Question

After I installed the SVN plugin in Eclipse and restarted it, a message appeared asking to install a connector. There are SVN Kit and Native JavaHL connectors. I am confused which one to install and why, can any one please guide me.

Answer 1

The two connectors should both work, here are the differences (more from experience by using them, not by reading their source code):

• SVN Kit:
  • Works on all platforms, is a Java-only implementation (no need for DLLs or shared libraries).
  • Is a little bit slower than JavaHL Native.
  • Keeps its configuration at some other place than a real subversion client like TortoiseSVN (on windows). So if you need both, you have to keep that in mind.
• JavaHL Native:
  • Needs a shared library (DLL), that has the same major version as the installed Subversion client. So if you use SVN command client 1.6.x, you should install / use the corresponding JavaHL version.
  • Is easy to use under Windows, more difficult to find the right version for Linux or Mac OS X (see Subclipse Wiki: JavaHL
  • Is faster and uses the same configuration as the installed SVN command client or TortoiseSVN client.

So you may install both, and switch between them under Windows > Preferences > Team > SVN > SVN Connector. I have used both and did not notice much difference in my normal word, only in special circumstances. If JavaHL fits in, it is the better connector in my opinion.