Macports version of svnserve doesn't work with launchd

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The version of svnserve that was build with MacPorts doesn't function correctly with Apple's launchd. Other builds of svnserve of the same version 1.6.13 obtained from for example CollabNet ​http://www.open.collab.net/downloads/community/ in binary form do work with launchd. As these binaries are build from the same 1.6.13 Subversion source I think the problem lies in the building and not in Subversion itself. Hence I report it here.

Problem:

After adding svnserve to lauchd, clients get the following message on for example an svn list command: "svn: Malformed network data". Svnserve is started by launchd but the request is not handled correctly.

Steps to reproduce:

• Modify repository path in attached plist to your liking
• Store attached launchd plist in /Libray/LaunchDaemons
• Load with sudo launchctl load org.tigris.Subversion.plist
• Start with sudo launchctl start org.tigris.subversion.svnserve
• Execute svn list ​svn://127.0.0.1/..your.repo.path../trunk

Replacing only the location of svnserve in the plist to the version downloaded and installed from either CollabNet (same version 1.6.13) or the older version Apple ships will solve the problem. Only the MacPorts version doesn't work.

If svnserve is started manually it is working fine.

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Launchd plist for svnserve

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Cc Me!

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You may also need to change the 'UserName' and 'GroupName' keys in the plist to match the security settings on your repository folder.

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I've tested this on 2 machines with the following specs:

• iMac 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, OS/X 10.6.4, XCode 3.2.2
• Mac mini Server 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, OS/X Server 10.6.4, XCode 3.2.4