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:v1.8.5.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.5.6]
49 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.6.txt[1.8.5.6],
50 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.5.txt[1.8.5.5],
51 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.4.txt[1.8.5.4],
52 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.3.txt[1.8.5.3],
53 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.2.txt[1.8.5.2],
54 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.1.txt[1.8.5.1],
55 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.txt[1.8.5].
57 * link:v1.8.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.4.5]
60 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.5.txt[1.8.4.5],
61 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.4.txt[1.8.4.4],
62 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.3.txt[1.8.4.3],
63 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.2.txt[1.8.4.2],
64 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.1.txt[1.8.4.1],
65 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.txt[1.8.4].
67 * link:v1.8.3.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.3.4]
70 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.4.txt[1.8.3.4],
71 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.3.txt[1.8.3.3],
72 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.2.txt[1.8.3.2],
73 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.1.txt[1.8.3.1],
74 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.txt[1.8.3].
76 * link:v1.8.2.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.2.3]
79 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.3.txt[1.8.2.3],
80 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.2.txt[1.8.2.2],
81 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.1.txt[1.8.2.1],
82 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.txt[1.8.2].
84 * link:v1.8.1.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.1.6]
87 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.6.txt[1.8.1.6],
88 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.5.txt[1.8.1.5],
89 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.4.txt[1.8.1.4],
90 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.3.txt[1.8.1.3],
91 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.2.txt[1.8.1.2],
92 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.1.txt[1.8.1.1],
93 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.txt[1.8.1].
95 * link:v1.8.0.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.0.3]
98 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.3.txt[1.8.0.3],
99 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.2.txt[1.8.0.2],
100 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.1.txt[1.8.0.1],
101 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.txt[1.8.0].
103 * link:v1.7.12.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.12.4]
106 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.4.txt[1.7.12.4],
107 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.3.txt[1.7.12.3],
108 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.2.txt[1.7.12.2],
109 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.1.txt[1.7.12.1],
110 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.txt[1.7.12].
112 * link:v1.7.11.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.11.7]
115 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.7.txt[1.7.11.7],
116 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.6.txt[1.7.11.6],
117 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.5.txt[1.7.11.5],
118 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.4.txt[1.7.11.4],
119 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.3.txt[1.7.11.3],
120 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.2.txt[1.7.11.2],
121 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.1.txt[1.7.11.1],
122 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.txt[1.7.11].
124 * link:v1.7.10.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.10.5]
127 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.5.txt[1.7.10.5],
128 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.4.txt[1.7.10.4],
129 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.3.txt[1.7.10.3],
130 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.2.txt[1.7.10.2],
131 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.1.txt[1.7.10.1],
132 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.txt[1.7.10].
134 * link:v1.7.9.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.9.7]
137 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.7.txt[1.7.9.7],
138 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.6.txt[1.7.9.6],
139 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.5.txt[1.7.9.5],
140 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.4.txt[1.7.9.4],
141 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.3.txt[1.7.9.3],
142 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.2.txt[1.7.9.2],
143 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.1.txt[1.7.9.1],
144 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.txt[1.7.9].
146 * link:v1.7.8.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.8.6]
149 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.6.txt[1.7.8.6],
150 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.5.txt[1.7.8.5],
151 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.4.txt[1.7.8.4],
152 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.3.txt[1.7.8.3],
153 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.2.txt[1.7.8.2],
154 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.1.txt[1.7.8.1],
155 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.txt[1.7.8].
157 * link:v1.7.7.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.7.7]
160 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.7.txt[1.7.7.7],
161 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.6.txt[1.7.7.6],
162 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.5.txt[1.7.7.5],
163 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.4.txt[1.7.7.4],
164 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.3.txt[1.7.7.3],
165 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.2.txt[1.7.7.2],
166 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.1.txt[1.7.7.1],
167 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.txt[1.7.7].
169 * link:v1.7.6.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.6.6]
172 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.6.txt[1.7.6.6],
173 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.5.txt[1.7.6.5],
174 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.4.txt[1.7.6.4],
175 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.3.txt[1.7.6.3],
176 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.2.txt[1.7.6.2],
177 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.1.txt[1.7.6.1],
178 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.txt[1.7.6].
180 * link:v1.7.5.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.5.4]
183 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.4.txt[1.7.5.4],
184 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.3.txt[1.7.5.3],
185 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.2.txt[1.7.5.2],
186 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.1.txt[1.7.5.1],
187 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.txt[1.7.5].
189 * link:v1.7.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.4.5]
192 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.5.txt[1.7.4.5],
193 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.4.txt[1.7.4.4],
194 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.3.txt[1.7.4.3],
195 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.2.txt[1.7.4.2],
196 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.1.txt[1.7.4.1],
197 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.txt[1.7.4].
199 * link:v1.7.3.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.3.5]
202 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.5.txt[1.7.3.5],
203 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.4.txt[1.7.3.4],
204 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.3.txt[1.7.3.3],
205 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.2.txt[1.7.3.2],
206 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.1.txt[1.7.3.1],
207 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.txt[1.7.3].
209 * link:v1.7.2.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.2.5]
212 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.5.txt[1.7.2.5],
213 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.4.txt[1.7.2.4],
214 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.3.txt[1.7.2.3],
215 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.2.txt[1.7.2.2],
216 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.1.txt[1.7.2.1],
217 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.txt[1.7.2].
219 * link:v1.7.1.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.1.4]
222 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.4.txt[1.7.1.4],
223 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.3.txt[1.7.1.3],
224 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.2.txt[1.7.1.2],
225 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.1.txt[1.7.1.1],
226 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.txt[1.7.1].
228 * link:v1.7.0.9/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.0.9]
231 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.9.txt[1.7.0.9],
232 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.8.txt[1.7.0.8],
233 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.7.txt[1.7.0.7],
234 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.6.txt[1.7.0.6],
235 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.5.txt[1.7.0.5],
236 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.4.txt[1.7.0.4],
237 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.3.txt[1.7.0.3],
238 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.2.txt[1.7.0.2],
239 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.1.txt[1.7.0.1],
240 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.txt[1.7.0].
242 * link:v1.6.6.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.6.3]
245 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.3.txt[1.6.6.3],
246 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.2.txt[1.6.6.2],
247 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.1.txt[1.6.6.1],
248 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.txt[1.6.6].
250 * link:v1.6.5.9/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.5.9]
253 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.9.txt[1.6.5.9],
254 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.8.txt[1.6.5.8],
255 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.7.txt[1.6.5.7],
256 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.6.txt[1.6.5.6],
257 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.5.txt[1.6.5.5],
258 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.4.txt[1.6.5.4],
259 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.3.txt[1.6.5.3],
260 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.2.txt[1.6.5.2],
261 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.1.txt[1.6.5.1],
262 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.txt[1.6.5].
264 * link:v1.6.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.4.5]
267 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.5.txt[1.6.4.5],
268 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.4.txt[1.6.4.4],
269 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.3.txt[1.6.4.3],
270 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.2.txt[1.6.4.2],
271 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.1.txt[1.6.4.1],
272 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.txt[1.6.4].
274 * link:v1.6.3.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.3.4]
277 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.4.txt[1.6.3.4],
278 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.3.txt[1.6.3.3],
279 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.2.txt[1.6.3.2],
280 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.1.txt[1.6.3.1],
281 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.txt[1.6.3].
284 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.5.txt[1.6.2.5],
285 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.4.txt[1.6.2.4],
286 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.3.txt[1.6.2.3],
287 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.2.txt[1.6.2.2],
288 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.1.txt[1.6.2.1],
289 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.txt[1.6.2].
291 * link:v1.6.1.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.1.3]
294 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.3.txt[1.6.1.3],
295 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.2.txt[1.6.1.2],
296 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.1.txt[1.6.1.1],
297 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.txt[1.6.1].
299 * link:v1.6.0.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.0.6]
302 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.6.txt[1.6.0.6],
303 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.5.txt[1.6.0.5],
304 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.4.txt[1.6.0.4],
305 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.3.txt[1.6.0.3],
306 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.2.txt[1.6.0.2],
307 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.1.txt[1.6.0.1],
308 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.txt[1.6.0].
310 * link:v1.5.6.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.6.6]
313 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.6.txt[1.5.6.6],
314 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.5.txt[1.5.6.5],
315 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.4.txt[1.5.6.4],
316 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.3.txt[1.5.6.3],
317 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.2.txt[1.5.6.2],
318 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.1.txt[1.5.6.1],
319 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.txt[1.5.6].
321 * link:v1.5.5.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.5.6]
324 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.6.txt[1.5.5.6],
325 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.5.txt[1.5.5.5],
326 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.4.txt[1.5.5.4],
327 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.3.txt[1.5.5.3],
328 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.2.txt[1.5.5.2],
329 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.1.txt[1.5.5.1],
330 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.txt[1.5.5].
332 * link:v1.5.4.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.4.7]
335 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.7.txt[1.5.4.7],
336 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.6.txt[1.5.4.6],
337 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.5.txt[1.5.4.5],
338 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.4.txt[1.5.4.4],
339 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.3.txt[1.5.4.3],
340 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.2.txt[1.5.4.2],
341 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.1.txt[1.5.4.1],
342 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.txt[1.5.4].
344 * link:v1.5.3.8/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.3.8]
347 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.8.txt[1.5.3.8],
348 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.7.txt[1.5.3.7],
349 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.6.txt[1.5.3.6],
350 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.5.txt[1.5.3.5],
351 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.4.txt[1.5.3.4],
352 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.3.txt[1.5.3.3],
353 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.2.txt[1.5.3.2],
354 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.1.txt[1.5.3.1],
355 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.txt[1.5.3].
357 * link:v1.5.2.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.2.5]
360 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.5.txt[1.5.2.5],
361 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.4.txt[1.5.2.4],
362 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.3.txt[1.5.2.3],
363 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.2.txt[1.5.2.2],
364 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.1.txt[1.5.2.1],
365 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.txt[1.5.2].
367 * link:v1.5.1.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.1.6]
370 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.6.txt[1.5.1.6],
371 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.5.txt[1.5.1.5],
372 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.4.txt[1.5.1.4],
373 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.3.txt[1.5.1.3],
374 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.2.txt[1.5.1.2],
375 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.1.txt[1.5.1.1],
376 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.txt[1.5.1].
378 * link:v1.5.0.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.0.7]
381 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.7.txt[1.5.0.7],
382 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.6.txt[1.5.0.6],
383 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.5.txt[1.5.0.5],
384 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.3.txt[1.5.0.3],
385 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.2.txt[1.5.0.2],
386 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.1.txt[1.5.0.1],
387 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.txt[1.5.0].
389 * documentation for release link:v1.4.4.4/git.html[1.4.4.4],
390 link:v1.3.3/git.html[1.3.3],
391 link:v1.2.6/git.html[1.2.6],
392 link:v1.0.13/git.html[1.0.13].
401 Prints the Git suite version that the 'git' program came from.
404 Prints the synopsis and a list of the most commonly used
405 commands. If the option '--all' or '-a' is given then all
406 available commands are printed. If a Git command is named this
407 option will bring up the manual page for that command.
409 Other options are available to control how the manual page is
410 displayed. See linkgit:git-help[1] for more information,
411 because `git --help ...` is converted internally into `git
415 Run as if git was started in '<path>' instead of the current working
416 directory. When multiple `-C` options are given, each subsequent
417 non-absolute `-C <path>` is interpreted relative to the preceding `-C
420 This option affects options that expect path name like `--git-dir` and
421 `--work-tree` in that their interpretations of the path names would be
422 made relative to the working directory caused by the `-C` option. For
423 example the following invocations are equivalent:
425 git --git-dir=a.git --work-tree=b -C c status
426 git --git-dir=c/a.git --work-tree=c/b status
429 Pass a configuration parameter to the command. The value
430 given will override values from configuration files.
431 The <name> is expected in the same format as listed by
432 'git config' (subkeys separated by dots).
434 --exec-path[=<path>]::
435 Path to wherever your core Git programs are installed.
436 This can also be controlled by setting the GIT_EXEC_PATH
437 environment variable. If no path is given, 'git' will print
438 the current setting and then exit.
441 Print the path, without trailing slash, where Git's HTML
442 documentation is installed and exit.
445 Print the manpath (see `man(1)`) for the man pages for
446 this version of Git and exit.
449 Print the path where the Info files documenting this
450 version of Git are installed and exit.
454 Pipe all output into 'less' (or if set, $PAGER) if standard
455 output is a terminal. This overrides the `pager.<cmd>`
456 configuration options (see the "Configuration Mechanism" section
460 Do not pipe Git output into a pager.
463 Set the path to the repository. This can also be controlled by
464 setting the GIT_DIR environment variable. It can be an absolute
465 path or relative path to current working directory.
468 Set the path to the working tree. It can be an absolute path
469 or a path relative to the current working directory.
470 This can also be controlled by setting the GIT_WORK_TREE
471 environment variable and the core.worktree configuration
472 variable (see core.worktree in linkgit:git-config[1] for a
473 more detailed discussion).
476 Set the Git namespace. See linkgit:gitnamespaces[7] for more
477 details. Equivalent to setting the `GIT_NAMESPACE` environment
481 Treat the repository as a bare repository. If GIT_DIR
482 environment is not set, it is set to the current working
485 --no-replace-objects::
486 Do not use replacement refs to replace Git objects. See
487 linkgit:git-replace[1] for more information.
489 --literal-pathspecs::
490 Treat pathspecs literally (i.e. no globbing, no pathspec magic).
491 This is equivalent to setting the `GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS` environment
495 Add "glob" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
496 the `GIT_GLOB_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`. Disabling
497 globbing on individual pathspecs can be done using pathspec
501 Add "literal" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
502 the `GIT_NOGLOB_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`. Enabling
503 globbing on individual pathspecs can be done using pathspec
507 Add "icase" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
508 the `GIT_ICASE_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`.
513 We divide Git into high level ("porcelain") commands and low level
514 ("plumbing") commands.
516 High-level commands (porcelain)
517 -------------------------------
519 We separate the porcelain commands into the main commands and some
520 ancillary user utilities.
522 Main porcelain commands
523 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
525 include::cmds-mainporcelain.txt[]
531 include::cmds-ancillarymanipulators.txt[]
535 include::cmds-ancillaryinterrogators.txt[]
538 Interacting with Others
539 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
541 These commands are to interact with foreign SCM and with other
542 people via patch over e-mail.
544 include::cmds-foreignscminterface.txt[]
547 Low-level commands (plumbing)
548 -----------------------------
550 Although Git includes its
551 own porcelain layer, its low-level commands are sufficient to support
552 development of alternative porcelains. Developers of such porcelains
553 might start by reading about linkgit:git-update-index[1] and
554 linkgit:git-read-tree[1].
556 The interface (input, output, set of options and the semantics)
557 to these low-level commands are meant to be a lot more stable
558 than Porcelain level commands, because these commands are
559 primarily for scripted use. The interface to Porcelain commands
560 on the other hand are subject to change in order to improve the
563 The following description divides
564 the low-level commands into commands that manipulate objects (in
565 the repository, index, and working tree), commands that interrogate and
566 compare objects, and commands that move objects and references between
570 Manipulation commands
571 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
573 include::cmds-plumbingmanipulators.txt[]
576 Interrogation commands
577 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
579 include::cmds-plumbinginterrogators.txt[]
581 In general, the interrogate commands do not touch the files in
585 Synching repositories
586 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
588 include::cmds-synchingrepositories.txt[]
590 The following are helper commands used by the above; end users
591 typically do not use them directly.
593 include::cmds-synchelpers.txt[]
596 Internal helper commands
597 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
599 These are internal helper commands used by other commands; end
600 users typically do not use them directly.
602 include::cmds-purehelpers.txt[]
605 Configuration Mechanism
606 -----------------------
608 Git uses a simple text format to store customizations that are per
609 repository and are per user. Such a configuration file may look
614 # A '#' or ';' character indicates a comment.
619 ; Don't trust file modes
624 name = "Junio C Hamano"
625 email = "gitster@pobox.com"
629 Various commands read from the configuration file and adjust
630 their operation accordingly. See linkgit:git-config[1] for a
631 list and more details about the configuration mechanism.
634 Identifier Terminology
635 ----------------------
637 Indicates the object name for any type of object.
640 Indicates a blob object name.
643 Indicates a tree object name.
646 Indicates a commit object name.
649 Indicates a tree, commit or tag object name. A
650 command that takes a <tree-ish> argument ultimately wants to
651 operate on a <tree> object but automatically dereferences
652 <commit> and <tag> objects that point at a <tree>.
655 Indicates a commit or tag object name. A
656 command that takes a <commit-ish> argument ultimately wants to
657 operate on a <commit> object but automatically dereferences
658 <tag> objects that point at a <commit>.
661 Indicates that an object type is required.
662 Currently one of: `blob`, `tree`, `commit`, or `tag`.
665 Indicates a filename - almost always relative to the
666 root of the tree structure `GIT_INDEX_FILE` describes.
670 Any Git command accepting any <object> can also use the following
674 indicates the head of the current branch.
678 (i.e. a `refs/tags/<tag>` reference).
682 (i.e. a `refs/heads/<head>` reference).
684 For a more complete list of ways to spell object names, see
685 "SPECIFYING REVISIONS" section in linkgit:gitrevisions[7].
688 File/Directory Structure
689 ------------------------
691 Please see the linkgit:gitrepository-layout[5] document.
693 Read linkgit:githooks[5] for more details about each hook.
695 Higher level SCMs may provide and manage additional information in the
701 Please see linkgit:gitglossary[7].
704 Environment Variables
705 ---------------------
706 Various Git commands use the following environment variables:
710 These environment variables apply to 'all' core Git commands. Nb: it
711 is worth noting that they may be used/overridden by SCMS sitting above
712 Git so take care if using Cogito etc.
715 This environment allows the specification of an alternate
716 index file. If not specified, the default of `$GIT_DIR/index`
719 'GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY'::
720 If the object storage directory is specified via this
721 environment variable then the sha1 directories are created
722 underneath - otherwise the default `$GIT_DIR/objects`
725 'GIT_ALTERNATE_OBJECT_DIRECTORIES'::
726 Due to the immutable nature of Git objects, old objects can be
727 archived into shared, read-only directories. This variable
728 specifies a ":" separated (on Windows ";" separated) list
729 of Git object directories which can be used to search for Git
730 objects. New objects will not be written to these directories.
733 If the 'GIT_DIR' environment variable is set then it
734 specifies a path to use instead of the default `.git`
735 for the base of the repository.
736 The '--git-dir' command-line option also sets this value.
739 Set the path to the root of the working tree.
740 This can also be controlled by the '--work-tree' command line
741 option and the core.worktree configuration variable.
744 Set the Git namespace; see linkgit:gitnamespaces[7] for details.
745 The '--namespace' command-line option also sets this value.
747 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES'::
748 This should be a colon-separated list of absolute paths. If
749 set, it is a list of directories that Git should not chdir up
750 into while looking for a repository directory (useful for
751 excluding slow-loading network directories). It will not
752 exclude the current working directory or a GIT_DIR set on the
753 command line or in the environment. Normally, Git has to read
754 the entries in this list and resolve any symlink that
755 might be present in order to compare them with the current
756 directory. However, if even this access is slow, you
757 can add an empty entry to the list to tell Git that the
758 subsequent entries are not symlinks and needn't be resolved;
760 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES=/maybe/symlink::/very/slow/non/symlink'.
762 'GIT_DISCOVERY_ACROSS_FILESYSTEM'::
763 When run in a directory that does not have ".git" repository
764 directory, Git tries to find such a directory in the parent
765 directories to find the top of the working tree, but by default it
766 does not cross filesystem boundaries. This environment variable
767 can be set to true to tell Git not to stop at filesystem
768 boundaries. Like 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES', this will not affect
769 an explicit repository directory set via 'GIT_DIR' or on the
777 'GIT_COMMITTER_NAME'::
778 'GIT_COMMITTER_EMAIL'::
779 'GIT_COMMITTER_DATE'::
781 see linkgit:git-commit-tree[1]
786 Only valid setting is "--unified=??" or "-u??" to set the
787 number of context lines shown when a unified diff is created.
788 This takes precedence over any "-U" or "--unified" option
789 value passed on the Git diff command line.
791 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF'::
792 When the environment variable 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is set, the
793 program named by it is called, instead of the diff invocation
794 described above. For a path that is added, removed, or modified,
795 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called with 7 parameters:
797 path old-file old-hex old-mode new-file new-hex new-mode
801 <old|new>-file:: are files GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF can use to read the
802 contents of <old|new>,
803 <old|new>-hex:: are the 40-hexdigit SHA-1 hashes,
804 <old|new>-mode:: are the octal representation of the file modes.
806 The file parameters can point at the user's working file
807 (e.g. `new-file` in "git-diff-files"), `/dev/null` (e.g. `old-file`
808 when a new file is added), or a temporary file (e.g. `old-file` in the
809 index). 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' should not worry about unlinking the
810 temporary file --- it is removed when 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' exits.
812 For a path that is unmerged, 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called with 1
817 'GIT_MERGE_VERBOSITY'::
818 A number controlling the amount of output shown by
819 the recursive merge strategy. Overrides merge.verbosity.
820 See linkgit:git-merge[1]
823 This environment variable overrides `$PAGER`. If it is set
824 to an empty string or to the value "cat", Git will not launch
825 a pager. See also the `core.pager` option in
826 linkgit:git-config[1].
829 This environment variable overrides `$EDITOR` and `$VISUAL`.
830 It is used by several Git commands when, on interactive mode,
831 an editor is to be launched. See also linkgit:git-var[1]
832 and the `core.editor` option in linkgit:git-config[1].
835 If this environment variable is set then 'git fetch'
836 and 'git push' will use this command instead
837 of 'ssh' when they need to connect to a remote system.
838 The '$GIT_SSH' command will be given exactly two or
839 four arguments: the 'username@host' (or just 'host')
840 from the URL and the shell command to execute on that
841 remote system, optionally preceded by '-p' (literally) and
842 the 'port' from the URL when it specifies something other
843 than the default SSH port.
845 To pass options to the program that you want to list in GIT_SSH
846 you will need to wrap the program and options into a shell script,
847 then set GIT_SSH to refer to the shell script.
849 Usually it is easier to configure any desired options through your
850 personal `.ssh/config` file. Please consult your ssh documentation
854 If this environment variable is set, then Git commands which need to
855 acquire passwords or passphrases (e.g. for HTTP or IMAP authentication)
856 will call this program with a suitable prompt as command line argument
857 and read the password from its STDOUT. See also the 'core.askpass'
858 option in linkgit:git-config[1].
860 'GIT_CONFIG_NOSYSTEM'::
861 Whether to skip reading settings from the system-wide
862 `$(prefix)/etc/gitconfig` file. This environment variable can
863 be used along with `$HOME` and `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME` to create a
864 predictable environment for a picky script, or you can set it
865 temporarily to avoid using a buggy `/etc/gitconfig` file while
866 waiting for someone with sufficient permissions to fix it.
869 If this environment variable is set to "1", then commands such
870 as 'git blame' (in incremental mode), 'git rev-list', 'git log',
871 'git check-attr' and 'git check-ignore' will
872 force a flush of the output stream after each record have been
874 variable is set to "0", the output of these commands will be done
875 using completely buffered I/O. If this environment variable is
876 not set, Git will choose buffered or record-oriented flushing
877 based on whether stdout appears to be redirected to a file or not.
880 If this variable is set to "1", "2" or "true" (comparison
881 is case insensitive), Git will print `trace:` messages on
882 stderr telling about alias expansion, built-in command
883 execution and external command execution.
884 If this variable is set to an integer value greater than 1
885 and lower than 10 (strictly) then Git will interpret this
886 value as an open file descriptor and will try to write the
887 trace messages into this file descriptor.
888 Alternatively, if this variable is set to an absolute path
889 (starting with a '/' character), Git will interpret this
890 as a file path and will try to write the trace messages
893 'GIT_TRACE_PACK_ACCESS'::
894 If this variable is set to a path, a file will be created at
895 the given path logging all accesses to any packs. For each
896 access, the pack file name and an offset in the pack is
897 recorded. This may be helpful for troubleshooting some
898 pack-related performance problems.
901 If this variable is set, it shows a trace of all packets
902 coming in or out of a given program. This can help with
903 debugging object negotiation or other protocol issues. Tracing
904 is turned off at a packet starting with "PACK".
906 GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS::
907 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
908 pathspecs literally, rather than as glob patterns. For example,
909 running `GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS=1 git log -- '*.c'` will search
910 for commits that touch the path `*.c`, not any paths that the
911 glob `*.c` matches. You might want this if you are feeding
912 literal paths to Git (e.g., paths previously given to you by
913 `git ls-tree`, `--raw` diff output, etc).
916 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
917 pathspecs as glob patterns (aka "glob" magic).
919 GIT_NOGLOB_PATHSPECS::
920 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
921 pathspecs as literal (aka "literal" magic).
923 GIT_ICASE_PATHSPECS::
924 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
925 pathspecs as case-insensitive.
927 'GIT_REFLOG_ACTION'::
928 When a ref is updated, reflog entries are created to keep
929 track of the reason why the ref was updated (which is
930 typically the name of the high-level command that updated
931 the ref), in addition to the old and new values of the ref.
932 A scripted Porcelain command can use set_reflog_action
933 helper function in `git-sh-setup` to set its name to this
934 variable when it is invoked as the top level command by the
935 end user, to be recorded in the body of the reflog.
938 Discussion[[Discussion]]
939 ------------------------
941 More detail on the following is available from the
942 link:user-manual.html#git-concepts[Git concepts chapter of the
943 user-manual] and linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7].
945 A Git project normally consists of a working directory with a ".git"
946 subdirectory at the top level. The .git directory contains, among other
947 things, a compressed object database representing the complete history
948 of the project, an "index" file which links that history to the current
949 contents of the working tree, and named pointers into that history such
950 as tags and branch heads.
952 The object database contains objects of three main types: blobs, which
953 hold file data; trees, which point to blobs and other trees to build up
954 directory hierarchies; and commits, which each reference a single tree
955 and some number of parent commits.
957 The commit, equivalent to what other systems call a "changeset" or
958 "version", represents a step in the project's history, and each parent
959 represents an immediately preceding step. Commits with more than one
960 parent represent merges of independent lines of development.
962 All objects are named by the SHA-1 hash of their contents, normally
963 written as a string of 40 hex digits. Such names are globally unique.
964 The entire history leading up to a commit can be vouched for by signing
965 just that commit. A fourth object type, the tag, is provided for this
968 When first created, objects are stored in individual files, but for
969 efficiency may later be compressed together into "pack files".
971 Named pointers called refs mark interesting points in history. A ref
972 may contain the SHA-1 name of an object or the name of another ref. Refs
973 with names beginning `ref/head/` contain the SHA-1 name of the most
974 recent commit (or "head") of a branch under development. SHA-1 names of
975 tags of interest are stored under `ref/tags/`. A special ref named
976 `HEAD` contains the name of the currently checked-out branch.
978 The index file is initialized with a list of all paths and, for each
979 path, a blob object and a set of attributes. The blob object represents
980 the contents of the file as of the head of the current branch. The
981 attributes (last modified time, size, etc.) are taken from the
982 corresponding file in the working tree. Subsequent changes to the
983 working tree can be found by comparing these attributes. The index may
984 be updated with new content, and new commits may be created from the
985 content stored in the index.
987 The index is also capable of storing multiple entries (called "stages")
988 for a given pathname. These stages are used to hold the various
989 unmerged version of a file when a merge is in progress.
991 FURTHER DOCUMENTATION
992 ---------------------
994 See the references in the "description" section to get started
995 using Git. The following is probably more detail than necessary
996 for a first-time user.
998 The link:user-manual.html#git-concepts[Git concepts chapter of the
999 user-manual] and linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7] both provide
1000 introductions to the underlying Git architecture.
1002 See linkgit:gitworkflows[7] for an overview of recommended workflows.
1004 See also the link:howto-index.html[howto] documents for some useful
1007 The internals are documented in the
1008 link:technical/api-index.html[Git API documentation].
1010 Users migrating from CVS may also want to
1011 read linkgit:gitcvs-migration[7].
1016 Git was started by Linus Torvalds, and is currently maintained by Junio
1017 C Hamano. Numerous contributions have come from the Git mailing list
1018 <git@vger.kernel.org>. http://www.ohloh.net/p/git/contributors/summary
1019 gives you a more complete list of contributors.
1021 If you have a clone of git.git itself, the
1022 output of linkgit:git-shortlog[1] and linkgit:git-blame[1] can show you
1023 the authors for specific parts of the project.
1028 Report bugs to the Git mailing list <git@vger.kernel.org> where the
1029 development and maintenance is primarily done. You do not have to be
1030 subscribed to the list to send a message there.
1034 linkgit:gittutorial[7], linkgit:gittutorial-2[7],
1035 link:everyday.html[Everyday Git], linkgit:gitcvs-migration[7],
1036 linkgit:gitglossary[7], linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7],
1037 linkgit:gitcli[7], link:user-manual.html[The Git User's Manual],
1038 linkgit:gitworkflows[7]
1042 Part of the linkgit:git[1] suite