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 the 'master'
43 branch of the `git.git` repository.
44 Documentation for older releases are available here:
46 * link:v2.1.0/git.html[documentation for release 2.1]
49 link:RelNotes/2.1.0.txt[2.1].
51 * link:v2.0.4/git.html[documentation for release 2.0.4]
54 link:RelNotes/2.0.4.txt[2.0.4],
55 link:RelNotes/2.0.3.txt[2.0.3],
56 link:RelNotes/2.0.2.txt[2.0.2],
57 link:RelNotes/2.0.1.txt[2.0.1],
58 link:RelNotes/2.0.0.txt[2.0.0].
60 * link:v1.9.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.9.4]
63 link:RelNotes/1.9.4.txt[1.9.4],
64 link:RelNotes/1.9.3.txt[1.9.3],
65 link:RelNotes/1.9.2.txt[1.9.2],
66 link:RelNotes/1.9.1.txt[1.9.1],
67 link:RelNotes/1.9.0.txt[1.9.0].
69 * link:v1.8.5.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.5.5]
72 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.5.txt[1.8.5.5],
73 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.4.txt[1.8.5.4],
74 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.3.txt[1.8.5.3],
75 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.2.txt[1.8.5.2],
76 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.1.txt[1.8.5.1],
77 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.txt[1.8.5].
79 * link:v1.8.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.4.5]
82 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.5.txt[1.8.4.5],
83 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.4.txt[1.8.4.4],
84 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.3.txt[1.8.4.3],
85 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.2.txt[1.8.4.2],
86 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.1.txt[1.8.4.1],
87 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.txt[1.8.4].
89 * link:v1.8.3.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.3.4]
92 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.4.txt[1.8.3.4],
93 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.3.txt[1.8.3.3],
94 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.2.txt[1.8.3.2],
95 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.1.txt[1.8.3.1],
96 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.txt[1.8.3].
98 * link:v1.8.2.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.2.3]
101 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.3.txt[1.8.2.3],
102 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.2.txt[1.8.2.2],
103 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.1.txt[1.8.2.1],
104 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.txt[1.8.2].
106 * link:v1.8.1.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.1.6]
109 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.6.txt[1.8.1.6],
110 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.5.txt[1.8.1.5],
111 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.4.txt[1.8.1.4],
112 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.3.txt[1.8.1.3],
113 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.2.txt[1.8.1.2],
114 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.1.txt[1.8.1.1],
115 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.txt[1.8.1].
117 * link:v1.8.0.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.0.3]
120 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.3.txt[1.8.0.3],
121 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.2.txt[1.8.0.2],
122 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.1.txt[1.8.0.1],
123 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.txt[1.8.0].
125 * link:v1.7.12.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.12.4]
128 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.4.txt[1.7.12.4],
129 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.3.txt[1.7.12.3],
130 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.2.txt[1.7.12.2],
131 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.1.txt[1.7.12.1],
132 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.txt[1.7.12].
134 * link:v1.7.11.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.11.7]
137 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.7.txt[1.7.11.7],
138 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.6.txt[1.7.11.6],
139 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.5.txt[1.7.11.5],
140 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.4.txt[1.7.11.4],
141 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.3.txt[1.7.11.3],
142 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.2.txt[1.7.11.2],
143 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.1.txt[1.7.11.1],
144 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.txt[1.7.11].
146 * link:v1.7.10.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.10.5]
149 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.5.txt[1.7.10.5],
150 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.4.txt[1.7.10.4],
151 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.3.txt[1.7.10.3],
152 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.2.txt[1.7.10.2],
153 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.1.txt[1.7.10.1],
154 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.txt[1.7.10].
156 * link:v1.7.9.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.9.7]
159 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.7.txt[1.7.9.7],
160 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.6.txt[1.7.9.6],
161 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.5.txt[1.7.9.5],
162 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.4.txt[1.7.9.4],
163 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.3.txt[1.7.9.3],
164 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.2.txt[1.7.9.2],
165 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.1.txt[1.7.9.1],
166 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.txt[1.7.9].
168 * link:v1.7.8.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.8.6]
171 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.6.txt[1.7.8.6],
172 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.5.txt[1.7.8.5],
173 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.4.txt[1.7.8.4],
174 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.3.txt[1.7.8.3],
175 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.2.txt[1.7.8.2],
176 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.1.txt[1.7.8.1],
177 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.txt[1.7.8].
179 * link:v1.7.7.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.7.7]
182 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.7.txt[1.7.7.7],
183 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.6.txt[1.7.7.6],
184 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.5.txt[1.7.7.5],
185 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.4.txt[1.7.7.4],
186 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.3.txt[1.7.7.3],
187 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.2.txt[1.7.7.2],
188 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.1.txt[1.7.7.1],
189 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.txt[1.7.7].
191 * link:v1.7.6.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.6.6]
194 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.6.txt[1.7.6.6],
195 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.5.txt[1.7.6.5],
196 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.4.txt[1.7.6.4],
197 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.3.txt[1.7.6.3],
198 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.2.txt[1.7.6.2],
199 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.1.txt[1.7.6.1],
200 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.txt[1.7.6].
202 * link:v1.7.5.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.5.4]
205 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.4.txt[1.7.5.4],
206 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.3.txt[1.7.5.3],
207 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.2.txt[1.7.5.2],
208 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.1.txt[1.7.5.1],
209 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.txt[1.7.5].
211 * link:v1.7.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.4.5]
214 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.5.txt[1.7.4.5],
215 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.4.txt[1.7.4.4],
216 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.3.txt[1.7.4.3],
217 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.2.txt[1.7.4.2],
218 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.1.txt[1.7.4.1],
219 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.txt[1.7.4].
221 * link:v1.7.3.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.3.5]
224 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.5.txt[1.7.3.5],
225 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.4.txt[1.7.3.4],
226 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.3.txt[1.7.3.3],
227 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.2.txt[1.7.3.2],
228 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.1.txt[1.7.3.1],
229 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.txt[1.7.3].
231 * link:v1.7.2.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.2.5]
234 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.5.txt[1.7.2.5],
235 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.4.txt[1.7.2.4],
236 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.3.txt[1.7.2.3],
237 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.2.txt[1.7.2.2],
238 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.1.txt[1.7.2.1],
239 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.txt[1.7.2].
241 * link:v1.7.1.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.1.4]
244 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.4.txt[1.7.1.4],
245 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.3.txt[1.7.1.3],
246 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.2.txt[1.7.1.2],
247 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.1.txt[1.7.1.1],
248 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.txt[1.7.1].
250 * link:v1.7.0.9/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.0.9]
253 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.9.txt[1.7.0.9],
254 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.8.txt[1.7.0.8],
255 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.7.txt[1.7.0.7],
256 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.6.txt[1.7.0.6],
257 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.5.txt[1.7.0.5],
258 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.4.txt[1.7.0.4],
259 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.3.txt[1.7.0.3],
260 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.2.txt[1.7.0.2],
261 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.1.txt[1.7.0.1],
262 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.txt[1.7.0].
264 * link:v1.6.6.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.6.3]
267 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.3.txt[1.6.6.3],
268 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.2.txt[1.6.6.2],
269 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.1.txt[1.6.6.1],
270 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.txt[1.6.6].
272 * link:v1.6.5.9/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.5.9]
275 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.9.txt[1.6.5.9],
276 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.8.txt[1.6.5.8],
277 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.7.txt[1.6.5.7],
278 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.6.txt[1.6.5.6],
279 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.5.txt[1.6.5.5],
280 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.4.txt[1.6.5.4],
281 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.3.txt[1.6.5.3],
282 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.2.txt[1.6.5.2],
283 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.1.txt[1.6.5.1],
284 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.txt[1.6.5].
286 * link:v1.6.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.4.5]
289 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.5.txt[1.6.4.5],
290 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.4.txt[1.6.4.4],
291 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.3.txt[1.6.4.3],
292 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.2.txt[1.6.4.2],
293 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.1.txt[1.6.4.1],
294 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.txt[1.6.4].
296 * link:v1.6.3.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.3.4]
299 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.4.txt[1.6.3.4],
300 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.3.txt[1.6.3.3],
301 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.2.txt[1.6.3.2],
302 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.1.txt[1.6.3.1],
303 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.txt[1.6.3].
306 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.5.txt[1.6.2.5],
307 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.4.txt[1.6.2.4],
308 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.3.txt[1.6.2.3],
309 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.2.txt[1.6.2.2],
310 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.1.txt[1.6.2.1],
311 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.txt[1.6.2].
313 * link:v1.6.1.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.1.3]
316 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.3.txt[1.6.1.3],
317 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.2.txt[1.6.1.2],
318 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.1.txt[1.6.1.1],
319 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.txt[1.6.1].
321 * link:v1.6.0.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.0.6]
324 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.6.txt[1.6.0.6],
325 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.5.txt[1.6.0.5],
326 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.4.txt[1.6.0.4],
327 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.3.txt[1.6.0.3],
328 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.2.txt[1.6.0.2],
329 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.1.txt[1.6.0.1],
330 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.txt[1.6.0].
332 * link:v1.5.6.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.6.6]
335 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.6.txt[1.5.6.6],
336 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.5.txt[1.5.6.5],
337 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.4.txt[1.5.6.4],
338 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.3.txt[1.5.6.3],
339 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.2.txt[1.5.6.2],
340 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.1.txt[1.5.6.1],
341 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.txt[1.5.6].
343 * link:v1.5.5.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.5.6]
346 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.6.txt[1.5.5.6],
347 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.5.txt[1.5.5.5],
348 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.4.txt[1.5.5.4],
349 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.3.txt[1.5.5.3],
350 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.2.txt[1.5.5.2],
351 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.1.txt[1.5.5.1],
352 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.txt[1.5.5].
354 * link:v1.5.4.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.4.7]
357 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.7.txt[1.5.4.7],
358 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.6.txt[1.5.4.6],
359 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.5.txt[1.5.4.5],
360 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.4.txt[1.5.4.4],
361 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.3.txt[1.5.4.3],
362 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.2.txt[1.5.4.2],
363 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.1.txt[1.5.4.1],
364 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.txt[1.5.4].
366 * link:v1.5.3.8/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.3.8]
369 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.8.txt[1.5.3.8],
370 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.7.txt[1.5.3.7],
371 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.6.txt[1.5.3.6],
372 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.5.txt[1.5.3.5],
373 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.4.txt[1.5.3.4],
374 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.3.txt[1.5.3.3],
375 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.2.txt[1.5.3.2],
376 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.1.txt[1.5.3.1],
377 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.txt[1.5.3].
379 * link:v1.5.2.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.2.5]
382 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.5.txt[1.5.2.5],
383 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.4.txt[1.5.2.4],
384 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.3.txt[1.5.2.3],
385 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.2.txt[1.5.2.2],
386 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.1.txt[1.5.2.1],
387 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.txt[1.5.2].
389 * link:v1.5.1.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.1.6]
392 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.6.txt[1.5.1.6],
393 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.5.txt[1.5.1.5],
394 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.4.txt[1.5.1.4],
395 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.3.txt[1.5.1.3],
396 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.2.txt[1.5.1.2],
397 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.1.txt[1.5.1.1],
398 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.txt[1.5.1].
400 * link:v1.5.0.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.0.7]
403 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.7.txt[1.5.0.7],
404 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.6.txt[1.5.0.6],
405 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.5.txt[1.5.0.5],
406 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.3.txt[1.5.0.3],
407 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.2.txt[1.5.0.2],
408 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.1.txt[1.5.0.1],
409 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.txt[1.5.0].
411 * documentation for release link:v1.4.4.4/git.html[1.4.4.4],
412 link:v1.3.3/git.html[1.3.3],
413 link:v1.2.6/git.html[1.2.6],
414 link:v1.0.13/git.html[1.0.13].
423 Prints the Git suite version that the 'git' program came from.
426 Prints the synopsis and a list of the most commonly used
427 commands. If the option '--all' or '-a' is given then all
428 available commands are printed. If a Git command is named this
429 option will bring up the manual page for that command.
431 Other options are available to control how the manual page is
432 displayed. See linkgit:git-help[1] for more information,
433 because `git --help ...` is converted internally into `git
437 Run as if git was started in '<path>' instead of the current working
438 directory. When multiple `-C` options are given, each subsequent
439 non-absolute `-C <path>` is interpreted relative to the preceding `-C
442 This option affects options that expect path name like `--git-dir` and
443 `--work-tree` in that their interpretations of the path names would be
444 made relative to the working directory caused by the `-C` option. For
445 example the following invocations are equivalent:
447 git --git-dir=a.git --work-tree=b -C c status
448 git --git-dir=c/a.git --work-tree=c/b status
451 Pass a configuration parameter to the command. The value
452 given will override values from configuration files.
453 The <name> is expected in the same format as listed by
454 'git config' (subkeys separated by dots).
456 --exec-path[=<path>]::
457 Path to wherever your core Git programs are installed.
458 This can also be controlled by setting the GIT_EXEC_PATH
459 environment variable. If no path is given, 'git' will print
460 the current setting and then exit.
463 Print the path, without trailing slash, where Git's HTML
464 documentation is installed and exit.
467 Print the manpath (see `man(1)`) for the man pages for
468 this version of Git and exit.
471 Print the path where the Info files documenting this
472 version of Git are installed and exit.
476 Pipe all output into 'less' (or if set, $PAGER) if standard
477 output is a terminal. This overrides the `pager.<cmd>`
478 configuration options (see the "Configuration Mechanism" section
482 Do not pipe Git output into a pager.
485 Set the path to the repository. This can also be controlled by
486 setting the GIT_DIR environment variable. It can be an absolute
487 path or relative path to current working directory.
490 Set the path to the working tree. It can be an absolute path
491 or a path relative to the current working directory.
492 This can also be controlled by setting the GIT_WORK_TREE
493 environment variable and the core.worktree configuration
494 variable (see core.worktree in linkgit:git-config[1] for a
495 more detailed discussion).
498 Set the Git namespace. See linkgit:gitnamespaces[7] for more
499 details. Equivalent to setting the `GIT_NAMESPACE` environment
503 Treat the repository as a bare repository. If GIT_DIR
504 environment is not set, it is set to the current working
507 --no-replace-objects::
508 Do not use replacement refs to replace Git objects. See
509 linkgit:git-replace[1] for more information.
511 --literal-pathspecs::
512 Treat pathspecs literally (i.e. no globbing, no pathspec magic).
513 This is equivalent to setting the `GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS` environment
517 Add "glob" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
518 the `GIT_GLOB_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`. Disabling
519 globbing on individual pathspecs can be done using pathspec
523 Add "literal" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
524 the `GIT_NOGLOB_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`. Enabling
525 globbing on individual pathspecs can be done using pathspec
529 Add "icase" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
530 the `GIT_ICASE_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`.
535 We divide Git into high level ("porcelain") commands and low level
536 ("plumbing") commands.
538 High-level commands (porcelain)
539 -------------------------------
541 We separate the porcelain commands into the main commands and some
542 ancillary user utilities.
544 Main porcelain commands
545 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
547 include::cmds-mainporcelain.txt[]
553 include::cmds-ancillarymanipulators.txt[]
557 include::cmds-ancillaryinterrogators.txt[]
560 Interacting with Others
561 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
563 These commands are to interact with foreign SCM and with other
564 people via patch over e-mail.
566 include::cmds-foreignscminterface.txt[]
569 Low-level commands (plumbing)
570 -----------------------------
572 Although Git includes its
573 own porcelain layer, its low-level commands are sufficient to support
574 development of alternative porcelains. Developers of such porcelains
575 might start by reading about linkgit:git-update-index[1] and
576 linkgit:git-read-tree[1].
578 The interface (input, output, set of options and the semantics)
579 to these low-level commands are meant to be a lot more stable
580 than Porcelain level commands, because these commands are
581 primarily for scripted use. The interface to Porcelain commands
582 on the other hand are subject to change in order to improve the
585 The following description divides
586 the low-level commands into commands that manipulate objects (in
587 the repository, index, and working tree), commands that interrogate and
588 compare objects, and commands that move objects and references between
592 Manipulation commands
593 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
595 include::cmds-plumbingmanipulators.txt[]
598 Interrogation commands
599 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
601 include::cmds-plumbinginterrogators.txt[]
603 In general, the interrogate commands do not touch the files in
607 Synching repositories
608 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
610 include::cmds-synchingrepositories.txt[]
612 The following are helper commands used by the above; end users
613 typically do not use them directly.
615 include::cmds-synchelpers.txt[]
618 Internal helper commands
619 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
621 These are internal helper commands used by other commands; end
622 users typically do not use them directly.
624 include::cmds-purehelpers.txt[]
627 Configuration Mechanism
628 -----------------------
630 Git uses a simple text format to store customizations that are per
631 repository and are per user. Such a configuration file may look
636 # A '#' or ';' character indicates a comment.
641 ; Don't trust file modes
646 name = "Junio C Hamano"
647 email = "gitster@pobox.com"
651 Various commands read from the configuration file and adjust
652 their operation accordingly. See linkgit:git-config[1] for a
653 list and more details about the configuration mechanism.
656 Identifier Terminology
657 ----------------------
659 Indicates the object name for any type of object.
662 Indicates a blob object name.
665 Indicates a tree object name.
668 Indicates a commit object name.
671 Indicates a tree, commit or tag object name. A
672 command that takes a <tree-ish> argument ultimately wants to
673 operate on a <tree> object but automatically dereferences
674 <commit> and <tag> objects that point at a <tree>.
677 Indicates a commit or tag object name. A
678 command that takes a <commit-ish> argument ultimately wants to
679 operate on a <commit> object but automatically dereferences
680 <tag> objects that point at a <commit>.
683 Indicates that an object type is required.
684 Currently one of: `blob`, `tree`, `commit`, or `tag`.
687 Indicates a filename - almost always relative to the
688 root of the tree structure `GIT_INDEX_FILE` describes.
692 Any Git command accepting any <object> can also use the following
696 indicates the head of the current branch.
700 (i.e. a `refs/tags/<tag>` reference).
704 (i.e. a `refs/heads/<head>` reference).
706 For a more complete list of ways to spell object names, see
707 "SPECIFYING REVISIONS" section in linkgit:gitrevisions[7].
710 File/Directory Structure
711 ------------------------
713 Please see the linkgit:gitrepository-layout[5] document.
715 Read linkgit:githooks[5] for more details about each hook.
717 Higher level SCMs may provide and manage additional information in the
723 Please see linkgit:gitglossary[7].
726 Environment Variables
727 ---------------------
728 Various Git commands use the following environment variables:
732 These environment variables apply to 'all' core Git commands. Nb: it
733 is worth noting that they may be used/overridden by SCMS sitting above
734 Git so take care if using Cogito etc.
737 This environment allows the specification of an alternate
738 index file. If not specified, the default of `$GIT_DIR/index`
741 'GIT_INDEX_VERSION'::
742 This environment variable allows the specification of an index
743 version for new repositories. It won't affect existing index
744 files. By default index file version [23] is used.
746 'GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY'::
747 If the object storage directory is specified via this
748 environment variable then the sha1 directories are created
749 underneath - otherwise the default `$GIT_DIR/objects`
752 'GIT_ALTERNATE_OBJECT_DIRECTORIES'::
753 Due to the immutable nature of Git objects, old objects can be
754 archived into shared, read-only directories. This variable
755 specifies a ":" separated (on Windows ";" separated) list
756 of Git object directories which can be used to search for Git
757 objects. New objects will not be written to these directories.
760 If the 'GIT_DIR' environment variable is set then it
761 specifies a path to use instead of the default `.git`
762 for the base of the repository.
763 The '--git-dir' command-line option also sets this value.
766 Set the path to the root of the working tree.
767 This can also be controlled by the '--work-tree' command-line
768 option and the core.worktree configuration variable.
771 Set the Git namespace; see linkgit:gitnamespaces[7] for details.
772 The '--namespace' command-line option also sets this value.
774 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES'::
775 This should be a colon-separated list of absolute paths. If
776 set, it is a list of directories that Git should not chdir up
777 into while looking for a repository directory (useful for
778 excluding slow-loading network directories). It will not
779 exclude the current working directory or a GIT_DIR set on the
780 command line or in the environment. Normally, Git has to read
781 the entries in this list and resolve any symlink that
782 might be present in order to compare them with the current
783 directory. However, if even this access is slow, you
784 can add an empty entry to the list to tell Git that the
785 subsequent entries are not symlinks and needn't be resolved;
787 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES=/maybe/symlink::/very/slow/non/symlink'.
789 'GIT_DISCOVERY_ACROSS_FILESYSTEM'::
790 When run in a directory that does not have ".git" repository
791 directory, Git tries to find such a directory in the parent
792 directories to find the top of the working tree, but by default it
793 does not cross filesystem boundaries. This environment variable
794 can be set to true to tell Git not to stop at filesystem
795 boundaries. Like 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES', this will not affect
796 an explicit repository directory set via 'GIT_DIR' or on the
804 'GIT_COMMITTER_NAME'::
805 'GIT_COMMITTER_EMAIL'::
806 'GIT_COMMITTER_DATE'::
808 see linkgit:git-commit-tree[1]
813 Only valid setting is "--unified=??" or "-u??" to set the
814 number of context lines shown when a unified diff is created.
815 This takes precedence over any "-U" or "--unified" option
816 value passed on the Git diff command line.
818 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF'::
819 When the environment variable 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is set, the
820 program named by it is called, instead of the diff invocation
821 described above. For a path that is added, removed, or modified,
822 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called with 7 parameters:
824 path old-file old-hex old-mode new-file new-hex new-mode
828 <old|new>-file:: are files GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF can use to read the
829 contents of <old|new>,
830 <old|new>-hex:: are the 40-hexdigit SHA-1 hashes,
831 <old|new>-mode:: are the octal representation of the file modes.
833 The file parameters can point at the user's working file
834 (e.g. `new-file` in "git-diff-files"), `/dev/null` (e.g. `old-file`
835 when a new file is added), or a temporary file (e.g. `old-file` in the
836 index). 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' should not worry about unlinking the
837 temporary file --- it is removed when 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' exits.
839 For a path that is unmerged, 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called with 1
842 For each path 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called, two environment variables,
843 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_COUNTER' and 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_TOTAL' are set.
845 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_COUNTER'::
846 A 1-based counter incremented by one for every path.
848 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_TOTAL'::
849 The total number of paths.
853 'GIT_MERGE_VERBOSITY'::
854 A number controlling the amount of output shown by
855 the recursive merge strategy. Overrides merge.verbosity.
856 See linkgit:git-merge[1]
859 This environment variable overrides `$PAGER`. If it is set
860 to an empty string or to the value "cat", Git will not launch
861 a pager. See also the `core.pager` option in
862 linkgit:git-config[1].
865 This environment variable overrides `$EDITOR` and `$VISUAL`.
866 It is used by several Git commands when, on interactive mode,
867 an editor is to be launched. See also linkgit:git-var[1]
868 and the `core.editor` option in linkgit:git-config[1].
871 If this environment variable is set then 'git fetch'
872 and 'git push' will use this command instead
873 of 'ssh' when they need to connect to a remote system.
874 The '$GIT_SSH' command will be given exactly two or
875 four arguments: the 'username@host' (or just 'host')
876 from the URL and the shell command to execute on that
877 remote system, optionally preceded by '-p' (literally) and
878 the 'port' from the URL when it specifies something other
879 than the default SSH port.
881 To pass options to the program that you want to list in GIT_SSH
882 you will need to wrap the program and options into a shell script,
883 then set GIT_SSH to refer to the shell script.
885 Usually it is easier to configure any desired options through your
886 personal `.ssh/config` file. Please consult your ssh documentation
890 If this environment variable is set, then Git commands which need to
891 acquire passwords or passphrases (e.g. for HTTP or IMAP authentication)
892 will call this program with a suitable prompt as command-line argument
893 and read the password from its STDOUT. See also the 'core.askpass'
894 option in linkgit:git-config[1].
896 'GIT_CONFIG_NOSYSTEM'::
897 Whether to skip reading settings from the system-wide
898 `$(prefix)/etc/gitconfig` file. This environment variable can
899 be used along with `$HOME` and `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME` to create a
900 predictable environment for a picky script, or you can set it
901 temporarily to avoid using a buggy `/etc/gitconfig` file while
902 waiting for someone with sufficient permissions to fix it.
905 If this environment variable is set to "1", then commands such
906 as 'git blame' (in incremental mode), 'git rev-list', 'git log',
907 'git check-attr' and 'git check-ignore' will
908 force a flush of the output stream after each record have been
910 variable is set to "0", the output of these commands will be done
911 using completely buffered I/O. If this environment variable is
912 not set, Git will choose buffered or record-oriented flushing
913 based on whether stdout appears to be redirected to a file or not.
916 Enables general trace messages, e.g. alias expansion, built-in
917 command execution and external command execution.
919 If this variable is set to "1", "2" or "true" (comparison
920 is case insensitive), trace messages will be printed to
923 If the variable is set to an integer value greater than 2
924 and lower than 10 (strictly) then Git will interpret this
925 value as an open file descriptor and will try to write the
926 trace messages into this file descriptor.
928 Alternatively, if the variable is set to an absolute path
929 (starting with a '/' character), Git will interpret this
930 as a file path and will try to write the trace messages
933 Unsetting the variable, or setting it to empty, "0" or
934 "false" (case insensitive) disables trace messages.
936 'GIT_TRACE_PACK_ACCESS'::
937 Enables trace messages for all accesses to any packs. For each
938 access, the pack file name and an offset in the pack is
939 recorded. This may be helpful for troubleshooting some
940 pack-related performance problems.
941 See 'GIT_TRACE' for available trace output options.
944 Enables trace messages for all packets coming in or out of a
945 given program. This can help with debugging object negotiation
946 or other protocol issues. Tracing is turned off at a packet
947 starting with "PACK".
948 See 'GIT_TRACE' for available trace output options.
950 'GIT_TRACE_PERFORMANCE'::
951 Enables performance related trace messages, e.g. total execution
952 time of each Git command.
953 See 'GIT_TRACE' for available trace output options.
956 Enables trace messages printing the .git, working tree and current
957 working directory after Git has completed its setup phase.
958 See 'GIT_TRACE' for available trace output options.
960 'GIT_TRACE_SHALLOW'::
961 Enables trace messages that can help debugging fetching /
962 cloning of shallow repositories.
963 See 'GIT_TRACE' for available trace output options.
965 GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS::
966 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
967 pathspecs literally, rather than as glob patterns. For example,
968 running `GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS=1 git log -- '*.c'` will search
969 for commits that touch the path `*.c`, not any paths that the
970 glob `*.c` matches. You might want this if you are feeding
971 literal paths to Git (e.g., paths previously given to you by
972 `git ls-tree`, `--raw` diff output, etc).
975 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
976 pathspecs as glob patterns (aka "glob" magic).
978 GIT_NOGLOB_PATHSPECS::
979 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
980 pathspecs as literal (aka "literal" magic).
982 GIT_ICASE_PATHSPECS::
983 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
984 pathspecs as case-insensitive.
986 'GIT_REFLOG_ACTION'::
987 When a ref is updated, reflog entries are created to keep
988 track of the reason why the ref was updated (which is
989 typically the name of the high-level command that updated
990 the ref), in addition to the old and new values of the ref.
991 A scripted Porcelain command can use set_reflog_action
992 helper function in `git-sh-setup` to set its name to this
993 variable when it is invoked as the top level command by the
994 end user, to be recorded in the body of the reflog.
997 Discussion[[Discussion]]
998 ------------------------
1000 More detail on the following is available from the
1001 link:user-manual.html#git-concepts[Git concepts chapter of the
1002 user-manual] and linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7].
1004 A Git project normally consists of a working directory with a ".git"
1005 subdirectory at the top level. The .git directory contains, among other
1006 things, a compressed object database representing the complete history
1007 of the project, an "index" file which links that history to the current
1008 contents of the working tree, and named pointers into that history such
1009 as tags and branch heads.
1011 The object database contains objects of three main types: blobs, which
1012 hold file data; trees, which point to blobs and other trees to build up
1013 directory hierarchies; and commits, which each reference a single tree
1014 and some number of parent commits.
1016 The commit, equivalent to what other systems call a "changeset" or
1017 "version", represents a step in the project's history, and each parent
1018 represents an immediately preceding step. Commits with more than one
1019 parent represent merges of independent lines of development.
1021 All objects are named by the SHA-1 hash of their contents, normally
1022 written as a string of 40 hex digits. Such names are globally unique.
1023 The entire history leading up to a commit can be vouched for by signing
1024 just that commit. A fourth object type, the tag, is provided for this
1027 When first created, objects are stored in individual files, but for
1028 efficiency may later be compressed together into "pack files".
1030 Named pointers called refs mark interesting points in history. A ref
1031 may contain the SHA-1 name of an object or the name of another ref. Refs
1032 with names beginning `ref/head/` contain the SHA-1 name of the most
1033 recent commit (or "head") of a branch under development. SHA-1 names of
1034 tags of interest are stored under `ref/tags/`. A special ref named
1035 `HEAD` contains the name of the currently checked-out branch.
1037 The index file is initialized with a list of all paths and, for each
1038 path, a blob object and a set of attributes. The blob object represents
1039 the contents of the file as of the head of the current branch. The
1040 attributes (last modified time, size, etc.) are taken from the
1041 corresponding file in the working tree. Subsequent changes to the
1042 working tree can be found by comparing these attributes. The index may
1043 be updated with new content, and new commits may be created from the
1044 content stored in the index.
1046 The index is also capable of storing multiple entries (called "stages")
1047 for a given pathname. These stages are used to hold the various
1048 unmerged version of a file when a merge is in progress.
1050 FURTHER DOCUMENTATION
1051 ---------------------
1053 See the references in the "description" section to get started
1054 using Git. The following is probably more detail than necessary
1055 for a first-time user.
1057 The link:user-manual.html#git-concepts[Git concepts chapter of the
1058 user-manual] and linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7] both provide
1059 introductions to the underlying Git architecture.
1061 See linkgit:gitworkflows[7] for an overview of recommended workflows.
1063 See also the link:howto-index.html[howto] documents for some useful
1066 The internals are documented in the
1067 link:technical/api-index.html[Git API documentation].
1069 Users migrating from CVS may also want to
1070 read linkgit:gitcvs-migration[7].
1075 Git was started by Linus Torvalds, and is currently maintained by Junio
1076 C Hamano. Numerous contributions have come from the Git mailing list
1077 <git@vger.kernel.org>. http://www.openhub.net/p/git/contributors/summary
1078 gives you a more complete list of contributors.
1080 If you have a clone of git.git itself, the
1081 output of linkgit:git-shortlog[1] and linkgit:git-blame[1] can show you
1082 the authors for specific parts of the project.
1087 Report bugs to the Git mailing list <git@vger.kernel.org> where the
1088 development and maintenance is primarily done. You do not have to be
1089 subscribed to the list to send a message there.
1093 linkgit:gittutorial[7], linkgit:gittutorial-2[7],
1094 link:everyday.html[Everyday Git], linkgit:gitcvs-migration[7],
1095 linkgit:gitglossary[7], linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7],
1096 linkgit:gitcli[7], link:user-manual.html[The Git User's Manual],
1097 linkgit:gitworkflows[7]
1101 Part of the linkgit:git[1] suite