Step-by-Step Guide: Install SVN 1.14.3 on Apple M1, M2, and M3 Macs

Apache Subversion (SVN) is a powerful version control system widely used for managing source code and collaborative projects. If you’re using an Apple Silicon Mac (M1, M2, or M3), installing SVN requires a few specific steps. This tutorial will guide you through the process, ensuring you have SVN 1.14.3 up and running in no time.

Prerequisites

Apple Silicon Mac (M1, M2, or M3)
Terminal Access
Homebrew Installed

Note: If you haven’t installed Homebrew yet, follow this quick setup guide: Mastering Homebrew: Quick Setup on Mac M1, M2, and M3.

Step 1: Open Terminal

Launch the Terminal application on your Mac. You can find it by:

Pressing Command (⌘) + Space to open Spotlight Search, then typing “Terminal”.
Or navigating to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.

Step 2: Update Homebrew

Before installing SVN, ensure that Homebrew is up to date.

brew update

This command fetches the latest list of available packages and updates Homebrew itself if necessary.

Step 3: Install SVN 1.14.3

Install SVN using Homebrew with the following command:

brew install svn

Homebrew will download and install SVN 1.14.3 (or the latest available version) along with any required dependencies.

Step 4: Verify the Installation

After the installation completes, verify that SVN is installed correctly:

svn --version

You should see output similar to:

svn, version 1.14.3 (r1886195)

Step 5: Configure Your Environment (Optional)

If you plan to use SVN frequently, consider adding it to your shell profile for easy access.

Zsh Users (default on macOS Catalina and later):

echo 'export PATH="/usr/local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc

Bash Users:

echo 'export PATH="/usr/local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.bash_profile
source ~/.bash_profile

Step 6: Test SVN Functionality

Create a test directory and initialize an SVN repository to ensure everything is working properly.

mkdir svn-test
cd svn-test
svnadmin create test-repo

Troubleshooting

Command Not Found: If you receive a “command not found” error when running svn, ensure that /usr/local/bin is in your PATH.
Permission Issues: If you encounter permission errors, try running the command with sudo, although this is generally not recommended with Homebrew.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve successfully installed SVN 1.14.3 on your Apple Silicon Mac. You’re now ready to manage your projects with one of the most reliable version control systems available.

Additional Resources

Official SVN Documentation: Apache Subversion
Homebrew Package Manager: Homebrew Website
Homebrew Setup Guide: Mastering Homebrew: Quick Setup on Mac M1, M2, and M3

Feel free to share this guide with colleagues or friends who might find it helpful. Happy coding!