Arch Linux

thejavascriptman

Member

Registered: 2020-02-11

Posts: 25

[SOLVED] Difference between using asp and cloning a single branch?

The asp utility is recommended by the ArchWiki but I see no reason why use it over git, for example if I would like to clone the "linux" package I would simply use

git clone --single-branch --branch packages/linux https://github.com/archlinux/svntogit-packages.git

The only difference I can see is when using pure git, the cloned repo uses slightly more disk space (about 2.3MB more), however I do not understand the reason of adding another layer of complexity (asp) just to save some MB.

* What is the reason to use asp?
* Also, should I trust any package under https://github.com/archlinux/svntogit-community and https://github.com/archlinux/svntogit-packages ?

Last edited by thejavascriptman (2020-12-03 12:06:53)

Scimmia

Fellow

Registered: 2012-09-01

Posts: 11,541

Re: [SOLVED] Difference between using asp and cloning a single branch?

The difference is mostly just simplicity. The savings you're seeing is probably because asp can also grab a snapshot instead of the actual git repo.
I too use git directly, never touched asp.

sshaikh

Member

Registered: 2019-07-03

Posts: 53

Re: [SOLVED] Difference between using asp and cloning a single branch?

One point is that asp is aware of what you're tracking (via its cache), so the update command can be run from anywhere to update all tracked repos.

I stuck to git too, and further use subtree to reduce the repo to a standalone AUR-like repo:

git subtree split -P trunk/ -b trunk
#push it somewhere, rename the branch if required
git push http://git-server/arch-packages/package.git trunk:master

thejavascriptman

Member

Registered: 2020-02-11

Posts: 25

Re: [SOLVED] Difference between using asp and cloning a single branch?

Thanks for the explanations, I just learned about git subtree and works great for my case.