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:v1.9.2/git.html[documentation for release 1.9.2]
49 link:RelNotes/1.9.2.txt[1.9.2],
50 link:RelNotes/1.9.1.txt[1.9.1],
51 link:RelNotes/1.9.0.txt[1.9.0].
53 * link:v1.8.5.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.5.5]
56 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.5.txt[1.8.5.5],
57 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.4.txt[1.8.5.4],
58 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.3.txt[1.8.5.3],
59 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.2.txt[1.8.5.2],
60 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.1.txt[1.8.5.1],
61 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.txt[1.8.5].
63 * link:v1.8.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.4.5]
66 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.5.txt[1.8.4.5],
67 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.4.txt[1.8.4.4],
68 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.3.txt[1.8.4.3],
69 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.2.txt[1.8.4.2],
70 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.1.txt[1.8.4.1],
71 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.txt[1.8.4].
73 * link:v1.8.3.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.3.4]
76 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.4.txt[1.8.3.4],
77 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.3.txt[1.8.3.3],
78 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.2.txt[1.8.3.2],
79 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.1.txt[1.8.3.1],
80 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.txt[1.8.3].
82 * link:v1.8.2.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.2.3]
85 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.3.txt[1.8.2.3],
86 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.2.txt[1.8.2.2],
87 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.1.txt[1.8.2.1],
88 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.txt[1.8.2].
90 * link:v1.8.1.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.1.6]
93 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.6.txt[1.8.1.6],
94 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.5.txt[1.8.1.5],
95 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.4.txt[1.8.1.4],
96 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.3.txt[1.8.1.3],
97 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.2.txt[1.8.1.2],
98 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.1.txt[1.8.1.1],
99 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.txt[1.8.1].
101 * link:v1.8.0.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.0.3]
104 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.3.txt[1.8.0.3],
105 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.2.txt[1.8.0.2],
106 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.1.txt[1.8.0.1],
107 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.txt[1.8.0].
109 * link:v1.7.12.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.12.4]
112 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.4.txt[1.7.12.4],
113 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.3.txt[1.7.12.3],
114 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.2.txt[1.7.12.2],
115 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.1.txt[1.7.12.1],
116 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.txt[1.7.12].
118 * link:v1.7.11.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.11.7]
121 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.7.txt[1.7.11.7],
122 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.6.txt[1.7.11.6],
123 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.5.txt[1.7.11.5],
124 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.4.txt[1.7.11.4],
125 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.3.txt[1.7.11.3],
126 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.2.txt[1.7.11.2],
127 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.1.txt[1.7.11.1],
128 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.txt[1.7.11].
130 * link:v1.7.10.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.10.5]
133 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.5.txt[1.7.10.5],
134 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.4.txt[1.7.10.4],
135 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.3.txt[1.7.10.3],
136 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.2.txt[1.7.10.2],
137 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.1.txt[1.7.10.1],
138 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.txt[1.7.10].
140 * link:v1.7.9.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.9.7]
143 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.7.txt[1.7.9.7],
144 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.6.txt[1.7.9.6],
145 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.5.txt[1.7.9.5],
146 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.4.txt[1.7.9.4],
147 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.3.txt[1.7.9.3],
148 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.2.txt[1.7.9.2],
149 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.1.txt[1.7.9.1],
150 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.txt[1.7.9].
152 * link:v1.7.8.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.8.6]
155 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.6.txt[1.7.8.6],
156 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.5.txt[1.7.8.5],
157 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.4.txt[1.7.8.4],
158 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.3.txt[1.7.8.3],
159 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.2.txt[1.7.8.2],
160 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.1.txt[1.7.8.1],
161 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.txt[1.7.8].
163 * link:v1.7.7.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.7.7]
166 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.7.txt[1.7.7.7],
167 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.6.txt[1.7.7.6],
168 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.5.txt[1.7.7.5],
169 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.4.txt[1.7.7.4],
170 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.3.txt[1.7.7.3],
171 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.2.txt[1.7.7.2],
172 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.1.txt[1.7.7.1],
173 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.txt[1.7.7].
175 * link:v1.7.6.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.6.6]
178 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.6.txt[1.7.6.6],
179 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.5.txt[1.7.6.5],
180 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.4.txt[1.7.6.4],
181 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.3.txt[1.7.6.3],
182 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.2.txt[1.7.6.2],
183 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.1.txt[1.7.6.1],
184 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.txt[1.7.6].
186 * link:v1.7.5.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.5.4]
189 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.4.txt[1.7.5.4],
190 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.3.txt[1.7.5.3],
191 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.2.txt[1.7.5.2],
192 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.1.txt[1.7.5.1],
193 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.txt[1.7.5].
195 * link:v1.7.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.4.5]
198 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.5.txt[1.7.4.5],
199 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.4.txt[1.7.4.4],
200 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.3.txt[1.7.4.3],
201 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.2.txt[1.7.4.2],
202 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.1.txt[1.7.4.1],
203 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.txt[1.7.4].
205 * link:v1.7.3.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.3.5]
208 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.5.txt[1.7.3.5],
209 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.4.txt[1.7.3.4],
210 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.3.txt[1.7.3.3],
211 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.2.txt[1.7.3.2],
212 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.1.txt[1.7.3.1],
213 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.txt[1.7.3].
215 * link:v1.7.2.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.2.5]
218 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.5.txt[1.7.2.5],
219 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.4.txt[1.7.2.4],
220 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.3.txt[1.7.2.3],
221 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.2.txt[1.7.2.2],
222 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.1.txt[1.7.2.1],
223 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.txt[1.7.2].
225 * link:v1.7.1.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.1.4]
228 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.4.txt[1.7.1.4],
229 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.3.txt[1.7.1.3],
230 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.2.txt[1.7.1.2],
231 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.1.txt[1.7.1.1],
232 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.txt[1.7.1].
234 * link:v1.7.0.9/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.0.9]
237 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.9.txt[1.7.0.9],
238 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.8.txt[1.7.0.8],
239 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.7.txt[1.7.0.7],
240 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.6.txt[1.7.0.6],
241 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.5.txt[1.7.0.5],
242 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.4.txt[1.7.0.4],
243 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.3.txt[1.7.0.3],
244 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.2.txt[1.7.0.2],
245 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.1.txt[1.7.0.1],
246 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.txt[1.7.0].
248 * link:v1.6.6.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.6.3]
251 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.3.txt[1.6.6.3],
252 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.2.txt[1.6.6.2],
253 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.1.txt[1.6.6.1],
254 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.txt[1.6.6].
256 * link:v1.6.5.9/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.5.9]
259 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.9.txt[1.6.5.9],
260 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.8.txt[1.6.5.8],
261 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.7.txt[1.6.5.7],
262 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.6.txt[1.6.5.6],
263 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.5.txt[1.6.5.5],
264 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.4.txt[1.6.5.4],
265 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.3.txt[1.6.5.3],
266 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.2.txt[1.6.5.2],
267 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.1.txt[1.6.5.1],
268 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.txt[1.6.5].
270 * link:v1.6.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.4.5]
273 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.5.txt[1.6.4.5],
274 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.4.txt[1.6.4.4],
275 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.3.txt[1.6.4.3],
276 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.2.txt[1.6.4.2],
277 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.1.txt[1.6.4.1],
278 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.txt[1.6.4].
280 * link:v1.6.3.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.3.4]
283 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.4.txt[1.6.3.4],
284 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.3.txt[1.6.3.3],
285 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.2.txt[1.6.3.2],
286 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.1.txt[1.6.3.1],
287 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.txt[1.6.3].
290 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.5.txt[1.6.2.5],
291 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.4.txt[1.6.2.4],
292 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.3.txt[1.6.2.3],
293 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.2.txt[1.6.2.2],
294 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.1.txt[1.6.2.1],
295 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.txt[1.6.2].
297 * link:v1.6.1.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.1.3]
300 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.3.txt[1.6.1.3],
301 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.2.txt[1.6.1.2],
302 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.1.txt[1.6.1.1],
303 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.txt[1.6.1].
305 * link:v1.6.0.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.0.6]
308 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.6.txt[1.6.0.6],
309 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.5.txt[1.6.0.5],
310 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.4.txt[1.6.0.4],
311 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.3.txt[1.6.0.3],
312 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.2.txt[1.6.0.2],
313 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.1.txt[1.6.0.1],
314 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.txt[1.6.0].
316 * link:v1.5.6.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.6.6]
319 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.6.txt[1.5.6.6],
320 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.5.txt[1.5.6.5],
321 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.4.txt[1.5.6.4],
322 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.3.txt[1.5.6.3],
323 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.2.txt[1.5.6.2],
324 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.1.txt[1.5.6.1],
325 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.txt[1.5.6].
327 * link:v1.5.5.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.5.6]
330 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.6.txt[1.5.5.6],
331 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.5.txt[1.5.5.5],
332 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.4.txt[1.5.5.4],
333 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.3.txt[1.5.5.3],
334 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.2.txt[1.5.5.2],
335 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.1.txt[1.5.5.1],
336 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.txt[1.5.5].
338 * link:v1.5.4.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.4.7]
341 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.7.txt[1.5.4.7],
342 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.6.txt[1.5.4.6],
343 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.5.txt[1.5.4.5],
344 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.4.txt[1.5.4.4],
345 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.3.txt[1.5.4.3],
346 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.2.txt[1.5.4.2],
347 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.1.txt[1.5.4.1],
348 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.txt[1.5.4].
350 * link:v1.5.3.8/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.3.8]
353 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.8.txt[1.5.3.8],
354 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.7.txt[1.5.3.7],
355 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.6.txt[1.5.3.6],
356 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.5.txt[1.5.3.5],
357 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.4.txt[1.5.3.4],
358 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.3.txt[1.5.3.3],
359 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.2.txt[1.5.3.2],
360 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.1.txt[1.5.3.1],
361 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.txt[1.5.3].
363 * link:v1.5.2.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.2.5]
366 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.5.txt[1.5.2.5],
367 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.4.txt[1.5.2.4],
368 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.3.txt[1.5.2.3],
369 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.2.txt[1.5.2.2],
370 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.1.txt[1.5.2.1],
371 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.txt[1.5.2].
373 * link:v1.5.1.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.1.6]
376 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.6.txt[1.5.1.6],
377 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.5.txt[1.5.1.5],
378 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.4.txt[1.5.1.4],
379 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.3.txt[1.5.1.3],
380 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.2.txt[1.5.1.2],
381 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.1.txt[1.5.1.1],
382 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.txt[1.5.1].
384 * link:v1.5.0.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.0.7]
387 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.7.txt[1.5.0.7],
388 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.6.txt[1.5.0.6],
389 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.5.txt[1.5.0.5],
390 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.3.txt[1.5.0.3],
391 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.2.txt[1.5.0.2],
392 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.1.txt[1.5.0.1],
393 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.txt[1.5.0].
395 * documentation for release link:v1.4.4.4/git.html[1.4.4.4],
396 link:v1.3.3/git.html[1.3.3],
397 link:v1.2.6/git.html[1.2.6],
398 link:v1.0.13/git.html[1.0.13].
407 Prints the Git suite version that the 'git' program came from.
410 Prints the synopsis and a list of the most commonly used
411 commands. If the option '--all' or '-a' is given then all
412 available commands are printed. If a Git command is named this
413 option will bring up the manual page for that command.
415 Other options are available to control how the manual page is
416 displayed. See linkgit:git-help[1] for more information,
417 because `git --help ...` is converted internally into `git
421 Run as if git was started in '<path>' instead of the current working
422 directory. When multiple `-C` options are given, each subsequent
423 non-absolute `-C <path>` is interpreted relative to the preceding `-C
426 This option affects options that expect path name like `--git-dir` and
427 `--work-tree` in that their interpretations of the path names would be
428 made relative to the working directory caused by the `-C` option. For
429 example the following invocations are equivalent:
431 git --git-dir=a.git --work-tree=b -C c status
432 git --git-dir=c/a.git --work-tree=c/b status
435 Pass a configuration parameter to the command. The value
436 given will override values from configuration files.
437 The <name> is expected in the same format as listed by
438 'git config' (subkeys separated by dots).
440 --exec-path[=<path>]::
441 Path to wherever your core Git programs are installed.
442 This can also be controlled by setting the GIT_EXEC_PATH
443 environment variable. If no path is given, 'git' will print
444 the current setting and then exit.
447 Print the path, without trailing slash, where Git's HTML
448 documentation is installed and exit.
451 Print the manpath (see `man(1)`) for the man pages for
452 this version of Git and exit.
455 Print the path where the Info files documenting this
456 version of Git are installed and exit.
460 Pipe all output into 'less' (or if set, $PAGER) if standard
461 output is a terminal. This overrides the `pager.<cmd>`
462 configuration options (see the "Configuration Mechanism" section
466 Do not pipe Git output into a pager.
469 Set the path to the repository. This can also be controlled by
470 setting the GIT_DIR environment variable. It can be an absolute
471 path or relative path to current working directory.
474 Set the path to the working tree. It can be an absolute path
475 or a path relative to the current working directory.
476 This can also be controlled by setting the GIT_WORK_TREE
477 environment variable and the core.worktree configuration
478 variable (see core.worktree in linkgit:git-config[1] for a
479 more detailed discussion).
482 Set the Git namespace. See linkgit:gitnamespaces[7] for more
483 details. Equivalent to setting the `GIT_NAMESPACE` environment
487 Treat the repository as a bare repository. If GIT_DIR
488 environment is not set, it is set to the current working
491 --no-replace-objects::
492 Do not use replacement refs to replace Git objects. See
493 linkgit:git-replace[1] for more information.
495 --literal-pathspecs::
496 Treat pathspecs literally (i.e. no globbing, no pathspec magic).
497 This is equivalent to setting the `GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS` environment
501 Add "glob" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
502 the `GIT_GLOB_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`. Disabling
503 globbing on individual pathspecs can be done using pathspec
507 Add "literal" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
508 the `GIT_NOGLOB_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`. Enabling
509 globbing on individual pathspecs can be done using pathspec
513 Add "icase" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
514 the `GIT_ICASE_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`.
519 We divide Git into high level ("porcelain") commands and low level
520 ("plumbing") commands.
522 High-level commands (porcelain)
523 -------------------------------
525 We separate the porcelain commands into the main commands and some
526 ancillary user utilities.
528 Main porcelain commands
529 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
531 include::cmds-mainporcelain.txt[]
537 include::cmds-ancillarymanipulators.txt[]
541 include::cmds-ancillaryinterrogators.txt[]
544 Interacting with Others
545 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
547 These commands are to interact with foreign SCM and with other
548 people via patch over e-mail.
550 include::cmds-foreignscminterface.txt[]
553 Low-level commands (plumbing)
554 -----------------------------
556 Although Git includes its
557 own porcelain layer, its low-level commands are sufficient to support
558 development of alternative porcelains. Developers of such porcelains
559 might start by reading about linkgit:git-update-index[1] and
560 linkgit:git-read-tree[1].
562 The interface (input, output, set of options and the semantics)
563 to these low-level commands are meant to be a lot more stable
564 than Porcelain level commands, because these commands are
565 primarily for scripted use. The interface to Porcelain commands
566 on the other hand are subject to change in order to improve the
569 The following description divides
570 the low-level commands into commands that manipulate objects (in
571 the repository, index, and working tree), commands that interrogate and
572 compare objects, and commands that move objects and references between
576 Manipulation commands
577 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
579 include::cmds-plumbingmanipulators.txt[]
582 Interrogation commands
583 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
585 include::cmds-plumbinginterrogators.txt[]
587 In general, the interrogate commands do not touch the files in
591 Synching repositories
592 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
594 include::cmds-synchingrepositories.txt[]
596 The following are helper commands used by the above; end users
597 typically do not use them directly.
599 include::cmds-synchelpers.txt[]
602 Internal helper commands
603 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
605 These are internal helper commands used by other commands; end
606 users typically do not use them directly.
608 include::cmds-purehelpers.txt[]
611 Configuration Mechanism
612 -----------------------
614 Git uses a simple text format to store customizations that are per
615 repository and are per user. Such a configuration file may look
620 # A '#' or ';' character indicates a comment.
625 ; Don't trust file modes
630 name = "Junio C Hamano"
631 email = "gitster@pobox.com"
635 Various commands read from the configuration file and adjust
636 their operation accordingly. See linkgit:git-config[1] for a
637 list and more details about the configuration mechanism.
640 Identifier Terminology
641 ----------------------
643 Indicates the object name for any type of object.
646 Indicates a blob object name.
649 Indicates a tree object name.
652 Indicates a commit object name.
655 Indicates a tree, commit or tag object name. A
656 command that takes a <tree-ish> argument ultimately wants to
657 operate on a <tree> object but automatically dereferences
658 <commit> and <tag> objects that point at a <tree>.
661 Indicates a commit or tag object name. A
662 command that takes a <commit-ish> argument ultimately wants to
663 operate on a <commit> object but automatically dereferences
664 <tag> objects that point at a <commit>.
667 Indicates that an object type is required.
668 Currently one of: `blob`, `tree`, `commit`, or `tag`.
671 Indicates a filename - almost always relative to the
672 root of the tree structure `GIT_INDEX_FILE` describes.
676 Any Git command accepting any <object> can also use the following
680 indicates the head of the current branch.
684 (i.e. a `refs/tags/<tag>` reference).
688 (i.e. a `refs/heads/<head>` reference).
690 For a more complete list of ways to spell object names, see
691 "SPECIFYING REVISIONS" section in linkgit:gitrevisions[7].
694 File/Directory Structure
695 ------------------------
697 Please see the linkgit:gitrepository-layout[5] document.
699 Read linkgit:githooks[5] for more details about each hook.
701 Higher level SCMs may provide and manage additional information in the
707 Please see linkgit:gitglossary[7].
710 Environment Variables
711 ---------------------
712 Various Git commands use the following environment variables:
716 These environment variables apply to 'all' core Git commands. Nb: it
717 is worth noting that they may be used/overridden by SCMS sitting above
718 Git so take care if using Cogito etc.
721 This environment allows the specification of an alternate
722 index file. If not specified, the default of `$GIT_DIR/index`
725 'GIT_INDEX_VERSION'::
726 This environment variable allows the specification of an index
727 version for new repositories. It won't affect existing index
728 files. By default index file version [23] is used.
730 'GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY'::
731 If the object storage directory is specified via this
732 environment variable then the sha1 directories are created
733 underneath - otherwise the default `$GIT_DIR/objects`
736 'GIT_ALTERNATE_OBJECT_DIRECTORIES'::
737 Due to the immutable nature of Git objects, old objects can be
738 archived into shared, read-only directories. This variable
739 specifies a ":" separated (on Windows ";" separated) list
740 of Git object directories which can be used to search for Git
741 objects. New objects will not be written to these directories.
744 If the 'GIT_DIR' environment variable is set then it
745 specifies a path to use instead of the default `.git`
746 for the base of the repository.
747 The '--git-dir' command-line option also sets this value.
750 Set the path to the root of the working tree.
751 This can also be controlled by the '--work-tree' command line
752 option and the core.worktree configuration variable.
755 Set the Git namespace; see linkgit:gitnamespaces[7] for details.
756 The '--namespace' command-line option also sets this value.
758 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES'::
759 This should be a colon-separated list of absolute paths. If
760 set, it is a list of directories that Git should not chdir up
761 into while looking for a repository directory (useful for
762 excluding slow-loading network directories). It will not
763 exclude the current working directory or a GIT_DIR set on the
764 command line or in the environment. Normally, Git has to read
765 the entries in this list and resolve any symlink that
766 might be present in order to compare them with the current
767 directory. However, if even this access is slow, you
768 can add an empty entry to the list to tell Git that the
769 subsequent entries are not symlinks and needn't be resolved;
771 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES=/maybe/symlink::/very/slow/non/symlink'.
773 'GIT_DISCOVERY_ACROSS_FILESYSTEM'::
774 When run in a directory that does not have ".git" repository
775 directory, Git tries to find such a directory in the parent
776 directories to find the top of the working tree, but by default it
777 does not cross filesystem boundaries. This environment variable
778 can be set to true to tell Git not to stop at filesystem
779 boundaries. Like 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES', this will not affect
780 an explicit repository directory set via 'GIT_DIR' or on the
788 'GIT_COMMITTER_NAME'::
789 'GIT_COMMITTER_EMAIL'::
790 'GIT_COMMITTER_DATE'::
792 see linkgit:git-commit-tree[1]
797 Only valid setting is "--unified=??" or "-u??" to set the
798 number of context lines shown when a unified diff is created.
799 This takes precedence over any "-U" or "--unified" option
800 value passed on the Git diff command line.
802 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF'::
803 When the environment variable 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is set, the
804 program named by it is called, instead of the diff invocation
805 described above. For a path that is added, removed, or modified,
806 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called with 7 parameters:
808 path old-file old-hex old-mode new-file new-hex new-mode
812 <old|new>-file:: are files GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF can use to read the
813 contents of <old|new>,
814 <old|new>-hex:: are the 40-hexdigit SHA-1 hashes,
815 <old|new>-mode:: are the octal representation of the file modes.
817 The file parameters can point at the user's working file
818 (e.g. `new-file` in "git-diff-files"), `/dev/null` (e.g. `old-file`
819 when a new file is added), or a temporary file (e.g. `old-file` in the
820 index). 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' should not worry about unlinking the
821 temporary file --- it is removed when 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' exits.
823 For a path that is unmerged, 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called with 1
826 For each path 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called, two environment variables,
827 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_COUNTER' and 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_TOTAL' are set.
829 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_COUNTER'::
830 A 1-based counter incremented by one for every path.
832 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_TOTAL'::
833 The total number of paths.
837 'GIT_MERGE_VERBOSITY'::
838 A number controlling the amount of output shown by
839 the recursive merge strategy. Overrides merge.verbosity.
840 See linkgit:git-merge[1]
843 This environment variable overrides `$PAGER`. If it is set
844 to an empty string or to the value "cat", Git will not launch
845 a pager. See also the `core.pager` option in
846 linkgit:git-config[1].
849 This environment variable overrides `$EDITOR` and `$VISUAL`.
850 It is used by several Git commands when, on interactive mode,
851 an editor is to be launched. See also linkgit:git-var[1]
852 and the `core.editor` option in linkgit:git-config[1].
855 If this environment variable is set then 'git fetch'
856 and 'git push' will use this command instead
857 of 'ssh' when they need to connect to a remote system.
858 The '$GIT_SSH' command will be given exactly two or
859 four arguments: the 'username@host' (or just 'host')
860 from the URL and the shell command to execute on that
861 remote system, optionally preceded by '-p' (literally) and
862 the 'port' from the URL when it specifies something other
863 than the default SSH port.
865 To pass options to the program that you want to list in GIT_SSH
866 you will need to wrap the program and options into a shell script,
867 then set GIT_SSH to refer to the shell script.
869 Usually it is easier to configure any desired options through your
870 personal `.ssh/config` file. Please consult your ssh documentation
874 If this environment variable is set, then Git commands which need to
875 acquire passwords or passphrases (e.g. for HTTP or IMAP authentication)
876 will call this program with a suitable prompt as command line argument
877 and read the password from its STDOUT. See also the 'core.askpass'
878 option in linkgit:git-config[1].
880 'GIT_CONFIG_NOSYSTEM'::
881 Whether to skip reading settings from the system-wide
882 `$(prefix)/etc/gitconfig` file. This environment variable can
883 be used along with `$HOME` and `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME` to create a
884 predictable environment for a picky script, or you can set it
885 temporarily to avoid using a buggy `/etc/gitconfig` file while
886 waiting for someone with sufficient permissions to fix it.
889 If this environment variable is set to "1", then commands such
890 as 'git blame' (in incremental mode), 'git rev-list', 'git log',
891 'git check-attr' and 'git check-ignore' will
892 force a flush of the output stream after each record have been
894 variable is set to "0", the output of these commands will be done
895 using completely buffered I/O. If this environment variable is
896 not set, Git will choose buffered or record-oriented flushing
897 based on whether stdout appears to be redirected to a file or not.
900 If this variable is set to "1", "2" or "true" (comparison
901 is case insensitive), Git will print `trace:` messages on
902 stderr telling about alias expansion, built-in command
903 execution and external command execution.
904 If this variable is set to an integer value greater than 1
905 and lower than 10 (strictly) then Git will interpret this
906 value as an open file descriptor and will try to write the
907 trace messages into this file descriptor.
908 Alternatively, if this variable is set to an absolute path
909 (starting with a '/' character), Git will interpret this
910 as a file path and will try to write the trace messages
913 'GIT_TRACE_PACK_ACCESS'::
914 If this variable is set to a path, a file will be created at
915 the given path logging all accesses to any packs. For each
916 access, the pack file name and an offset in the pack is
917 recorded. This may be helpful for troubleshooting some
918 pack-related performance problems.
921 If this variable is set, it shows a trace of all packets
922 coming in or out of a given program. This can help with
923 debugging object negotiation or other protocol issues. Tracing
924 is turned off at a packet starting with "PACK".
926 GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS::
927 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
928 pathspecs literally, rather than as glob patterns. For example,
929 running `GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS=1 git log -- '*.c'` will search
930 for commits that touch the path `*.c`, not any paths that the
931 glob `*.c` matches. You might want this if you are feeding
932 literal paths to Git (e.g., paths previously given to you by
933 `git ls-tree`, `--raw` diff output, etc).
936 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
937 pathspecs as glob patterns (aka "glob" magic).
939 GIT_NOGLOB_PATHSPECS::
940 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
941 pathspecs as literal (aka "literal" magic).
943 GIT_ICASE_PATHSPECS::
944 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
945 pathspecs as case-insensitive.
947 'GIT_REFLOG_ACTION'::
948 When a ref is updated, reflog entries are created to keep
949 track of the reason why the ref was updated (which is
950 typically the name of the high-level command that updated
951 the ref), in addition to the old and new values of the ref.
952 A scripted Porcelain command can use set_reflog_action
953 helper function in `git-sh-setup` to set its name to this
954 variable when it is invoked as the top level command by the
955 end user, to be recorded in the body of the reflog.
958 Discussion[[Discussion]]
959 ------------------------
961 More detail on the following is available from the
962 link:user-manual.html#git-concepts[Git concepts chapter of the
963 user-manual] and linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7].
965 A Git project normally consists of a working directory with a ".git"
966 subdirectory at the top level. The .git directory contains, among other
967 things, a compressed object database representing the complete history
968 of the project, an "index" file which links that history to the current
969 contents of the working tree, and named pointers into that history such
970 as tags and branch heads.
972 The object database contains objects of three main types: blobs, which
973 hold file data; trees, which point to blobs and other trees to build up
974 directory hierarchies; and commits, which each reference a single tree
975 and some number of parent commits.
977 The commit, equivalent to what other systems call a "changeset" or
978 "version", represents a step in the project's history, and each parent
979 represents an immediately preceding step. Commits with more than one
980 parent represent merges of independent lines of development.
982 All objects are named by the SHA-1 hash of their contents, normally
983 written as a string of 40 hex digits. Such names are globally unique.
984 The entire history leading up to a commit can be vouched for by signing
985 just that commit. A fourth object type, the tag, is provided for this
988 When first created, objects are stored in individual files, but for
989 efficiency may later be compressed together into "pack files".
991 Named pointers called refs mark interesting points in history. A ref
992 may contain the SHA-1 name of an object or the name of another ref. Refs
993 with names beginning `ref/head/` contain the SHA-1 name of the most
994 recent commit (or "head") of a branch under development. SHA-1 names of
995 tags of interest are stored under `ref/tags/`. A special ref named
996 `HEAD` contains the name of the currently checked-out branch.
998 The index file is initialized with a list of all paths and, for each
999 path, a blob object and a set of attributes. The blob object represents
1000 the contents of the file as of the head of the current branch. The
1001 attributes (last modified time, size, etc.) are taken from the
1002 corresponding file in the working tree. Subsequent changes to the
1003 working tree can be found by comparing these attributes. The index may
1004 be updated with new content, and new commits may be created from the
1005 content stored in the index.
1007 The index is also capable of storing multiple entries (called "stages")
1008 for a given pathname. These stages are used to hold the various
1009 unmerged version of a file when a merge is in progress.
1011 FURTHER DOCUMENTATION
1012 ---------------------
1014 See the references in the "description" section to get started
1015 using Git. The following is probably more detail than necessary
1016 for a first-time user.
1018 The link:user-manual.html#git-concepts[Git concepts chapter of the
1019 user-manual] and linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7] both provide
1020 introductions to the underlying Git architecture.
1022 See linkgit:gitworkflows[7] for an overview of recommended workflows.
1024 See also the link:howto-index.html[howto] documents for some useful
1027 The internals are documented in the
1028 link:technical/api-index.html[Git API documentation].
1030 Users migrating from CVS may also want to
1031 read linkgit:gitcvs-migration[7].
1036 Git was started by Linus Torvalds, and is currently maintained by Junio
1037 C Hamano. Numerous contributions have come from the Git mailing list
1038 <git@vger.kernel.org>. http://www.ohloh.net/p/git/contributors/summary
1039 gives you a more complete list of contributors.
1041 If you have a clone of git.git itself, the
1042 output of linkgit:git-shortlog[1] and linkgit:git-blame[1] can show you
1043 the authors for specific parts of the project.
1048 Report bugs to the Git mailing list <git@vger.kernel.org> where the
1049 development and maintenance is primarily done. You do not have to be
1050 subscribed to the list to send a message there.
1054 linkgit:gittutorial[7], linkgit:gittutorial-2[7],
1055 link:everyday.html[Everyday Git], linkgit:gitcvs-migration[7],
1056 linkgit:gitglossary[7], linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7],
1057 linkgit:gitcli[7], link:user-manual.html[The Git User's Manual],
1058 linkgit:gitworkflows[7]
1062 Part of the linkgit:git[1] suite