an obstructing working copy was found
<p>I've tried understanding why this is happening yet I don't know. Yet I can explain how to reproduce the issue.</p>

<p>Firstly, I make a project (with folders inside it which are trunk, branches and tags) and add it to a repository. I change directory to the trunk. I add the a file to version control then make a commit. Then I decide to make a branch ( q: does it matter what directory i'm in while I create a branch? ). I change directory to the project ( by this I mean if do ls I see branches, tags and trunk). And while in the project directory I do</p>

<pre><code>svn copy https://repoURL/project_name/trunk/ https://repoURL/project_name/branches/newBranch -m "making new branch"
</code></pre>

<p>now I change directory to branches/newBranch and do </p>

<pre><code>svn co https://repoURL/project_name/branches/newBranch
</code></pre>

<p>and then I decide to change directory to the project ( by this I mean if do ls I see branches, tags and trunk) and then I do svn update. This is where the message an obstructing working copy was found.</p>

<p>I tried searching around however, nothing really explained WHY. Everything was how to solve it. I want to know why so I can prevent it in the first place.</p>

<p>Many thanks.</p>

<pre><code>    $ svn update
Updating '.':
Skipped 'branches/newBranch' -- An obstructing working copy was found
At revision 30.
Summary of conflicts:
  Skipped paths: 1
</code></pre>