket #10690. Reading that patch is the closest thing to documentation I've found. The option applies to Rails::Generator::Commands, and does the appropriate svn add or git add for files created by script/generate.

It also does the appropriate rm or reset for things removed by script/destroy.

It does not commit any changes, only adds the files so they're tracked by the VCS.

Oh, and --git is also broken for the rails app generator, at least through rails 2.3.5.