6 git - the stupid content tracker
12 'git' [--version] [--help] [-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:v1.8.1.1/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.1.1]
49 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.1.txt[1.8.1.1],
50 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.txt[1.8.1].
52 * link:v1.8.0.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.0.3]
55 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.3.txt[1.8.0.3],
56 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.2.txt[1.8.0.2],
57 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.1.txt[1.8.0.1],
58 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.txt[1.8.0].
60 * link:v1.7.12.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.12.4]
63 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.4.txt[1.7.12.4],
64 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.3.txt[1.7.12.3],
65 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.2.txt[1.7.12.2],
66 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.1.txt[1.7.12.1],
67 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.txt[1.7.12].
69 * link:v1.7.11.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.11.7]
72 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.7.txt[1.7.11.7],
73 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.6.txt[1.7.11.6],
74 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.5.txt[1.7.11.5],
75 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.4.txt[1.7.11.4],
76 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.3.txt[1.7.11.3],
77 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.2.txt[1.7.11.2],
78 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.1.txt[1.7.11.1],
79 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.txt[1.7.11].
81 * link:v1.7.10.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.10.5]
84 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.5.txt[1.7.10.5],
85 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.4.txt[1.7.10.4],
86 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.3.txt[1.7.10.3],
87 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.2.txt[1.7.10.2],
88 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.1.txt[1.7.10.1],
89 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.txt[1.7.10].
91 * link:v1.7.9.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.9.7]
94 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.7.txt[1.7.9.7],
95 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.6.txt[1.7.9.6],
96 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.5.txt[1.7.9.5],
97 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.4.txt[1.7.9.4],
98 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.3.txt[1.7.9.3],
99 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.2.txt[1.7.9.2],
100 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.1.txt[1.7.9.1],
101 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.txt[1.7.9].
103 * link:v1.7.8.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.8.6]
106 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.6.txt[1.7.8.6],
107 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.5.txt[1.7.8.5],
108 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.4.txt[1.7.8.4],
109 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.3.txt[1.7.8.3],
110 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.2.txt[1.7.8.2],
111 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.1.txt[1.7.8.1],
112 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.txt[1.7.8].
114 * link:v1.7.7.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.7.7]
117 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.7.txt[1.7.7.7],
118 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.6.txt[1.7.7.6],
119 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.5.txt[1.7.7.5],
120 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.4.txt[1.7.7.4],
121 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.3.txt[1.7.7.3],
122 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.2.txt[1.7.7.2],
123 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.1.txt[1.7.7.1],
124 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.txt[1.7.7].
126 * link:v1.7.6.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.6.6]
129 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.6.txt[1.7.6.6],
130 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.5.txt[1.7.6.5],
131 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.4.txt[1.7.6.4],
132 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.3.txt[1.7.6.3],
133 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.2.txt[1.7.6.2],
134 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.1.txt[1.7.6.1],
135 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.txt[1.7.6].
137 * link:v1.7.5.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.5.4]
140 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.4.txt[1.7.5.4],
141 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.3.txt[1.7.5.3],
142 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.2.txt[1.7.5.2],
143 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.1.txt[1.7.5.1],
144 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.txt[1.7.5].
146 * link:v1.7.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.4.5]
149 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.5.txt[1.7.4.5],
150 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.4.txt[1.7.4.4],
151 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.3.txt[1.7.4.3],
152 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.2.txt[1.7.4.2],
153 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.1.txt[1.7.4.1],
154 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.txt[1.7.4].
156 * link:v1.7.3.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.3.5]
159 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.5.txt[1.7.3.5],
160 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.4.txt[1.7.3.4],
161 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.3.txt[1.7.3.3],
162 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.2.txt[1.7.3.2],
163 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.1.txt[1.7.3.1],
164 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.txt[1.7.3].
166 * link:v1.7.2.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.2.5]
169 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.5.txt[1.7.2.5],
170 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.4.txt[1.7.2.4],
171 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.3.txt[1.7.2.3],
172 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.2.txt[1.7.2.2],
173 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.1.txt[1.7.2.1],
174 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.txt[1.7.2].
176 * link:v1.7.1.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.1.4]
179 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.4.txt[1.7.1.4],
180 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.3.txt[1.7.1.3],
181 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.2.txt[1.7.1.2],
182 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.1.txt[1.7.1.1],
183 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.txt[1.7.1].
185 * link:v1.7.0.9/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.0.9]
188 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.9.txt[1.7.0.9],
189 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.8.txt[1.7.0.8],
190 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.7.txt[1.7.0.7],
191 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.6.txt[1.7.0.6],
192 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.5.txt[1.7.0.5],
193 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.4.txt[1.7.0.4],
194 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.3.txt[1.7.0.3],
195 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.2.txt[1.7.0.2],
196 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.1.txt[1.7.0.1],
197 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.txt[1.7.0].
199 * link:v1.6.6.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.6.3]
202 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.3.txt[1.6.6.3],
203 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.2.txt[1.6.6.2],
204 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.1.txt[1.6.6.1],
205 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.txt[1.6.6].
207 * link:v1.6.5.9/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.5.9]
210 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.9.txt[1.6.5.9],
211 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.8.txt[1.6.5.8],
212 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.7.txt[1.6.5.7],
213 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.6.txt[1.6.5.6],
214 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.5.txt[1.6.5.5],
215 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.4.txt[1.6.5.4],
216 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.3.txt[1.6.5.3],
217 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.2.txt[1.6.5.2],
218 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.1.txt[1.6.5.1],
219 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.txt[1.6.5].
221 * link:v1.6.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.4.5]
224 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.5.txt[1.6.4.5],
225 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.4.txt[1.6.4.4],
226 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.3.txt[1.6.4.3],
227 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.2.txt[1.6.4.2],
228 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.1.txt[1.6.4.1],
229 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.txt[1.6.4].
231 * link:v1.6.3.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.3.4]
234 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.4.txt[1.6.3.4],
235 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.3.txt[1.6.3.3],
236 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.2.txt[1.6.3.2],
237 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.1.txt[1.6.3.1],
238 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.txt[1.6.3].
241 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.5.txt[1.6.2.5],
242 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.4.txt[1.6.2.4],
243 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.3.txt[1.6.2.3],
244 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.2.txt[1.6.2.2],
245 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.1.txt[1.6.2.1],
246 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.txt[1.6.2].
248 * link:v1.6.1.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.1.3]
251 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.3.txt[1.6.1.3],
252 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.2.txt[1.6.1.2],
253 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.1.txt[1.6.1.1],
254 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.txt[1.6.1].
256 * link:v1.6.0.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.0.6]
259 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.6.txt[1.6.0.6],
260 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.5.txt[1.6.0.5],
261 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.4.txt[1.6.0.4],
262 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.3.txt[1.6.0.3],
263 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.2.txt[1.6.0.2],
264 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.1.txt[1.6.0.1],
265 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.txt[1.6.0].
267 * link:v1.5.6.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.6.6]
270 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.6.txt[1.5.6.6],
271 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.5.txt[1.5.6.5],
272 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.4.txt[1.5.6.4],
273 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.3.txt[1.5.6.3],
274 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.2.txt[1.5.6.2],
275 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.1.txt[1.5.6.1],
276 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.txt[1.5.6].
278 * link:v1.5.5.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.5.6]
281 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.6.txt[1.5.5.6],
282 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.5.txt[1.5.5.5],
283 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.4.txt[1.5.5.4],
284 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.3.txt[1.5.5.3],
285 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.2.txt[1.5.5.2],
286 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.1.txt[1.5.5.1],
287 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.txt[1.5.5].
289 * link:v1.5.4.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.4.7]
292 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.7.txt[1.5.4.7],
293 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.6.txt[1.5.4.6],
294 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.5.txt[1.5.4.5],
295 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.4.txt[1.5.4.4],
296 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.3.txt[1.5.4.3],
297 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.2.txt[1.5.4.2],
298 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.1.txt[1.5.4.1],
299 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.txt[1.5.4].
301 * link:v1.5.3.8/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.3.8]
304 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.8.txt[1.5.3.8],
305 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.7.txt[1.5.3.7],
306 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.6.txt[1.5.3.6],
307 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.5.txt[1.5.3.5],
308 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.4.txt[1.5.3.4],
309 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.3.txt[1.5.3.3],
310 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.2.txt[1.5.3.2],
311 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.1.txt[1.5.3.1],
312 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.txt[1.5.3].
314 * link:v1.5.2.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.2.5]
317 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.5.txt[1.5.2.5],
318 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.4.txt[1.5.2.4],
319 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.3.txt[1.5.2.3],
320 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.2.txt[1.5.2.2],
321 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.1.txt[1.5.2.1],
322 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.txt[1.5.2].
324 * link:v1.5.1.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.1.6]
327 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.6.txt[1.5.1.6],
328 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.5.txt[1.5.1.5],
329 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.4.txt[1.5.1.4],
330 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.3.txt[1.5.1.3],
331 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.2.txt[1.5.1.2],
332 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.1.txt[1.5.1.1],
333 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.txt[1.5.1].
335 * link:v1.5.0.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.0.7]
338 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.7.txt[1.5.0.7],
339 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.6.txt[1.5.0.6],
340 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.5.txt[1.5.0.5],
341 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.3.txt[1.5.0.3],
342 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.2.txt[1.5.0.2],
343 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.1.txt[1.5.0.1],
344 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.txt[1.5.0].
346 * documentation for release link:v1.4.4.4/git.html[1.4.4.4],
347 link:v1.3.3/git.html[1.3.3],
348 link:v1.2.6/git.html[1.2.6],
349 link:v1.0.13/git.html[1.0.13].
358 Prints the git suite version that the 'git' program came from.
361 Prints the synopsis and a list of the most commonly used
362 commands. If the option '--all' or '-a' is given then all
363 available commands are printed. If a git command is named this
364 option will bring up the manual page for that command.
366 Other options are available to control how the manual page is
367 displayed. See linkgit:git-help[1] for more information,
368 because `git --help ...` is converted internally into `git
372 Pass a configuration parameter to the command. The value
373 given will override values from configuration files.
374 The <name> is expected in the same format as listed by
375 'git config' (subkeys separated by dots).
377 --exec-path[=<path>]::
378 Path to wherever your core git programs are installed.
379 This can also be controlled by setting the GIT_EXEC_PATH
380 environment variable. If no path is given, 'git' will print
381 the current setting and then exit.
384 Print the path, without trailing slash, where git's HTML
385 documentation is installed and exit.
388 Print the manpath (see `man(1)`) for the man pages for
389 this version of git and exit.
392 Print the path where the Info files documenting this
393 version of git are installed and exit.
397 Pipe all output into 'less' (or if set, $PAGER) if standard
398 output is a terminal. This overrides the `pager.<cmd>`
399 configuration options (see the "Configuration Mechanism" section
403 Do not pipe git output into a pager.
406 Set the path to the repository. This can also be controlled by
407 setting the GIT_DIR environment variable. It can be an absolute
408 path or relative path to current working directory.
411 Set the path to the working tree. It can be an absolute path
412 or a path relative to the current working directory.
413 This can also be controlled by setting the GIT_WORK_TREE
414 environment variable and the core.worktree configuration
415 variable (see core.worktree in linkgit:git-config[1] for a
416 more detailed discussion).
419 Set the git namespace. See linkgit:gitnamespaces[7] for more
420 details. Equivalent to setting the `GIT_NAMESPACE` environment
424 Treat the repository as a bare repository. If GIT_DIR
425 environment is not set, it is set to the current working
428 --no-replace-objects::
429 Do not use replacement refs to replace git objects. See
430 linkgit:git-replace[1] for more information.
436 We divide git into high level ("porcelain") commands and low level
437 ("plumbing") commands.
439 High-level commands (porcelain)
440 -------------------------------
442 We separate the porcelain commands into the main commands and some
443 ancillary user utilities.
445 Main porcelain commands
446 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
448 include::cmds-mainporcelain.txt[]
454 include::cmds-ancillarymanipulators.txt[]
458 include::cmds-ancillaryinterrogators.txt[]
461 Interacting with Others
462 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
464 These commands are to interact with foreign SCM and with other
465 people via patch over e-mail.
467 include::cmds-foreignscminterface.txt[]
470 Low-level commands (plumbing)
471 -----------------------------
473 Although git includes its
474 own porcelain layer, its low-level commands are sufficient to support
475 development of alternative porcelains. Developers of such porcelains
476 might start by reading about linkgit:git-update-index[1] and
477 linkgit:git-read-tree[1].
479 The interface (input, output, set of options and the semantics)
480 to these low-level commands are meant to be a lot more stable
481 than Porcelain level commands, because these commands are
482 primarily for scripted use. The interface to Porcelain commands
483 on the other hand are subject to change in order to improve the
486 The following description divides
487 the low-level commands into commands that manipulate objects (in
488 the repository, index, and working tree), commands that interrogate and
489 compare objects, and commands that move objects and references between
493 Manipulation commands
494 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
496 include::cmds-plumbingmanipulators.txt[]
499 Interrogation commands
500 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
502 include::cmds-plumbinginterrogators.txt[]
504 In general, the interrogate commands do not touch the files in
508 Synching repositories
509 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
511 include::cmds-synchingrepositories.txt[]
513 The following are helper commands used by the above; end users
514 typically do not use them directly.
516 include::cmds-synchelpers.txt[]
519 Internal helper commands
520 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
522 These are internal helper commands used by other commands; end
523 users typically do not use them directly.
525 include::cmds-purehelpers.txt[]
528 Configuration Mechanism
529 -----------------------
531 Starting from 0.99.9 (actually mid 0.99.8.GIT), `.git/config` file
532 is used to hold per-repository configuration options. It is a
533 simple text file modeled after `.ini` format familiar to some
534 people. Here is an example:
538 # A '#' or ';' character indicates a comment.
543 ; Don't trust file modes
548 name = "Junio C Hamano"
549 email = "junkio@twinsun.com"
553 Various commands read from the configuration file and adjust
554 their operation accordingly. See linkgit:git-config[1] for a
558 Identifier Terminology
559 ----------------------
561 Indicates the object name for any type of object.
564 Indicates a blob object name.
567 Indicates a tree object name.
570 Indicates a commit object name.
573 Indicates a tree, commit or tag object name. A
574 command that takes a <tree-ish> argument ultimately wants to
575 operate on a <tree> object but automatically dereferences
576 <commit> and <tag> objects that point at a <tree>.
579 Indicates a commit or tag object name. A
580 command that takes a <commit-ish> argument ultimately wants to
581 operate on a <commit> object but automatically dereferences
582 <tag> objects that point at a <commit>.
585 Indicates that an object type is required.
586 Currently one of: `blob`, `tree`, `commit`, or `tag`.
589 Indicates a filename - almost always relative to the
590 root of the tree structure `GIT_INDEX_FILE` describes.
594 Any git command accepting any <object> can also use the following
598 indicates the head of the current branch.
602 (i.e. a `refs/tags/<tag>` reference).
606 (i.e. a `refs/heads/<head>` reference).
608 For a more complete list of ways to spell object names, see
609 "SPECIFYING REVISIONS" section in linkgit:gitrevisions[7].
612 File/Directory Structure
613 ------------------------
615 Please see the linkgit:gitrepository-layout[5] document.
617 Read linkgit:githooks[5] for more details about each hook.
619 Higher level SCMs may provide and manage additional information in the
625 Please see linkgit:gitglossary[7].
628 Environment Variables
629 ---------------------
630 Various git commands use the following environment variables:
634 These environment variables apply to 'all' core git commands. Nb: it
635 is worth noting that they may be used/overridden by SCMS sitting above
636 git so take care if using Cogito etc.
639 This environment allows the specification of an alternate
640 index file. If not specified, the default of `$GIT_DIR/index`
643 'GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY'::
644 If the object storage directory is specified via this
645 environment variable then the sha1 directories are created
646 underneath - otherwise the default `$GIT_DIR/objects`
649 'GIT_ALTERNATE_OBJECT_DIRECTORIES'::
650 Due to the immutable nature of git objects, old objects can be
651 archived into shared, read-only directories. This variable
652 specifies a ":" separated (on Windows ";" separated) list
653 of git object directories which can be used to search for git
654 objects. New objects will not be written to these directories.
657 If the 'GIT_DIR' environment variable is set then it
658 specifies a path to use instead of the default `.git`
659 for the base of the repository.
660 The '--git-dir' command-line option also sets this value.
663 Set the path to the working tree. The value will not be
664 used in combination with repositories found automatically in
665 a .git directory (i.e. $GIT_DIR is not set).
666 This can also be controlled by the '--work-tree' command line
667 option and the core.worktree configuration variable.
670 Set the git namespace; see linkgit:gitnamespaces[7] for details.
671 The '--namespace' command-line option also sets this value.
673 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES'::
674 This should be a colon-separated list of absolute paths.
675 If set, it is a list of directories that git should not chdir
676 up into while looking for a repository directory.
677 It will not exclude the current working directory or
678 a GIT_DIR set on the command line or in the environment.
679 (Useful for excluding slow-loading network directories.)
681 'GIT_DISCOVERY_ACROSS_FILESYSTEM'::
682 When run in a directory that does not have ".git" repository
683 directory, git tries to find such a directory in the parent
684 directories to find the top of the working tree, but by default it
685 does not cross filesystem boundaries. This environment variable
686 can be set to true to tell git not to stop at filesystem
687 boundaries. Like 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES', this will not affect
688 an explicit repository directory set via 'GIT_DIR' or on the
696 'GIT_COMMITTER_NAME'::
697 'GIT_COMMITTER_EMAIL'::
698 'GIT_COMMITTER_DATE'::
700 see linkgit:git-commit-tree[1]
705 Only valid setting is "--unified=??" or "-u??" to set the
706 number of context lines shown when a unified diff is created.
707 This takes precedence over any "-U" or "--unified" option
708 value passed on the git diff command line.
710 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF'::
711 When the environment variable 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is set, the
712 program named by it is called, instead of the diff invocation
713 described above. For a path that is added, removed, or modified,
714 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called with 7 parameters:
716 path old-file old-hex old-mode new-file new-hex new-mode
720 <old|new>-file:: are files GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF can use to read the
721 contents of <old|new>,
722 <old|new>-hex:: are the 40-hexdigit SHA1 hashes,
723 <old|new>-mode:: are the octal representation of the file modes.
725 The file parameters can point at the user's working file
726 (e.g. `new-file` in "git-diff-files"), `/dev/null` (e.g. `old-file`
727 when a new file is added), or a temporary file (e.g. `old-file` in the
728 index). 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' should not worry about unlinking the
729 temporary file --- it is removed when 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' exits.
731 For a path that is unmerged, 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called with 1
736 'GIT_MERGE_VERBOSITY'::
737 A number controlling the amount of output shown by
738 the recursive merge strategy. Overrides merge.verbosity.
739 See linkgit:git-merge[1]
742 This environment variable overrides `$PAGER`. If it is set
743 to an empty string or to the value "cat", git will not launch
744 a pager. See also the `core.pager` option in
745 linkgit:git-config[1].
748 This environment variable overrides `$EDITOR` and `$VISUAL`.
749 It is used by several git commands when, on interactive mode,
750 an editor is to be launched. See also linkgit:git-var[1]
751 and the `core.editor` option in linkgit:git-config[1].
754 If this environment variable is set then 'git fetch'
755 and 'git push' will use this command instead
756 of 'ssh' when they need to connect to a remote system.
757 The '$GIT_SSH' command will be given exactly two arguments:
758 the 'username@host' (or just 'host') from the URL and the
759 shell command to execute on that remote system.
761 To pass options to the program that you want to list in GIT_SSH
762 you will need to wrap the program and options into a shell script,
763 then set GIT_SSH to refer to the shell script.
765 Usually it is easier to configure any desired options through your
766 personal `.ssh/config` file. Please consult your ssh documentation
770 If this environment variable is set, then git commands which need to
771 acquire passwords or passphrases (e.g. for HTTP or IMAP authentication)
772 will call this program with a suitable prompt as command line argument
773 and read the password from its STDOUT. See also the 'core.askpass'
774 option in linkgit:git-config[1].
776 'GIT_CONFIG_NOSYSTEM'::
777 Whether to skip reading settings from the system-wide
778 `$(prefix)/etc/gitconfig` file. This environment variable can
779 be used along with `$HOME` and `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME` to create a
780 predictable environment for a picky script, or you can set it
781 temporarily to avoid using a buggy `/etc/gitconfig` file while
782 waiting for someone with sufficient permissions to fix it.
785 If this environment variable is set to "1", then commands such
786 as 'git blame' (in incremental mode), 'git rev-list', 'git log',
787 and 'git whatchanged' will force a flush of the output stream
788 after each commit-oriented record have been flushed. If this
789 variable is set to "0", the output of these commands will be done
790 using completely buffered I/O. If this environment variable is
791 not set, git will choose buffered or record-oriented flushing
792 based on whether stdout appears to be redirected to a file or not.
795 If this variable is set to "1", "2" or "true" (comparison
796 is case insensitive), git will print `trace:` messages on
797 stderr telling about alias expansion, built-in command
798 execution and external command execution.
799 If this variable is set to an integer value greater than 1
800 and lower than 10 (strictly) then git will interpret this
801 value as an open file descriptor and will try to write the
802 trace messages into this file descriptor.
803 Alternatively, if this variable is set to an absolute path
804 (starting with a '/' character), git will interpret this
805 as a file path and will try to write the trace messages
808 Discussion[[Discussion]]
809 ------------------------
811 More detail on the following is available from the
812 link:user-manual.html#git-concepts[git concepts chapter of the
813 user-manual] and linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7].
815 A git project normally consists of a working directory with a ".git"
816 subdirectory at the top level. The .git directory contains, among other
817 things, a compressed object database representing the complete history
818 of the project, an "index" file which links that history to the current
819 contents of the working tree, and named pointers into that history such
820 as tags and branch heads.
822 The object database contains objects of three main types: blobs, which
823 hold file data; trees, which point to blobs and other trees to build up
824 directory hierarchies; and commits, which each reference a single tree
825 and some number of parent commits.
827 The commit, equivalent to what other systems call a "changeset" or
828 "version", represents a step in the project's history, and each parent
829 represents an immediately preceding step. Commits with more than one
830 parent represent merges of independent lines of development.
832 All objects are named by the SHA1 hash of their contents, normally
833 written as a string of 40 hex digits. Such names are globally unique.
834 The entire history leading up to a commit can be vouched for by signing
835 just that commit. A fourth object type, the tag, is provided for this
838 When first created, objects are stored in individual files, but for
839 efficiency may later be compressed together into "pack files".
841 Named pointers called refs mark interesting points in history. A ref
842 may contain the SHA1 name of an object or the name of another ref. Refs
843 with names beginning `ref/head/` contain the SHA1 name of the most
844 recent commit (or "head") of a branch under development. SHA1 names of
845 tags of interest are stored under `ref/tags/`. A special ref named
846 `HEAD` contains the name of the currently checked-out branch.
848 The index file is initialized with a list of all paths and, for each
849 path, a blob object and a set of attributes. The blob object represents
850 the contents of the file as of the head of the current branch. The
851 attributes (last modified time, size, etc.) are taken from the
852 corresponding file in the working tree. Subsequent changes to the
853 working tree can be found by comparing these attributes. The index may
854 be updated with new content, and new commits may be created from the
855 content stored in the index.
857 The index is also capable of storing multiple entries (called "stages")
858 for a given pathname. These stages are used to hold the various
859 unmerged version of a file when a merge is in progress.
861 FURTHER DOCUMENTATION
862 ---------------------
864 See the references in the "description" section to get started
865 using git. The following is probably more detail than necessary
866 for a first-time user.
868 The link:user-manual.html#git-concepts[git concepts chapter of the
869 user-manual] and linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7] both provide
870 introductions to the underlying git architecture.
872 See linkgit:gitworkflows[7] for an overview of recommended workflows.
874 See also the link:howto-index.html[howto] documents for some useful
877 The internals are documented in the
878 link:technical/api-index.html[GIT API documentation].
880 Users migrating from CVS may also want to
881 read linkgit:gitcvs-migration[7].
886 Git was started by Linus Torvalds, and is currently maintained by Junio
887 C Hamano. Numerous contributions have come from the git mailing list
888 <git@vger.kernel.org>. http://www.ohloh.net/p/git/contributors/summary
889 gives you a more complete list of contributors.
891 If you have a clone of git.git itself, the
892 output of linkgit:git-shortlog[1] and linkgit:git-blame[1] can show you
893 the authors for specific parts of the project.
898 Report bugs to the Git mailing list <git@vger.kernel.org> where the
899 development and maintenance is primarily done. You do not have to be
900 subscribed to the list to send a message there.
904 linkgit:gittutorial[7], linkgit:gittutorial-2[7],
905 link:everyday.html[Everyday Git], linkgit:gitcvs-migration[7],
906 linkgit:gitglossary[7], linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7],
907 linkgit:gitcli[7], link:user-manual.html[The Git User's Manual],
908 linkgit:gitworkflows[7]
912 Part of the linkgit:git[1] suite