What is a command-line client and why should I use it?

Our own Slik SVN command line client

In order to view the data in your Subversion repository, you need to install a Subversion client. This client is the interface between you and the repository.

We have our own free command line client for Windows available in our download section.

Advantages of command line clients

There are plenty of reasons to use a command line client instead of a graphical user interface (GUI), though the choice also often comes down to personal preference.

• The command line client works the same on each platform. You can use the same knowledge if you need to work on a remote system, for instance a unix system with only shell access.
• It is very fast and has a small memory footprint.
• It often does not require modifications to the system, installation of shell hooks, et cetera.
• It is very simple to integrate in batch scripts, build/continuous integration systems, or other automated applications.

Alternative client

In case you prefer a more friendly user interface for Windows, we recommend the TortoiseSVN client.

TortoiseSVN is an easy to use client that extends the Windows Explorer. Most of its functions can be accessed with a right click in Explorer.

This client is published under the GPL license which means it is completely free.