This aim of this note is to provide the shortest and simplest explanation of the conceptsof trunk andHEAD in a Version Control System like CVS and Subversion (SVN.)

Like in botany, trunk is a tree’s central superstructure. All branches come out of the trunk:

Trunk and branches fromhttp://www.javaworld.com/javaworld/jw-01-2008/images/svn1.jpg

Main development is performed in the trunk. Releases are branched for bug fixes and maintenance releases.

In the next diagram, the tip of the arrows for trunk and a branches are HEADs. Each branch and trunk have a HEAD.

Heads on trunk and branches fromhttp://svnbook.red-bean.com/en/1.5/svn-book.html#svn.branchmerge.using

That’s it!

2 thoughts on “Trunk vs. HEAD in Version Control Systems”

1. chalao14December 10, 2014 at 16:09

   brilliantly simple explanation

   LikeLike

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2. Pingback:The Trunk Line – The lost outpost