Cvs

How to Recursively Add CVS Directories with Ease

If you’ve recently dived into the world of CVS (Concurrent Versions System) and found yourself stumped on how to add directories that contain other directories, you’re not alone. Many users struggle with the limitations of the cvs add command, which only allows adding the contents of the current directory. In this blog post, we’ll explore a straightforward way to address this issue and make your version control tasks a breeze.

The Problem with CVS Directory Addition

When working with CVS, you might have realized that adding directories and their nested contents isn’t as straightforward as it seems. For instance:

Using cvs add: This command only processes files in the current directory. If you have a nested folder structure, you’ll have to run cvs add multiple times for each subdirectory.
Using cvs import: This is more suited for third-party sources and may not be applicable for your own codebase, making it less than ideal for your needs.

This leads to frustration and can consume valuable time, especially in large projects with complex directory structures. Fortunately, there is a reliable solution to efficiently add files and folders recursively.

The Solution: Using the `find` and `xargs` Commands

To add all directories and their nested files to your CVS project, you can utilize a combination of Unix command-line tools: find and xargs. This approach is not only powerful but also ensures that everything is added in one go. Here’s how you can do it:

Step-by-Step Guide

Open Your Terminal: Start by launching your terminal application. Make sure that you are in the root of the project directory that you want to work on.
Run the Command: Execute the following command:
```
find . -type f -print0 | xargs -0 cvs add
```
- Explanation:
  - find .: This command searches for files starting from the current directory (.).
  - -type f: This flag indicates that you only want to find files (not directories).
  - -print0: This option produces output with a null character after each file, which helps in handling file names with spaces.
  - xargs -0: This takes the generated null-terminated list of files from find and passes them to cvs add.

Important Notes

Spaces in Filenames: The command accommodates spaces in filenames, thanks to the -print0 and -0 options, ensuring that even complex file names are properly handled.
Check CVS Version: Ensure your CVS client is up-to-date to avoid any compatibility issues.

Conclusion

With the method described above, adding directories and their contents recursively to your CVS project becomes a simple task. No more manually adding each subdirectory; a single command will handle it all for you. This not only saves time but also decreases the likelihood of omissions during the process.

If you find that this solution falls short for your needs, you may want to explore other version control systems like SVN or Git, which have more intuitive command structures for handling directories. However, if you’re sticking with CVS, the find and xargs combination will undoubtedly improve your workflow.