SVN: Ignore some directories recursively

svn propset takes --recursive as an option, so you can do this, with two downsides:

1. you have to check out the entire repository (or at least all directories therein), and
2. you have to remember to set the svn:ignore property whenever you add a new directory

add to your ~/.subversion/config or /etc/subversion/config file:

[miscellany]
global-ignores = build dist

This works for me:

 svn propset --recursive svn:ignore *.zip <dir_tree_with_no_zips>

As of subversion 1.8, there is now the svn:global-ignores property which works like svn:ignore but recursively (so set this on your top-level directory)