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= How to sync your ports tree using Subversion (over HTTP) =

 * Audience: end users who cannot use rsync (873/tcp) due to firewalls, proxies, policy, etc. 
 * Requires: MacPorts
 * Requires: Subversion 

OS X 10.5 Leopard and later comes with Subversion already installed. If you are using Tiger, or some other system which does not provide a Subversion client, you will need to install Subversion yourself. If you have a copy of the ports tree already, just run:
{{{
sudo port install subversion
}}}
If you do not have a copy of the ports tree, you can download the daily tarball by following [wiki:howto/PortTreeTarball the tarball howto].

== Introduction ==

Some people live and work behind a firewall or proxy that blocks or otherwise breaks rsync, which is the primary means of getting updated portfiles in MacPorts. The following steps will switch your tree over to using Subversion (over https) for syncing. 

Note: replace "$prefix" with the location of your MacPorts install, which defaults to /opt/local.

== Installation ==

=== Step 1: '''Checkout Initial Copy''' ===
{{{
cd $prefix/var/macports/sources
mkdir -p svn.macports.org/trunk/dports
cd svn.macports.org/trunk/dports 
svn co https://svn.macports.org/repository/macports/trunk/dports/ .
}}}
If you prefer, the repository is also available via HTTP:
{{{
svn co http://svn.macports.org/repository/macports/trunk/dports/ .
}}}

== Configuration ==

=== Step 2: '''Configure MacPorts''' ===
Edit $prefix/etc/macports/sources.conf to comment out the rsync entry and add the "file" entry:

Note: don't forget to replace $prefix.

{{{
#rsync://rsync.macports.org/release/ports/ [default]
file://$prefix/var/macports/sources/svn.macports.org/trunk/dports/ [default]
}}}



== Optional Parts ==

=== Step 3: '''Test Sync''' ===
Run sync in debug mode and watch for "svn update" instead of "rsync" being used:

{{{
port -d sync 
}}}


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