Total size of a SVN repository?

Question

I have a SVN repository that is 8 GB when I measure the folder size on the server.

But when I check it out locally (simply checking out the full repository from the root, all branches/tags) its 50+ GB (still counting).

It seems that SVN does a good job at compressing its content. How come the size is so different?

And is there any way of computing the actual size of the repository without having to do a full checkout locally?

Answer 1

When you make a branch of a folder in repository the contents of that folder is not actually copied. No point in wasting space on mere duplication of data. For more info see the chapter about branching in the good book, especially boxed text at the end of the section Creating Branches, titled Cheap Copies.

As for the question of the actual size, there is no way to compute that that I know of, but I doubt if it is necessary. If there is no room, then make some room. Main point is that you don't need all the branches in your working copy, so checkout only what you really need.