Portable Revision Control Server (using Subversion)

[Bryscus]

Hi all,

I'm throwing out a feeler to determine what teams do for software revision control before and at competitions. Two years ago, I set up an Ubuntu linux server (no GUI, ha!) at our pit running a subversion server. It got some mild use the first year and then a bit more use last year. Next year, I plan on schooling the programmers in the way it's done in the real world.

I was wondering what methods teams use for altering software at the competitions. Are there teams that show up and make no modifications to their code (if so, I bow to thee)? Or do teams have only one programmer modifying at a time? Do you use code revision at the competitions?

I have already determined that there have been a significant number of situations that call for us to have a portable subversion server. The three main concerns were portability (size, weight, ruggedness, lack of support wires), multiple point access (a few different programmers able to connect simultaneously) and number one it had to be done on the CHEAP! After searching through IPX size motherboards, cases, and other small embedded boxes I finally came up with the simplest and most readily available platform...the Linksys router. Specifically, the WRT54G-TM (or similar variant - the TM is like a GS v3.0 with more RAM and Flash than the standard WRT54G).

So, I wonder how many people now think I'm crazy? Well, I can tell you that as of the end of last year's season, I had successfully compiled and tested a custom image of OpenWRT (linux for WRT) for the Linksys router using only the 8MB of built-in flash for storage. I was able to store both our 2009 and 2010 code repositories with enough room for at least another 6 or more years (it uses the heavily compressed file system called JFFS2). The Linksys satisfies all of my requirements beautifully. It is small, light, fairly rugged and only needs one 12V wall wart for power (could be powered from a battery too). It has a built in switch so multiple people can access it (or it could be done wirelessly) and best of all it could cost as little as $20! I bought some used TM versions from eBay for about $23, but that's atypical. One can also do an SD card modification (which I have done but not tested) to increase storage to 4GB or more. I've also installed and tested samba which allows for mapped file storage.

I have fairly thoroughly documented the whole process and was wondering if there are any other teams that would be interested in this project. I have already determined that we will try this system out in the upcoming year and I will try to provide feedback on any issues we observe. So far, it appears to run smoothly and about as fast as the linux PC we used previously (even though it's only a 200MHz processor). Any feedback would be great. Thanks.

- Bryce

P.S. I do also realize that it is possible to keep a local repository on a USB flash drive as well. This project is meant to be a safer and easier alternative.