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:v1.9.1/git.html[documentation for release 1.9.1]
49 link:RelNotes/1.9.1.txt[1.9.1],
50 link:RelNotes/1.9.0.txt[1.9.0].
52 * link:v1.8.5.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.5.5]
55 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.5.txt[1.8.5.5],
56 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.4.txt[1.8.5.4],
57 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.3.txt[1.8.5.3],
58 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.2.txt[1.8.5.2],
59 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.1.txt[1.8.5.1],
60 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.txt[1.8.5].
62 * link:v1.8.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.4.5]
65 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.5.txt[1.8.4.5],
66 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.4.txt[1.8.4.4],
67 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.3.txt[1.8.4.3],
68 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.2.txt[1.8.4.2],
69 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.1.txt[1.8.4.1],
70 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.txt[1.8.4].
72 * link:v1.8.3.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.3.4]
75 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.4.txt[1.8.3.4],
76 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.3.txt[1.8.3.3],
77 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.2.txt[1.8.3.2],
78 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.1.txt[1.8.3.1],
79 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.txt[1.8.3].
81 * link:v1.8.2.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.2.3]
84 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.3.txt[1.8.2.3],
85 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.2.txt[1.8.2.2],
86 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.1.txt[1.8.2.1],
87 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.txt[1.8.2].
89 * link:v1.8.1.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.1.6]
92 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.6.txt[1.8.1.6],
93 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.5.txt[1.8.1.5],
94 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.4.txt[1.8.1.4],
95 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.3.txt[1.8.1.3],
96 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.2.txt[1.8.1.2],
97 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.1.txt[1.8.1.1],
98 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.txt[1.8.1].
100 * link:v1.8.0.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.0.3]
103 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.3.txt[1.8.0.3],
104 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.2.txt[1.8.0.2],
105 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.1.txt[1.8.0.1],
106 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.txt[1.8.0].
108 * link:v1.7.12.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.12.4]
111 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.4.txt[1.7.12.4],
112 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.3.txt[1.7.12.3],
113 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.2.txt[1.7.12.2],
114 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.1.txt[1.7.12.1],
115 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.txt[1.7.12].
117 * link:v1.7.11.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.11.7]
120 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.7.txt[1.7.11.7],
121 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.6.txt[1.7.11.6],
122 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.5.txt[1.7.11.5],
123 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.4.txt[1.7.11.4],
124 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.3.txt[1.7.11.3],
125 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.2.txt[1.7.11.2],
126 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.1.txt[1.7.11.1],
127 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.txt[1.7.11].
129 * link:v1.7.10.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.10.5]
132 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.5.txt[1.7.10.5],
133 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.4.txt[1.7.10.4],
134 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.3.txt[1.7.10.3],
135 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.2.txt[1.7.10.2],
136 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.1.txt[1.7.10.1],
137 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.txt[1.7.10].
139 * link:v1.7.9.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.9.7]
142 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.7.txt[1.7.9.7],
143 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.6.txt[1.7.9.6],
144 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.5.txt[1.7.9.5],
145 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.4.txt[1.7.9.4],
146 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.3.txt[1.7.9.3],
147 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.2.txt[1.7.9.2],
148 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.1.txt[1.7.9.1],
149 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.txt[1.7.9].
151 * link:v1.7.8.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.8.6]
154 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.6.txt[1.7.8.6],
155 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.5.txt[1.7.8.5],
156 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.4.txt[1.7.8.4],
157 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.3.txt[1.7.8.3],
158 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.2.txt[1.7.8.2],
159 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.1.txt[1.7.8.1],
160 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.txt[1.7.8].
162 * link:v1.7.7.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.7.7]
165 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.7.txt[1.7.7.7],
166 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.6.txt[1.7.7.6],
167 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.5.txt[1.7.7.5],
168 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.4.txt[1.7.7.4],
169 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.3.txt[1.7.7.3],
170 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.2.txt[1.7.7.2],
171 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.1.txt[1.7.7.1],
172 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.txt[1.7.7].
174 * link:v1.7.6.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.6.6]
177 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.6.txt[1.7.6.6],
178 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.5.txt[1.7.6.5],
179 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.4.txt[1.7.6.4],
180 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.3.txt[1.7.6.3],
181 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.2.txt[1.7.6.2],
182 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.1.txt[1.7.6.1],
183 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.txt[1.7.6].
185 * link:v1.7.5.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.5.4]
188 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.4.txt[1.7.5.4],
189 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.3.txt[1.7.5.3],
190 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.2.txt[1.7.5.2],
191 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.1.txt[1.7.5.1],
192 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.txt[1.7.5].
194 * link:v1.7.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.4.5]
197 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.5.txt[1.7.4.5],
198 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.4.txt[1.7.4.4],
199 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.3.txt[1.7.4.3],
200 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.2.txt[1.7.4.2],
201 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.1.txt[1.7.4.1],
202 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.txt[1.7.4].
204 * link:v1.7.3.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.3.5]
207 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.5.txt[1.7.3.5],
208 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.4.txt[1.7.3.4],
209 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.3.txt[1.7.3.3],
210 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.2.txt[1.7.3.2],
211 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.1.txt[1.7.3.1],
212 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.txt[1.7.3].
214 * link:v1.7.2.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.2.5]
217 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.5.txt[1.7.2.5],
218 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.4.txt[1.7.2.4],
219 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.3.txt[1.7.2.3],
220 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.2.txt[1.7.2.2],
221 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.1.txt[1.7.2.1],
222 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.txt[1.7.2].
224 * link:v1.7.1.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.1.4]
227 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.4.txt[1.7.1.4],
228 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.3.txt[1.7.1.3],
229 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.2.txt[1.7.1.2],
230 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.1.txt[1.7.1.1],
231 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.txt[1.7.1].
233 * link:v1.7.0.9/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.0.9]
236 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.9.txt[1.7.0.9],
237 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.8.txt[1.7.0.8],
238 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.7.txt[1.7.0.7],
239 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.6.txt[1.7.0.6],
240 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.5.txt[1.7.0.5],
241 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.4.txt[1.7.0.4],
242 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.3.txt[1.7.0.3],
243 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.2.txt[1.7.0.2],
244 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.1.txt[1.7.0.1],
245 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.txt[1.7.0].
247 * link:v1.6.6.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.6.3]
250 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.3.txt[1.6.6.3],
251 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.2.txt[1.6.6.2],
252 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.1.txt[1.6.6.1],
253 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.txt[1.6.6].
255 * link:v1.6.5.9/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.5.9]
258 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.9.txt[1.6.5.9],
259 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.8.txt[1.6.5.8],
260 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.7.txt[1.6.5.7],
261 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.6.txt[1.6.5.6],
262 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.5.txt[1.6.5.5],
263 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.4.txt[1.6.5.4],
264 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.3.txt[1.6.5.3],
265 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.2.txt[1.6.5.2],
266 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.1.txt[1.6.5.1],
267 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.txt[1.6.5].
269 * link:v1.6.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.4.5]
272 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.5.txt[1.6.4.5],
273 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.4.txt[1.6.4.4],
274 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.3.txt[1.6.4.3],
275 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.2.txt[1.6.4.2],
276 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.1.txt[1.6.4.1],
277 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.txt[1.6.4].
279 * link:v1.6.3.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.3.4]
282 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.4.txt[1.6.3.4],
283 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.3.txt[1.6.3.3],
284 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.2.txt[1.6.3.2],
285 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.1.txt[1.6.3.1],
286 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.txt[1.6.3].
289 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.5.txt[1.6.2.5],
290 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.4.txt[1.6.2.4],
291 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.3.txt[1.6.2.3],
292 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.2.txt[1.6.2.2],
293 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.1.txt[1.6.2.1],
294 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.txt[1.6.2].
296 * link:v1.6.1.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.1.3]
299 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.3.txt[1.6.1.3],
300 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.2.txt[1.6.1.2],
301 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.1.txt[1.6.1.1],
302 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.txt[1.6.1].
304 * link:v1.6.0.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.0.6]
307 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.6.txt[1.6.0.6],
308 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.5.txt[1.6.0.5],
309 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.4.txt[1.6.0.4],
310 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.3.txt[1.6.0.3],
311 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.2.txt[1.6.0.2],
312 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.1.txt[1.6.0.1],
313 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.txt[1.6.0].
315 * link:v1.5.6.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.6.6]
318 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.6.txt[1.5.6.6],
319 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.5.txt[1.5.6.5],
320 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.4.txt[1.5.6.4],
321 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.3.txt[1.5.6.3],
322 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.2.txt[1.5.6.2],
323 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.1.txt[1.5.6.1],
324 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.txt[1.5.6].
326 * link:v1.5.5.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.5.6]
329 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.6.txt[1.5.5.6],
330 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.5.txt[1.5.5.5],
331 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.4.txt[1.5.5.4],
332 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.3.txt[1.5.5.3],
333 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.2.txt[1.5.5.2],
334 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.1.txt[1.5.5.1],
335 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.txt[1.5.5].
337 * link:v1.5.4.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.4.7]
340 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.7.txt[1.5.4.7],
341 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.6.txt[1.5.4.6],
342 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.5.txt[1.5.4.5],
343 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.4.txt[1.5.4.4],
344 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.3.txt[1.5.4.3],
345 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.2.txt[1.5.4.2],
346 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.1.txt[1.5.4.1],
347 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.txt[1.5.4].
349 * link:v1.5.3.8/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.3.8]
352 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.8.txt[1.5.3.8],
353 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.7.txt[1.5.3.7],
354 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.6.txt[1.5.3.6],
355 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.5.txt[1.5.3.5],
356 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.4.txt[1.5.3.4],
357 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.3.txt[1.5.3.3],
358 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.2.txt[1.5.3.2],
359 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.1.txt[1.5.3.1],
360 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.txt[1.5.3].
362 * link:v1.5.2.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.2.5]
365 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.5.txt[1.5.2.5],
366 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.4.txt[1.5.2.4],
367 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.3.txt[1.5.2.3],
368 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.2.txt[1.5.2.2],
369 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.1.txt[1.5.2.1],
370 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.txt[1.5.2].
372 * link:v1.5.1.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.1.6]
375 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.6.txt[1.5.1.6],
376 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.5.txt[1.5.1.5],
377 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.4.txt[1.5.1.4],
378 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.3.txt[1.5.1.3],
379 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.2.txt[1.5.1.2],
380 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.1.txt[1.5.1.1],
381 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.txt[1.5.1].
383 * link:v1.5.0.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.0.7]
386 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.7.txt[1.5.0.7],
387 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.6.txt[1.5.0.6],
388 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.5.txt[1.5.0.5],
389 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.3.txt[1.5.0.3],
390 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.2.txt[1.5.0.2],
391 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.1.txt[1.5.0.1],
392 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.txt[1.5.0].
394 * documentation for release link:v1.4.4.4/git.html[1.4.4.4],
395 link:v1.3.3/git.html[1.3.3],
396 link:v1.2.6/git.html[1.2.6],
397 link:v1.0.13/git.html[1.0.13].
406 Prints the Git suite version that the 'git' program came from.
409 Prints the synopsis and a list of the most commonly used
410 commands. If the option '--all' or '-a' is given then all
411 available commands are printed. If a Git command is named this
412 option will bring up the manual page for that command.
414 Other options are available to control how the manual page is
415 displayed. See linkgit:git-help[1] for more information,
416 because `git --help ...` is converted internally into `git
420 Run as if git was started in '<path>' instead of the current working
421 directory. When multiple `-C` options are given, each subsequent
422 non-absolute `-C <path>` is interpreted relative to the preceding `-C
425 This option affects options that expect path name like `--git-dir` and
426 `--work-tree` in that their interpretations of the path names would be
427 made relative to the working directory caused by the `-C` option. For
428 example the following invocations are equivalent:
430 git --git-dir=a.git --work-tree=b -C c status
431 git --git-dir=c/a.git --work-tree=c/b status
434 Pass a configuration parameter to the command. The value
435 given will override values from configuration files.
436 The <name> is expected in the same format as listed by
437 'git config' (subkeys separated by dots).
439 --exec-path[=<path>]::
440 Path to wherever your core Git programs are installed.
441 This can also be controlled by setting the GIT_EXEC_PATH
442 environment variable. If no path is given, 'git' will print
443 the current setting and then exit.
446 Print the path, without trailing slash, where Git's HTML
447 documentation is installed and exit.
450 Print the manpath (see `man(1)`) for the man pages for
451 this version of Git and exit.
454 Print the path where the Info files documenting this
455 version of Git are installed and exit.
459 Pipe all output into 'less' (or if set, $PAGER) if standard
460 output is a terminal. This overrides the `pager.<cmd>`
461 configuration options (see the "Configuration Mechanism" section
465 Do not pipe Git output into a pager.
468 Set the path to the repository. This can also be controlled by
469 setting the GIT_DIR environment variable. It can be an absolute
470 path or relative path to current working directory.
473 Set the path to the working tree. It can be an absolute path
474 or a path relative to the current working directory.
475 This can also be controlled by setting the GIT_WORK_TREE
476 environment variable and the core.worktree configuration
477 variable (see core.worktree in linkgit:git-config[1] for a
478 more detailed discussion).
481 Set the Git namespace. See linkgit:gitnamespaces[7] for more
482 details. Equivalent to setting the `GIT_NAMESPACE` environment
486 Treat the repository as a bare repository. If GIT_DIR
487 environment is not set, it is set to the current working
490 --no-replace-objects::
491 Do not use replacement refs to replace Git objects. See
492 linkgit:git-replace[1] for more information.
494 --literal-pathspecs::
495 Treat pathspecs literally (i.e. no globbing, no pathspec magic).
496 This is equivalent to setting the `GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS` environment
500 Add "glob" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
501 the `GIT_GLOB_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`. Disabling
502 globbing on individual pathspecs can be done using pathspec
506 Add "literal" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
507 the `GIT_NOGLOB_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`. Enabling
508 globbing on individual pathspecs can be done using pathspec
512 Add "icase" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
513 the `GIT_ICASE_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`.
518 We divide Git into high level ("porcelain") commands and low level
519 ("plumbing") commands.
521 High-level commands (porcelain)
522 -------------------------------
524 We separate the porcelain commands into the main commands and some
525 ancillary user utilities.
527 Main porcelain commands
528 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
530 include::cmds-mainporcelain.txt[]
536 include::cmds-ancillarymanipulators.txt[]
540 include::cmds-ancillaryinterrogators.txt[]
543 Interacting with Others
544 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
546 These commands are to interact with foreign SCM and with other
547 people via patch over e-mail.
549 include::cmds-foreignscminterface.txt[]
552 Low-level commands (plumbing)
553 -----------------------------
555 Although Git includes its
556 own porcelain layer, its low-level commands are sufficient to support
557 development of alternative porcelains. Developers of such porcelains
558 might start by reading about linkgit:git-update-index[1] and
559 linkgit:git-read-tree[1].
561 The interface (input, output, set of options and the semantics)
562 to these low-level commands are meant to be a lot more stable
563 than Porcelain level commands, because these commands are
564 primarily for scripted use. The interface to Porcelain commands
565 on the other hand are subject to change in order to improve the
568 The following description divides
569 the low-level commands into commands that manipulate objects (in
570 the repository, index, and working tree), commands that interrogate and
571 compare objects, and commands that move objects and references between
575 Manipulation commands
576 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
578 include::cmds-plumbingmanipulators.txt[]
581 Interrogation commands
582 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
584 include::cmds-plumbinginterrogators.txt[]
586 In general, the interrogate commands do not touch the files in
590 Synching repositories
591 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
593 include::cmds-synchingrepositories.txt[]
595 The following are helper commands used by the above; end users
596 typically do not use them directly.
598 include::cmds-synchelpers.txt[]
601 Internal helper commands
602 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
604 These are internal helper commands used by other commands; end
605 users typically do not use them directly.
607 include::cmds-purehelpers.txt[]
610 Configuration Mechanism
611 -----------------------
613 Git uses a simple text format to store customizations that are per
614 repository and are per user. Such a configuration file may look
619 # A '#' or ';' character indicates a comment.
624 ; Don't trust file modes
629 name = "Junio C Hamano"
630 email = "gitster@pobox.com"
634 Various commands read from the configuration file and adjust
635 their operation accordingly. See linkgit:git-config[1] for a
636 list and more details about the configuration mechanism.
639 Identifier Terminology
640 ----------------------
642 Indicates the object name for any type of object.
645 Indicates a blob object name.
648 Indicates a tree object name.
651 Indicates a commit object name.
654 Indicates a tree, commit or tag object name. A
655 command that takes a <tree-ish> argument ultimately wants to
656 operate on a <tree> object but automatically dereferences
657 <commit> and <tag> objects that point at a <tree>.
660 Indicates a commit or tag object name. A
661 command that takes a <commit-ish> argument ultimately wants to
662 operate on a <commit> object but automatically dereferences
663 <tag> objects that point at a <commit>.
666 Indicates that an object type is required.
667 Currently one of: `blob`, `tree`, `commit`, or `tag`.
670 Indicates a filename - almost always relative to the
671 root of the tree structure `GIT_INDEX_FILE` describes.
675 Any Git command accepting any <object> can also use the following
679 indicates the head of the current branch.
683 (i.e. a `refs/tags/<tag>` reference).
687 (i.e. a `refs/heads/<head>` reference).
689 For a more complete list of ways to spell object names, see
690 "SPECIFYING REVISIONS" section in linkgit:gitrevisions[7].
693 File/Directory Structure
694 ------------------------
696 Please see the linkgit:gitrepository-layout[5] document.
698 Read linkgit:githooks[5] for more details about each hook.
700 Higher level SCMs may provide and manage additional information in the
706 Please see linkgit:gitglossary[7].
709 Environment Variables
710 ---------------------
711 Various Git commands use the following environment variables:
715 These environment variables apply to 'all' core Git commands. Nb: it
716 is worth noting that they may be used/overridden by SCMS sitting above
717 Git so take care if using Cogito etc.
720 This environment allows the specification of an alternate
721 index file. If not specified, the default of `$GIT_DIR/index`
724 'GIT_INDEX_VERSION'::
725 This environment variable allows the specification of an index
726 version for new repositories. It won't affect existing index
727 files. By default index file version [23] is used.
729 'GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY'::
730 If the object storage directory is specified via this
731 environment variable then the sha1 directories are created
732 underneath - otherwise the default `$GIT_DIR/objects`
735 'GIT_ALTERNATE_OBJECT_DIRECTORIES'::
736 Due to the immutable nature of Git objects, old objects can be
737 archived into shared, read-only directories. This variable
738 specifies a ":" separated (on Windows ";" separated) list
739 of Git object directories which can be used to search for Git
740 objects. New objects will not be written to these directories.
743 If the 'GIT_DIR' environment variable is set then it
744 specifies a path to use instead of the default `.git`
745 for the base of the repository.
746 The '--git-dir' command-line option also sets this value.
749 Set the path to the root of the working tree.
750 This can also be controlled by the '--work-tree' command line
751 option and the core.worktree configuration variable.
754 Set the Git namespace; see linkgit:gitnamespaces[7] for details.
755 The '--namespace' command-line option also sets this value.
757 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES'::
758 This should be a colon-separated list of absolute paths. If
759 set, it is a list of directories that Git should not chdir up
760 into while looking for a repository directory (useful for
761 excluding slow-loading network directories). It will not
762 exclude the current working directory or a GIT_DIR set on the
763 command line or in the environment. Normally, Git has to read
764 the entries in this list and resolve any symlink that
765 might be present in order to compare them with the current
766 directory. However, if even this access is slow, you
767 can add an empty entry to the list to tell Git that the
768 subsequent entries are not symlinks and needn't be resolved;
770 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES=/maybe/symlink::/very/slow/non/symlink'.
772 'GIT_DISCOVERY_ACROSS_FILESYSTEM'::
773 When run in a directory that does not have ".git" repository
774 directory, Git tries to find such a directory in the parent
775 directories to find the top of the working tree, but by default it
776 does not cross filesystem boundaries. This environment variable
777 can be set to true to tell Git not to stop at filesystem
778 boundaries. Like 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES', this will not affect
779 an explicit repository directory set via 'GIT_DIR' or on the
787 'GIT_COMMITTER_NAME'::
788 'GIT_COMMITTER_EMAIL'::
789 'GIT_COMMITTER_DATE'::
791 see linkgit:git-commit-tree[1]
796 Only valid setting is "--unified=??" or "-u??" to set the
797 number of context lines shown when a unified diff is created.
798 This takes precedence over any "-U" or "--unified" option
799 value passed on the Git diff command line.
801 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF'::
802 When the environment variable 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is set, the
803 program named by it is called, instead of the diff invocation
804 described above. For a path that is added, removed, or modified,
805 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called with 7 parameters:
807 path old-file old-hex old-mode new-file new-hex new-mode
811 <old|new>-file:: are files GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF can use to read the
812 contents of <old|new>,
813 <old|new>-hex:: are the 40-hexdigit SHA-1 hashes,
814 <old|new>-mode:: are the octal representation of the file modes.
816 The file parameters can point at the user's working file
817 (e.g. `new-file` in "git-diff-files"), `/dev/null` (e.g. `old-file`
818 when a new file is added), or a temporary file (e.g. `old-file` in the
819 index). 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' should not worry about unlinking the
820 temporary file --- it is removed when 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' exits.
822 For a path that is unmerged, 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called with 1
825 For each path 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called, two environment variables,
826 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_COUNTER' and 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_TOTAL' are set.
828 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_COUNTER'::
829 A 1-based counter incremented by one for every path.
831 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_TOTAL'::
832 The total number of paths.
836 'GIT_MERGE_VERBOSITY'::
837 A number controlling the amount of output shown by
838 the recursive merge strategy. Overrides merge.verbosity.
839 See linkgit:git-merge[1]
842 This environment variable overrides `$PAGER`. If it is set
843 to an empty string or to the value "cat", Git will not launch
844 a pager. See also the `core.pager` option in
845 linkgit:git-config[1].
848 This environment variable overrides `$EDITOR` and `$VISUAL`.
849 It is used by several Git commands when, on interactive mode,
850 an editor is to be launched. See also linkgit:git-var[1]
851 and the `core.editor` option in linkgit:git-config[1].
854 If this environment variable is set then 'git fetch'
855 and 'git push' will use this command instead
856 of 'ssh' when they need to connect to a remote system.
857 The '$GIT_SSH' command will be given exactly two or
858 four arguments: the 'username@host' (or just 'host')
859 from the URL and the shell command to execute on that
860 remote system, optionally preceded by '-p' (literally) and
861 the 'port' from the URL when it specifies something other
862 than the default SSH port.
864 To pass options to the program that you want to list in GIT_SSH
865 you will need to wrap the program and options into a shell script,
866 then set GIT_SSH to refer to the shell script.
868 Usually it is easier to configure any desired options through your
869 personal `.ssh/config` file. Please consult your ssh documentation
873 If this environment variable is set, then Git commands which need to
874 acquire passwords or passphrases (e.g. for HTTP or IMAP authentication)
875 will call this program with a suitable prompt as command line argument
876 and read the password from its STDOUT. See also the 'core.askpass'
877 option in linkgit:git-config[1].
879 'GIT_CONFIG_NOSYSTEM'::
880 Whether to skip reading settings from the system-wide
881 `$(prefix)/etc/gitconfig` file. This environment variable can
882 be used along with `$HOME` and `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME` to create a
883 predictable environment for a picky script, or you can set it
884 temporarily to avoid using a buggy `/etc/gitconfig` file while
885 waiting for someone with sufficient permissions to fix it.
888 If this environment variable is set to "1", then commands such
889 as 'git blame' (in incremental mode), 'git rev-list', 'git log',
890 'git check-attr' and 'git check-ignore' will
891 force a flush of the output stream after each record have been
893 variable is set to "0", the output of these commands will be done
894 using completely buffered I/O. If this environment variable is
895 not set, Git will choose buffered or record-oriented flushing
896 based on whether stdout appears to be redirected to a file or not.
899 If this variable is set to "1", "2" or "true" (comparison
900 is case insensitive), Git will print `trace:` messages on
901 stderr telling about alias expansion, built-in command
902 execution and external command execution.
903 If this variable is set to an integer value greater than 1
904 and lower than 10 (strictly) then Git will interpret this
905 value as an open file descriptor and will try to write the
906 trace messages into this file descriptor.
907 Alternatively, if this variable is set to an absolute path
908 (starting with a '/' character), Git will interpret this
909 as a file path and will try to write the trace messages
912 'GIT_TRACE_PACK_ACCESS'::
913 If this variable is set to a path, a file will be created at
914 the given path logging all accesses to any packs. For each
915 access, the pack file name and an offset in the pack is
916 recorded. This may be helpful for troubleshooting some
917 pack-related performance problems.
920 If this variable is set, it shows a trace of all packets
921 coming in or out of a given program. This can help with
922 debugging object negotiation or other protocol issues. Tracing
923 is turned off at a packet starting with "PACK".
925 GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS::
926 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
927 pathspecs literally, rather than as glob patterns. For example,
928 running `GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS=1 git log -- '*.c'` will search
929 for commits that touch the path `*.c`, not any paths that the
930 glob `*.c` matches. You might want this if you are feeding
931 literal paths to Git (e.g., paths previously given to you by
932 `git ls-tree`, `--raw` diff output, etc).
935 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
936 pathspecs as glob patterns (aka "glob" magic).
938 GIT_NOGLOB_PATHSPECS::
939 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
940 pathspecs as literal (aka "literal" magic).
942 GIT_ICASE_PATHSPECS::
943 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
944 pathspecs as case-insensitive.
946 'GIT_REFLOG_ACTION'::
947 When a ref is updated, reflog entries are created to keep
948 track of the reason why the ref was updated (which is
949 typically the name of the high-level command that updated
950 the ref), in addition to the old and new values of the ref.
951 A scripted Porcelain command can use set_reflog_action
952 helper function in `git-sh-setup` to set its name to this
953 variable when it is invoked as the top level command by the
954 end user, to be recorded in the body of the reflog.
957 Discussion[[Discussion]]
958 ------------------------
960 More detail on the following is available from the
961 link:user-manual.html#git-concepts[Git concepts chapter of the
962 user-manual] and linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7].
964 A Git project normally consists of a working directory with a ".git"
965 subdirectory at the top level. The .git directory contains, among other
966 things, a compressed object database representing the complete history
967 of the project, an "index" file which links that history to the current
968 contents of the working tree, and named pointers into that history such
969 as tags and branch heads.
971 The object database contains objects of three main types: blobs, which
972 hold file data; trees, which point to blobs and other trees to build up
973 directory hierarchies; and commits, which each reference a single tree
974 and some number of parent commits.
976 The commit, equivalent to what other systems call a "changeset" or
977 "version", represents a step in the project's history, and each parent
978 represents an immediately preceding step. Commits with more than one
979 parent represent merges of independent lines of development.
981 All objects are named by the SHA-1 hash of their contents, normally
982 written as a string of 40 hex digits. Such names are globally unique.
983 The entire history leading up to a commit can be vouched for by signing
984 just that commit. A fourth object type, the tag, is provided for this
987 When first created, objects are stored in individual files, but for
988 efficiency may later be compressed together into "pack files".
990 Named pointers called refs mark interesting points in history. A ref
991 may contain the SHA-1 name of an object or the name of another ref. Refs
992 with names beginning `ref/head/` contain the SHA-1 name of the most
993 recent commit (or "head") of a branch under development. SHA-1 names of
994 tags of interest are stored under `ref/tags/`. A special ref named
995 `HEAD` contains the name of the currently checked-out branch.
997 The index file is initialized with a list of all paths and, for each
998 path, a blob object and a set of attributes. The blob object represents
999 the contents of the file as of the head of the current branch. The
1000 attributes (last modified time, size, etc.) are taken from the
1001 corresponding file in the working tree. Subsequent changes to the
1002 working tree can be found by comparing these attributes. The index may
1003 be updated with new content, and new commits may be created from the
1004 content stored in the index.
1006 The index is also capable of storing multiple entries (called "stages")
1007 for a given pathname. These stages are used to hold the various
1008 unmerged version of a file when a merge is in progress.
1010 FURTHER DOCUMENTATION
1011 ---------------------
1013 See the references in the "description" section to get started
1014 using Git. The following is probably more detail than necessary
1015 for a first-time user.
1017 The link:user-manual.html#git-concepts[Git concepts chapter of the
1018 user-manual] and linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7] both provide
1019 introductions to the underlying Git architecture.
1021 See linkgit:gitworkflows[7] for an overview of recommended workflows.
1023 See also the link:howto-index.html[howto] documents for some useful
1026 The internals are documented in the
1027 link:technical/api-index.html[Git API documentation].
1029 Users migrating from CVS may also want to
1030 read linkgit:gitcvs-migration[7].
1035 Git was started by Linus Torvalds, and is currently maintained by Junio
1036 C Hamano. Numerous contributions have come from the Git mailing list
1037 <git@vger.kernel.org>. http://www.ohloh.net/p/git/contributors/summary
1038 gives you a more complete list of contributors.
1040 If you have a clone of git.git itself, the
1041 output of linkgit:git-shortlog[1] and linkgit:git-blame[1] can show you
1042 the authors for specific parts of the project.
1047 Report bugs to the Git mailing list <git@vger.kernel.org> where the
1048 development and maintenance is primarily done. You do not have to be
1049 subscribed to the list to send a message there.
1053 linkgit:gittutorial[7], linkgit:gittutorial-2[7],
1054 link:everyday.html[Everyday Git], linkgit:gitcvs-migration[7],
1055 linkgit:gitglossary[7], linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7],
1056 linkgit:gitcli[7], link:user-manual.html[The Git User's Manual],
1057 linkgit:gitworkflows[7]
1061 Part of the linkgit:git[1] suite