6 git - the stupid content tracker
12 'git' [--version] [--help] [-C <path>] [-c <name>=<value>]
13 [--exec-path[=<path>]] [--html-path] [--man-path] [--info-path]
14 [-p|--paginate|--no-pager] [--no-replace-objects] [--bare]
15 [--git-dir=<path>] [--work-tree=<path>] [--namespace=<name>]
20 Git is a fast, scalable, distributed revision control system with an
21 unusually rich command set that provides both high-level operations
22 and full access to internals.
24 See linkgit:gittutorial[7] to get started, then see
25 link:everyday.html[Everyday Git] for a useful minimum set of
26 commands. The link:user-manual.html[Git User's Manual] has a more
27 in-depth introduction.
29 After you mastered the basic concepts, you can come back to this
30 page to learn what commands Git offers. You can learn more about
31 individual Git commands with "git help command". linkgit:gitcli[7]
32 manual page gives you an overview of the command line command syntax.
34 Formatted and hyperlinked version of the latest Git documentation
35 can be viewed at `http://git-htmldocs.googlecode.com/git/git.html`.
41 You are reading the documentation for the latest (possibly
42 unreleased) version of Git, that is available from 'master'
43 branch of the `git.git` repository.
44 Documentation for older releases are available here:
46 * link:v2.0.2/git.html[documentation for release 2.0.2]
49 link:RelNotes/2.0.2.txt[2.0.2],
50 link:RelNotes/2.0.1.txt[2.0.1],
51 link:RelNotes/2.0.0.txt[2.0.0].
53 * link:v1.9.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.9.4]
56 link:RelNotes/1.9.4.txt[1.9.4],
57 link:RelNotes/1.9.3.txt[1.9.3],
58 link:RelNotes/1.9.2.txt[1.9.2],
59 link:RelNotes/1.9.1.txt[1.9.1],
60 link:RelNotes/1.9.0.txt[1.9.0].
62 * link:v1.8.5.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.5.5]
65 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.5.txt[1.8.5.5],
66 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.4.txt[1.8.5.4],
67 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.3.txt[1.8.5.3],
68 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.2.txt[1.8.5.2],
69 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.1.txt[1.8.5.1],
70 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.txt[1.8.5].
72 * link:v1.8.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.4.5]
75 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.5.txt[1.8.4.5],
76 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.4.txt[1.8.4.4],
77 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.3.txt[1.8.4.3],
78 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.2.txt[1.8.4.2],
79 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.1.txt[1.8.4.1],
80 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.txt[1.8.4].
82 * link:v1.8.3.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.3.4]
85 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.4.txt[1.8.3.4],
86 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.3.txt[1.8.3.3],
87 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.2.txt[1.8.3.2],
88 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.1.txt[1.8.3.1],
89 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.txt[1.8.3].
91 * link:v1.8.2.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.2.3]
94 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.3.txt[1.8.2.3],
95 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.2.txt[1.8.2.2],
96 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.1.txt[1.8.2.1],
97 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.txt[1.8.2].
99 * link:v1.8.1.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.1.6]
102 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.6.txt[1.8.1.6],
103 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.5.txt[1.8.1.5],
104 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.4.txt[1.8.1.4],
105 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.3.txt[1.8.1.3],
106 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.2.txt[1.8.1.2],
107 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.1.txt[1.8.1.1],
108 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.txt[1.8.1].
110 * link:v1.8.0.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.0.3]
113 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.3.txt[1.8.0.3],
114 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.2.txt[1.8.0.2],
115 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.1.txt[1.8.0.1],
116 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.txt[1.8.0].
118 * link:v1.7.12.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.12.4]
121 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.4.txt[1.7.12.4],
122 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.3.txt[1.7.12.3],
123 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.2.txt[1.7.12.2],
124 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.1.txt[1.7.12.1],
125 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.txt[1.7.12].
127 * link:v1.7.11.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.11.7]
130 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.7.txt[1.7.11.7],
131 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.6.txt[1.7.11.6],
132 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.5.txt[1.7.11.5],
133 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.4.txt[1.7.11.4],
134 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.3.txt[1.7.11.3],
135 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.2.txt[1.7.11.2],
136 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.1.txt[1.7.11.1],
137 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.txt[1.7.11].
139 * link:v1.7.10.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.10.5]
142 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.5.txt[1.7.10.5],
143 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.4.txt[1.7.10.4],
144 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.3.txt[1.7.10.3],
145 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.2.txt[1.7.10.2],
146 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.1.txt[1.7.10.1],
147 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.txt[1.7.10].
149 * link:v1.7.9.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.9.7]
152 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.7.txt[1.7.9.7],
153 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.6.txt[1.7.9.6],
154 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.5.txt[1.7.9.5],
155 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.4.txt[1.7.9.4],
156 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.3.txt[1.7.9.3],
157 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.2.txt[1.7.9.2],
158 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.1.txt[1.7.9.1],
159 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.txt[1.7.9].
161 * link:v1.7.8.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.8.6]
164 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.6.txt[1.7.8.6],
165 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.5.txt[1.7.8.5],
166 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.4.txt[1.7.8.4],
167 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.3.txt[1.7.8.3],
168 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.2.txt[1.7.8.2],
169 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.1.txt[1.7.8.1],
170 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.txt[1.7.8].
172 * link:v1.7.7.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.7.7]
175 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.7.txt[1.7.7.7],
176 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.6.txt[1.7.7.6],
177 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.5.txt[1.7.7.5],
178 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.4.txt[1.7.7.4],
179 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.3.txt[1.7.7.3],
180 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.2.txt[1.7.7.2],
181 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.1.txt[1.7.7.1],
182 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.txt[1.7.7].
184 * link:v1.7.6.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.6.6]
187 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.6.txt[1.7.6.6],
188 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.5.txt[1.7.6.5],
189 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.4.txt[1.7.6.4],
190 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.3.txt[1.7.6.3],
191 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.2.txt[1.7.6.2],
192 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.1.txt[1.7.6.1],
193 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.txt[1.7.6].
195 * link:v1.7.5.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.5.4]
198 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.4.txt[1.7.5.4],
199 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.3.txt[1.7.5.3],
200 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.2.txt[1.7.5.2],
201 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.1.txt[1.7.5.1],
202 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.txt[1.7.5].
204 * link:v1.7.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.4.5]
207 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.5.txt[1.7.4.5],
208 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.4.txt[1.7.4.4],
209 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.3.txt[1.7.4.3],
210 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.2.txt[1.7.4.2],
211 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.1.txt[1.7.4.1],
212 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.txt[1.7.4].
214 * link:v1.7.3.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.3.5]
217 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.5.txt[1.7.3.5],
218 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.4.txt[1.7.3.4],
219 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.3.txt[1.7.3.3],
220 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.2.txt[1.7.3.2],
221 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.1.txt[1.7.3.1],
222 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.txt[1.7.3].
224 * link:v1.7.2.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.2.5]
227 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.5.txt[1.7.2.5],
228 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.4.txt[1.7.2.4],
229 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.3.txt[1.7.2.3],
230 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.2.txt[1.7.2.2],
231 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.1.txt[1.7.2.1],
232 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.txt[1.7.2].
234 * link:v1.7.1.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.1.4]
237 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.4.txt[1.7.1.4],
238 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.3.txt[1.7.1.3],
239 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.2.txt[1.7.1.2],
240 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.1.txt[1.7.1.1],
241 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.txt[1.7.1].
243 * link:v1.7.0.9/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.0.9]
246 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.9.txt[1.7.0.9],
247 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.8.txt[1.7.0.8],
248 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.7.txt[1.7.0.7],
249 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.6.txt[1.7.0.6],
250 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.5.txt[1.7.0.5],
251 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.4.txt[1.7.0.4],
252 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.3.txt[1.7.0.3],
253 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.2.txt[1.7.0.2],
254 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.1.txt[1.7.0.1],
255 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.txt[1.7.0].
257 * link:v1.6.6.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.6.3]
260 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.3.txt[1.6.6.3],
261 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.2.txt[1.6.6.2],
262 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.1.txt[1.6.6.1],
263 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.txt[1.6.6].
265 * link:v1.6.5.9/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.5.9]
268 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.9.txt[1.6.5.9],
269 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.8.txt[1.6.5.8],
270 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.7.txt[1.6.5.7],
271 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.6.txt[1.6.5.6],
272 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.5.txt[1.6.5.5],
273 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.4.txt[1.6.5.4],
274 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.3.txt[1.6.5.3],
275 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.2.txt[1.6.5.2],
276 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.1.txt[1.6.5.1],
277 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.txt[1.6.5].
279 * link:v1.6.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.4.5]
282 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.5.txt[1.6.4.5],
283 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.4.txt[1.6.4.4],
284 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.3.txt[1.6.4.3],
285 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.2.txt[1.6.4.2],
286 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.1.txt[1.6.4.1],
287 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.txt[1.6.4].
289 * link:v1.6.3.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.3.4]
292 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.4.txt[1.6.3.4],
293 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.3.txt[1.6.3.3],
294 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.2.txt[1.6.3.2],
295 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.1.txt[1.6.3.1],
296 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.txt[1.6.3].
299 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.5.txt[1.6.2.5],
300 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.4.txt[1.6.2.4],
301 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.3.txt[1.6.2.3],
302 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.2.txt[1.6.2.2],
303 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.1.txt[1.6.2.1],
304 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.txt[1.6.2].
306 * link:v1.6.1.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.1.3]
309 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.3.txt[1.6.1.3],
310 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.2.txt[1.6.1.2],
311 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.1.txt[1.6.1.1],
312 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.txt[1.6.1].
314 * link:v1.6.0.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.0.6]
317 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.6.txt[1.6.0.6],
318 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.5.txt[1.6.0.5],
319 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.4.txt[1.6.0.4],
320 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.3.txt[1.6.0.3],
321 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.2.txt[1.6.0.2],
322 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.1.txt[1.6.0.1],
323 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.txt[1.6.0].
325 * link:v1.5.6.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.6.6]
328 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.6.txt[1.5.6.6],
329 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.5.txt[1.5.6.5],
330 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.4.txt[1.5.6.4],
331 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.3.txt[1.5.6.3],
332 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.2.txt[1.5.6.2],
333 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.1.txt[1.5.6.1],
334 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.txt[1.5.6].
336 * link:v1.5.5.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.5.6]
339 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.6.txt[1.5.5.6],
340 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.5.txt[1.5.5.5],
341 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.4.txt[1.5.5.4],
342 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.3.txt[1.5.5.3],
343 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.2.txt[1.5.5.2],
344 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.1.txt[1.5.5.1],
345 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.txt[1.5.5].
347 * link:v1.5.4.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.4.7]
350 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.7.txt[1.5.4.7],
351 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.6.txt[1.5.4.6],
352 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.5.txt[1.5.4.5],
353 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.4.txt[1.5.4.4],
354 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.3.txt[1.5.4.3],
355 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.2.txt[1.5.4.2],
356 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.1.txt[1.5.4.1],
357 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.txt[1.5.4].
359 * link:v1.5.3.8/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.3.8]
362 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.8.txt[1.5.3.8],
363 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.7.txt[1.5.3.7],
364 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.6.txt[1.5.3.6],
365 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.5.txt[1.5.3.5],
366 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.4.txt[1.5.3.4],
367 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.3.txt[1.5.3.3],
368 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.2.txt[1.5.3.2],
369 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.1.txt[1.5.3.1],
370 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.txt[1.5.3].
372 * link:v1.5.2.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.2.5]
375 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.5.txt[1.5.2.5],
376 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.4.txt[1.5.2.4],
377 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.3.txt[1.5.2.3],
378 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.2.txt[1.5.2.2],
379 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.1.txt[1.5.2.1],
380 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.txt[1.5.2].
382 * link:v1.5.1.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.1.6]
385 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.6.txt[1.5.1.6],
386 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.5.txt[1.5.1.5],
387 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.4.txt[1.5.1.4],
388 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.3.txt[1.5.1.3],
389 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.2.txt[1.5.1.2],
390 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.1.txt[1.5.1.1],
391 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.txt[1.5.1].
393 * link:v1.5.0.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.0.7]
396 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.7.txt[1.5.0.7],
397 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.6.txt[1.5.0.6],
398 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.5.txt[1.5.0.5],
399 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.3.txt[1.5.0.3],
400 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.2.txt[1.5.0.2],
401 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.1.txt[1.5.0.1],
402 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.txt[1.5.0].
404 * documentation for release link:v1.4.4.4/git.html[1.4.4.4],
405 link:v1.3.3/git.html[1.3.3],
406 link:v1.2.6/git.html[1.2.6],
407 link:v1.0.13/git.html[1.0.13].
416 Prints the Git suite version that the 'git' program came from.
419 Prints the synopsis and a list of the most commonly used
420 commands. If the option '--all' or '-a' is given then all
421 available commands are printed. If a Git command is named this
422 option will bring up the manual page for that command.
424 Other options are available to control how the manual page is
425 displayed. See linkgit:git-help[1] for more information,
426 because `git --help ...` is converted internally into `git
430 Run as if git was started in '<path>' instead of the current working
431 directory. When multiple `-C` options are given, each subsequent
432 non-absolute `-C <path>` is interpreted relative to the preceding `-C
435 This option affects options that expect path name like `--git-dir` and
436 `--work-tree` in that their interpretations of the path names would be
437 made relative to the working directory caused by the `-C` option. For
438 example the following invocations are equivalent:
440 git --git-dir=a.git --work-tree=b -C c status
441 git --git-dir=c/a.git --work-tree=c/b status
444 Pass a configuration parameter to the command. The value
445 given will override values from configuration files.
446 The <name> is expected in the same format as listed by
447 'git config' (subkeys separated by dots).
449 --exec-path[=<path>]::
450 Path to wherever your core Git programs are installed.
451 This can also be controlled by setting the GIT_EXEC_PATH
452 environment variable. If no path is given, 'git' will print
453 the current setting and then exit.
456 Print the path, without trailing slash, where Git's HTML
457 documentation is installed and exit.
460 Print the manpath (see `man(1)`) for the man pages for
461 this version of Git and exit.
464 Print the path where the Info files documenting this
465 version of Git are installed and exit.
469 Pipe all output into 'less' (or if set, $PAGER) if standard
470 output is a terminal. This overrides the `pager.<cmd>`
471 configuration options (see the "Configuration Mechanism" section
475 Do not pipe Git output into a pager.
478 Set the path to the repository. This can also be controlled by
479 setting the GIT_DIR environment variable. It can be an absolute
480 path or relative path to current working directory.
483 Set the path to the working tree. It can be an absolute path
484 or a path relative to the current working directory.
485 This can also be controlled by setting the GIT_WORK_TREE
486 environment variable and the core.worktree configuration
487 variable (see core.worktree in linkgit:git-config[1] for a
488 more detailed discussion).
491 Set the Git namespace. See linkgit:gitnamespaces[7] for more
492 details. Equivalent to setting the `GIT_NAMESPACE` environment
496 Treat the repository as a bare repository. If GIT_DIR
497 environment is not set, it is set to the current working
500 --no-replace-objects::
501 Do not use replacement refs to replace Git objects. See
502 linkgit:git-replace[1] for more information.
504 --literal-pathspecs::
505 Treat pathspecs literally (i.e. no globbing, no pathspec magic).
506 This is equivalent to setting the `GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS` environment
510 Add "glob" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
511 the `GIT_GLOB_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`. Disabling
512 globbing on individual pathspecs can be done using pathspec
516 Add "literal" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
517 the `GIT_NOGLOB_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`. Enabling
518 globbing on individual pathspecs can be done using pathspec
522 Add "icase" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
523 the `GIT_ICASE_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`.
528 We divide Git into high level ("porcelain") commands and low level
529 ("plumbing") commands.
531 High-level commands (porcelain)
532 -------------------------------
534 We separate the porcelain commands into the main commands and some
535 ancillary user utilities.
537 Main porcelain commands
538 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
540 include::cmds-mainporcelain.txt[]
546 include::cmds-ancillarymanipulators.txt[]
550 include::cmds-ancillaryinterrogators.txt[]
553 Interacting with Others
554 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
556 These commands are to interact with foreign SCM and with other
557 people via patch over e-mail.
559 include::cmds-foreignscminterface.txt[]
562 Low-level commands (plumbing)
563 -----------------------------
565 Although Git includes its
566 own porcelain layer, its low-level commands are sufficient to support
567 development of alternative porcelains. Developers of such porcelains
568 might start by reading about linkgit:git-update-index[1] and
569 linkgit:git-read-tree[1].
571 The interface (input, output, set of options and the semantics)
572 to these low-level commands are meant to be a lot more stable
573 than Porcelain level commands, because these commands are
574 primarily for scripted use. The interface to Porcelain commands
575 on the other hand are subject to change in order to improve the
578 The following description divides
579 the low-level commands into commands that manipulate objects (in
580 the repository, index, and working tree), commands that interrogate and
581 compare objects, and commands that move objects and references between
585 Manipulation commands
586 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
588 include::cmds-plumbingmanipulators.txt[]
591 Interrogation commands
592 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
594 include::cmds-plumbinginterrogators.txt[]
596 In general, the interrogate commands do not touch the files in
600 Synching repositories
601 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
603 include::cmds-synchingrepositories.txt[]
605 The following are helper commands used by the above; end users
606 typically do not use them directly.
608 include::cmds-synchelpers.txt[]
611 Internal helper commands
612 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
614 These are internal helper commands used by other commands; end
615 users typically do not use them directly.
617 include::cmds-purehelpers.txt[]
620 Configuration Mechanism
621 -----------------------
623 Git uses a simple text format to store customizations that are per
624 repository and are per user. Such a configuration file may look
629 # A '#' or ';' character indicates a comment.
634 ; Don't trust file modes
639 name = "Junio C Hamano"
640 email = "gitster@pobox.com"
644 Various commands read from the configuration file and adjust
645 their operation accordingly. See linkgit:git-config[1] for a
646 list and more details about the configuration mechanism.
649 Identifier Terminology
650 ----------------------
652 Indicates the object name for any type of object.
655 Indicates a blob object name.
658 Indicates a tree object name.
661 Indicates a commit object name.
664 Indicates a tree, commit or tag object name. A
665 command that takes a <tree-ish> argument ultimately wants to
666 operate on a <tree> object but automatically dereferences
667 <commit> and <tag> objects that point at a <tree>.
670 Indicates a commit or tag object name. A
671 command that takes a <commit-ish> argument ultimately wants to
672 operate on a <commit> object but automatically dereferences
673 <tag> objects that point at a <commit>.
676 Indicates that an object type is required.
677 Currently one of: `blob`, `tree`, `commit`, or `tag`.
680 Indicates a filename - almost always relative to the
681 root of the tree structure `GIT_INDEX_FILE` describes.
685 Any Git command accepting any <object> can also use the following
689 indicates the head of the current branch.
693 (i.e. a `refs/tags/<tag>` reference).
697 (i.e. a `refs/heads/<head>` reference).
699 For a more complete list of ways to spell object names, see
700 "SPECIFYING REVISIONS" section in linkgit:gitrevisions[7].
703 File/Directory Structure
704 ------------------------
706 Please see the linkgit:gitrepository-layout[5] document.
708 Read linkgit:githooks[5] for more details about each hook.
710 Higher level SCMs may provide and manage additional information in the
716 Please see linkgit:gitglossary[7].
719 Environment Variables
720 ---------------------
721 Various Git commands use the following environment variables:
725 These environment variables apply to 'all' core Git commands. Nb: it
726 is worth noting that they may be used/overridden by SCMS sitting above
727 Git so take care if using Cogito etc.
730 This environment allows the specification of an alternate
731 index file. If not specified, the default of `$GIT_DIR/index`
734 'GIT_INDEX_VERSION'::
735 This environment variable allows the specification of an index
736 version for new repositories. It won't affect existing index
737 files. By default index file version [23] is used.
739 'GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY'::
740 If the object storage directory is specified via this
741 environment variable then the sha1 directories are created
742 underneath - otherwise the default `$GIT_DIR/objects`
745 'GIT_ALTERNATE_OBJECT_DIRECTORIES'::
746 Due to the immutable nature of Git objects, old objects can be
747 archived into shared, read-only directories. This variable
748 specifies a ":" separated (on Windows ";" separated) list
749 of Git object directories which can be used to search for Git
750 objects. New objects will not be written to these directories.
753 If the 'GIT_DIR' environment variable is set then it
754 specifies a path to use instead of the default `.git`
755 for the base of the repository.
756 The '--git-dir' command-line option also sets this value.
759 Set the path to the root of the working tree.
760 This can also be controlled by the '--work-tree' command line
761 option and the core.worktree configuration variable.
764 Set the Git namespace; see linkgit:gitnamespaces[7] for details.
765 The '--namespace' command-line option also sets this value.
767 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES'::
768 This should be a colon-separated list of absolute paths. If
769 set, it is a list of directories that Git should not chdir up
770 into while looking for a repository directory (useful for
771 excluding slow-loading network directories). It will not
772 exclude the current working directory or a GIT_DIR set on the
773 command line or in the environment. Normally, Git has to read
774 the entries in this list and resolve any symlink that
775 might be present in order to compare them with the current
776 directory. However, if even this access is slow, you
777 can add an empty entry to the list to tell Git that the
778 subsequent entries are not symlinks and needn't be resolved;
780 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES=/maybe/symlink::/very/slow/non/symlink'.
782 'GIT_DISCOVERY_ACROSS_FILESYSTEM'::
783 When run in a directory that does not have ".git" repository
784 directory, Git tries to find such a directory in the parent
785 directories to find the top of the working tree, but by default it
786 does not cross filesystem boundaries. This environment variable
787 can be set to true to tell Git not to stop at filesystem
788 boundaries. Like 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES', this will not affect
789 an explicit repository directory set via 'GIT_DIR' or on the
797 'GIT_COMMITTER_NAME'::
798 'GIT_COMMITTER_EMAIL'::
799 'GIT_COMMITTER_DATE'::
801 see linkgit:git-commit-tree[1]
806 Only valid setting is "--unified=??" or "-u??" to set the
807 number of context lines shown when a unified diff is created.
808 This takes precedence over any "-U" or "--unified" option
809 value passed on the Git diff command line.
811 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF'::
812 When the environment variable 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is set, the
813 program named by it is called, instead of the diff invocation
814 described above. For a path that is added, removed, or modified,
815 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called with 7 parameters:
817 path old-file old-hex old-mode new-file new-hex new-mode
821 <old|new>-file:: are files GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF can use to read the
822 contents of <old|new>,
823 <old|new>-hex:: are the 40-hexdigit SHA-1 hashes,
824 <old|new>-mode:: are the octal representation of the file modes.
826 The file parameters can point at the user's working file
827 (e.g. `new-file` in "git-diff-files"), `/dev/null` (e.g. `old-file`
828 when a new file is added), or a temporary file (e.g. `old-file` in the
829 index). 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' should not worry about unlinking the
830 temporary file --- it is removed when 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' exits.
832 For a path that is unmerged, 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called with 1
835 For each path 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called, two environment variables,
836 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_COUNTER' and 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_TOTAL' are set.
838 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_COUNTER'::
839 A 1-based counter incremented by one for every path.
841 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_TOTAL'::
842 The total number of paths.
846 'GIT_MERGE_VERBOSITY'::
847 A number controlling the amount of output shown by
848 the recursive merge strategy. Overrides merge.verbosity.
849 See linkgit:git-merge[1]
852 This environment variable overrides `$PAGER`. If it is set
853 to an empty string or to the value "cat", Git will not launch
854 a pager. See also the `core.pager` option in
855 linkgit:git-config[1].
858 This environment variable overrides `$EDITOR` and `$VISUAL`.
859 It is used by several Git commands when, on interactive mode,
860 an editor is to be launched. See also linkgit:git-var[1]
861 and the `core.editor` option in linkgit:git-config[1].
864 If this environment variable is set then 'git fetch'
865 and 'git push' will use this command instead
866 of 'ssh' when they need to connect to a remote system.
867 The '$GIT_SSH' command will be given exactly two or
868 four arguments: the 'username@host' (or just 'host')
869 from the URL and the shell command to execute on that
870 remote system, optionally preceded by '-p' (literally) and
871 the 'port' from the URL when it specifies something other
872 than the default SSH port.
874 To pass options to the program that you want to list in GIT_SSH
875 you will need to wrap the program and options into a shell script,
876 then set GIT_SSH to refer to the shell script.
878 Usually it is easier to configure any desired options through your
879 personal `.ssh/config` file. Please consult your ssh documentation
883 If this environment variable is set, then Git commands which need to
884 acquire passwords or passphrases (e.g. for HTTP or IMAP authentication)
885 will call this program with a suitable prompt as command line argument
886 and read the password from its STDOUT. See also the 'core.askpass'
887 option in linkgit:git-config[1].
889 'GIT_CONFIG_NOSYSTEM'::
890 Whether to skip reading settings from the system-wide
891 `$(prefix)/etc/gitconfig` file. This environment variable can
892 be used along with `$HOME` and `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME` to create a
893 predictable environment for a picky script, or you can set it
894 temporarily to avoid using a buggy `/etc/gitconfig` file while
895 waiting for someone with sufficient permissions to fix it.
898 If this environment variable is set to "1", then commands such
899 as 'git blame' (in incremental mode), 'git rev-list', 'git log',
900 'git check-attr' and 'git check-ignore' will
901 force a flush of the output stream after each record have been
903 variable is set to "0", the output of these commands will be done
904 using completely buffered I/O. If this environment variable is
905 not set, Git will choose buffered or record-oriented flushing
906 based on whether stdout appears to be redirected to a file or not.
909 If this variable is set to "1", "2" or "true" (comparison
910 is case insensitive), Git will print `trace:` messages on
911 stderr telling about alias expansion, built-in command
912 execution and external command execution.
913 If this variable is set to an integer value greater than 1
914 and lower than 10 (strictly) then Git will interpret this
915 value as an open file descriptor and will try to write the
916 trace messages into this file descriptor.
917 Alternatively, if this variable is set to an absolute path
918 (starting with a '/' character), Git will interpret this
919 as a file path and will try to write the trace messages
922 'GIT_TRACE_PACK_ACCESS'::
923 If this variable is set to a path, a file will be created at
924 the given path logging all accesses to any packs. For each
925 access, the pack file name and an offset in the pack is
926 recorded. This may be helpful for troubleshooting some
927 pack-related performance problems.
930 If this variable is set, it shows a trace of all packets
931 coming in or out of a given program. This can help with
932 debugging object negotiation or other protocol issues. Tracing
933 is turned off at a packet starting with "PACK".
935 GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS::
936 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
937 pathspecs literally, rather than as glob patterns. For example,
938 running `GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS=1 git log -- '*.c'` will search
939 for commits that touch the path `*.c`, not any paths that the
940 glob `*.c` matches. You might want this if you are feeding
941 literal paths to Git (e.g., paths previously given to you by
942 `git ls-tree`, `--raw` diff output, etc).
945 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
946 pathspecs as glob patterns (aka "glob" magic).
948 GIT_NOGLOB_PATHSPECS::
949 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
950 pathspecs as literal (aka "literal" magic).
952 GIT_ICASE_PATHSPECS::
953 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
954 pathspecs as case-insensitive.
956 'GIT_REFLOG_ACTION'::
957 When a ref is updated, reflog entries are created to keep
958 track of the reason why the ref was updated (which is
959 typically the name of the high-level command that updated
960 the ref), in addition to the old and new values of the ref.
961 A scripted Porcelain command can use set_reflog_action
962 helper function in `git-sh-setup` to set its name to this
963 variable when it is invoked as the top level command by the
964 end user, to be recorded in the body of the reflog.
967 Discussion[[Discussion]]
968 ------------------------
970 More detail on the following is available from the
971 link:user-manual.html#git-concepts[Git concepts chapter of the
972 user-manual] and linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7].
974 A Git project normally consists of a working directory with a ".git"
975 subdirectory at the top level. The .git directory contains, among other
976 things, a compressed object database representing the complete history
977 of the project, an "index" file which links that history to the current
978 contents of the working tree, and named pointers into that history such
979 as tags and branch heads.
981 The object database contains objects of three main types: blobs, which
982 hold file data; trees, which point to blobs and other trees to build up
983 directory hierarchies; and commits, which each reference a single tree
984 and some number of parent commits.
986 The commit, equivalent to what other systems call a "changeset" or
987 "version", represents a step in the project's history, and each parent
988 represents an immediately preceding step. Commits with more than one
989 parent represent merges of independent lines of development.
991 All objects are named by the SHA-1 hash of their contents, normally
992 written as a string of 40 hex digits. Such names are globally unique.
993 The entire history leading up to a commit can be vouched for by signing
994 just that commit. A fourth object type, the tag, is provided for this
997 When first created, objects are stored in individual files, but for
998 efficiency may later be compressed together into "pack files".
1000 Named pointers called refs mark interesting points in history. A ref
1001 may contain the SHA-1 name of an object or the name of another ref. Refs
1002 with names beginning `ref/head/` contain the SHA-1 name of the most
1003 recent commit (or "head") of a branch under development. SHA-1 names of
1004 tags of interest are stored under `ref/tags/`. A special ref named
1005 `HEAD` contains the name of the currently checked-out branch.
1007 The index file is initialized with a list of all paths and, for each
1008 path, a blob object and a set of attributes. The blob object represents
1009 the contents of the file as of the head of the current branch. The
1010 attributes (last modified time, size, etc.) are taken from the
1011 corresponding file in the working tree. Subsequent changes to the
1012 working tree can be found by comparing these attributes. The index may
1013 be updated with new content, and new commits may be created from the
1014 content stored in the index.
1016 The index is also capable of storing multiple entries (called "stages")
1017 for a given pathname. These stages are used to hold the various
1018 unmerged version of a file when a merge is in progress.
1020 FURTHER DOCUMENTATION
1021 ---------------------
1023 See the references in the "description" section to get started
1024 using Git. The following is probably more detail than necessary
1025 for a first-time user.
1027 The link:user-manual.html#git-concepts[Git concepts chapter of the
1028 user-manual] and linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7] both provide
1029 introductions to the underlying Git architecture.
1031 See linkgit:gitworkflows[7] for an overview of recommended workflows.
1033 See also the link:howto-index.html[howto] documents for some useful
1036 The internals are documented in the
1037 link:technical/api-index.html[Git API documentation].
1039 Users migrating from CVS may also want to
1040 read linkgit:gitcvs-migration[7].
1045 Git was started by Linus Torvalds, and is currently maintained by Junio
1046 C Hamano. Numerous contributions have come from the Git mailing list
1047 <git@vger.kernel.org>. http://www.ohloh.net/p/git/contributors/summary
1048 gives you a more complete list of contributors.
1050 If you have a clone of git.git itself, the
1051 output of linkgit:git-shortlog[1] and linkgit:git-blame[1] can show you
1052 the authors for specific parts of the project.
1057 Report bugs to the Git mailing list <git@vger.kernel.org> where the
1058 development and maintenance is primarily done. You do not have to be
1059 subscribed to the list to send a message there.
1063 linkgit:gittutorial[7], linkgit:gittutorial-2[7],
1064 link:everyday.html[Everyday Git], linkgit:gitcvs-migration[7],
1065 linkgit:gitglossary[7], linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7],
1066 linkgit:gitcli[7], link:user-manual.html[The Git User's Manual],
1067 linkgit:gitworkflows[7]
1071 Part of the linkgit:git[1] suite