Recently I was checking in some code to the SVN on Google Code (for a project I’ll be posting about another day). I love Google Code because it’s a great and easy to use public code host. On top of that you get a nice little web interface and bug tracker. For the low low cost of free, what more could you ask for? Oh yea… that it worked.
When I tried to check in my code, I got the following error message:
svn: Commit failed (details follow):<br />
svn: Server sent unexpected return value (405 Method Not Allowed) in response to MKACTIVITY request for '/svn/!svn/act/fc56465d-4019-47f4-9313-e6db5088f7c6'<br />
svn: Your commit message was left in a temporary file:<br />
svn: '/home/jon/code-repo/svn-commit.tmp'
I could write an epic blog post here that would remind you of the Iliad and the Odyssey, but we can cut to the chase today. The problem turns out to be user error. When I checked out the code, I wasn’t logged into google code and had checked it out using HTTP. In order to commit code you much check in and out via HTTPS (note the S, as in SSL). The simplest solution for me was to re-checkout the code using an https:// URL and copy over my modified files. Bang! Commit worked perfectly.
It’s a little embarrassing, but let’s be realistic here. Google runs a web property that is used by BILLIONS of people. Sure, they’ve had their downtime issues, but for the most part if you’re having a problem with a Google product, PEBKAC.