Why Daily SVN Uploads and Proper Ignoring Rules Are Crucial for Clean Code

1. Upload Code Regularly

Compile and upload to SVN before leaving work each day; update the latest SVN version each morning.

The workflow is update → compile/run → upload. Skipping any step can cause conflicts, as updated code from others may break your build. Never upload erroneous code; frequent uploads minimize loss and allow easy rollback.

Two important benefits:

Management sees daily progress.

Work is wrapped up, reducing pressure for the next day.

2. Resolve Solution Conflicts

When adding, deleting, or renaming pages, update the entire solution first, then perform the change and upload immediately to avoid conflicts.

What is a solution conflict?

csproj files define project settings for Visual Studio and MSBuild. They are used only by development tools, not at runtime. Modifying these files without proper updates leads to version conflicts.

Understanding csproj helps you see why adding or deleting pages (or classes) can cause conflicts if not synchronized.

3. Add Files to Ignore List

The following files should never be committed to SVN; add them to the ignore list locally.

3.1 Solution .suo Files

.suo

.suo stores user-specific solution options (layout, breakpoints, etc.). It can become corrupted and should be deleted if unstable; Visual Studio will recreate it.

3.2 Bin and Obj Folders

bin and obj

bin contains final compiled assemblies (Debug/Release). obj holds intermediate compilation files used for incremental builds. These are generated locally and should be ignored.

Each developer's local configuration may differ, so these files must be excluded from commits.

4. Update Before Commit

Always keep your working copy up to date and commit only after successful compilation and testing.

If others modify the same files, you may encounter merge conflicts that require joint resolution and retesting.

5. Commit Frequently

Keep commit intervals short—ideally a few hours of work.

Commit after each UI change, small feature, or bug fix to provide better safety nets.

6. Never Commit Code That Fails to Compile

Ensure code compiles locally before committing.

Consider third‑party libraries; the team must have the same dependencies installed to compile successfully.

7. Write Clear Commit Messages

Clear messages help the team track progress and locate issues quickly.

8. Exclude Auto‑Generated Files

Avoid committing locally generated files such as .classpath, Thumbs.db, .obj, .class, etc.

These can cause environment conflicts for other developers.

9. Do Not Commit Code You Do Not Understand

Unfamiliar code becomes a hidden risk; ensure you fully understand any third‑party code before adding it.

10. Use Locking Sparingly

Lock files only when necessary (e.g., non‑mergeable assets like images).

Locking prevents others from editing the file, which can reduce conflicts but may hinder teamwork.

These habits foster smoother collaborative development and higher code quality.