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:v2.1.3/git.html[documentation for release 2.1.3]
49 link:RelNotes/2.1.3.txt[2.1.3],
50 link:RelNotes/2.1.2.txt[2.1.2],
51 link:RelNotes/2.1.1.txt[2.1.1],
52 link:RelNotes/2.1.0.txt[2.1].
54 * link:v2.0.4/git.html[documentation for release 2.0.4]
57 link:RelNotes/2.0.4.txt[2.0.4],
58 link:RelNotes/2.0.3.txt[2.0.3],
59 link:RelNotes/2.0.2.txt[2.0.2],
60 link:RelNotes/2.0.1.txt[2.0.1],
61 link:RelNotes/2.0.0.txt[2.0.0].
63 * link:v1.9.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.9.4]
66 link:RelNotes/1.9.4.txt[1.9.4],
67 link:RelNotes/1.9.3.txt[1.9.3],
68 link:RelNotes/1.9.2.txt[1.9.2],
69 link:RelNotes/1.9.1.txt[1.9.1],
70 link:RelNotes/1.9.0.txt[1.9.0].
72 * link:v1.8.5.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.5.5]
75 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.5.txt[1.8.5.5],
76 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.4.txt[1.8.5.4],
77 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.3.txt[1.8.5.3],
78 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.2.txt[1.8.5.2],
79 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.1.txt[1.8.5.1],
80 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.txt[1.8.5].
82 * link:v1.8.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.4.5]
85 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.5.txt[1.8.4.5],
86 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.4.txt[1.8.4.4],
87 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.3.txt[1.8.4.3],
88 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.2.txt[1.8.4.2],
89 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.1.txt[1.8.4.1],
90 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.txt[1.8.4].
92 * link:v1.8.3.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.3.4]
95 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.4.txt[1.8.3.4],
96 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.3.txt[1.8.3.3],
97 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.2.txt[1.8.3.2],
98 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.1.txt[1.8.3.1],
99 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.txt[1.8.3].
101 * link:v1.8.2.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.2.3]
104 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.3.txt[1.8.2.3],
105 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.2.txt[1.8.2.2],
106 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.1.txt[1.8.2.1],
107 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.txt[1.8.2].
109 * link:v1.8.1.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.1.6]
112 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.6.txt[1.8.1.6],
113 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.5.txt[1.8.1.5],
114 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.4.txt[1.8.1.4],
115 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.3.txt[1.8.1.3],
116 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.2.txt[1.8.1.2],
117 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.1.txt[1.8.1.1],
118 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.txt[1.8.1].
120 * link:v1.8.0.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.0.3]
123 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.3.txt[1.8.0.3],
124 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.2.txt[1.8.0.2],
125 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.1.txt[1.8.0.1],
126 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.txt[1.8.0].
128 * link:v1.7.12.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.12.4]
131 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.4.txt[1.7.12.4],
132 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.3.txt[1.7.12.3],
133 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.2.txt[1.7.12.2],
134 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.1.txt[1.7.12.1],
135 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.txt[1.7.12].
137 * link:v1.7.11.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.11.7]
140 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.7.txt[1.7.11.7],
141 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.6.txt[1.7.11.6],
142 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.5.txt[1.7.11.5],
143 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.4.txt[1.7.11.4],
144 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.3.txt[1.7.11.3],
145 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.2.txt[1.7.11.2],
146 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.1.txt[1.7.11.1],
147 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.txt[1.7.11].
149 * link:v1.7.10.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.10.5]
152 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.5.txt[1.7.10.5],
153 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.4.txt[1.7.10.4],
154 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.3.txt[1.7.10.3],
155 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.2.txt[1.7.10.2],
156 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.1.txt[1.7.10.1],
157 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.txt[1.7.10].
159 * link:v1.7.9.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.9.7]
162 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.7.txt[1.7.9.7],
163 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.6.txt[1.7.9.6],
164 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.5.txt[1.7.9.5],
165 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.4.txt[1.7.9.4],
166 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.3.txt[1.7.9.3],
167 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.2.txt[1.7.9.2],
168 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.1.txt[1.7.9.1],
169 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.txt[1.7.9].
171 * link:v1.7.8.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.8.6]
174 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.6.txt[1.7.8.6],
175 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.5.txt[1.7.8.5],
176 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.4.txt[1.7.8.4],
177 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.3.txt[1.7.8.3],
178 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.2.txt[1.7.8.2],
179 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.1.txt[1.7.8.1],
180 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.txt[1.7.8].
182 * link:v1.7.7.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.7.7]
185 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.7.txt[1.7.7.7],
186 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.6.txt[1.7.7.6],
187 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.5.txt[1.7.7.5],
188 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.4.txt[1.7.7.4],
189 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.3.txt[1.7.7.3],
190 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.2.txt[1.7.7.2],
191 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.1.txt[1.7.7.1],
192 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.txt[1.7.7].
194 * link:v1.7.6.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.6.6]
197 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.6.txt[1.7.6.6],
198 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.5.txt[1.7.6.5],
199 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.4.txt[1.7.6.4],
200 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.3.txt[1.7.6.3],
201 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.2.txt[1.7.6.2],
202 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.1.txt[1.7.6.1],
203 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.txt[1.7.6].
205 * link:v1.7.5.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.5.4]
208 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.4.txt[1.7.5.4],
209 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.3.txt[1.7.5.3],
210 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.2.txt[1.7.5.2],
211 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.1.txt[1.7.5.1],
212 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.txt[1.7.5].
214 * link:v1.7.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.4.5]
217 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.5.txt[1.7.4.5],
218 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.4.txt[1.7.4.4],
219 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.3.txt[1.7.4.3],
220 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.2.txt[1.7.4.2],
221 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.1.txt[1.7.4.1],
222 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.txt[1.7.4].
224 * link:v1.7.3.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.3.5]
227 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.5.txt[1.7.3.5],
228 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.4.txt[1.7.3.4],
229 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.3.txt[1.7.3.3],
230 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.2.txt[1.7.3.2],
231 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.1.txt[1.7.3.1],
232 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.txt[1.7.3].
234 * link:v1.7.2.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.2.5]
237 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.5.txt[1.7.2.5],
238 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.4.txt[1.7.2.4],
239 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.3.txt[1.7.2.3],
240 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.2.txt[1.7.2.2],
241 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.1.txt[1.7.2.1],
242 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.txt[1.7.2].
244 * link:v1.7.1.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.1.4]
247 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.4.txt[1.7.1.4],
248 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.3.txt[1.7.1.3],
249 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.2.txt[1.7.1.2],
250 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.1.txt[1.7.1.1],
251 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.txt[1.7.1].
253 * link:v1.7.0.9/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.0.9]
256 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.9.txt[1.7.0.9],
257 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.8.txt[1.7.0.8],
258 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.7.txt[1.7.0.7],
259 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.6.txt[1.7.0.6],
260 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.5.txt[1.7.0.5],
261 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.4.txt[1.7.0.4],
262 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.3.txt[1.7.0.3],
263 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.2.txt[1.7.0.2],
264 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.1.txt[1.7.0.1],
265 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.txt[1.7.0].
267 * link:v1.6.6.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.6.3]
270 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.3.txt[1.6.6.3],
271 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.2.txt[1.6.6.2],
272 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.1.txt[1.6.6.1],
273 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.txt[1.6.6].
275 * link:v1.6.5.9/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.5.9]
278 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.9.txt[1.6.5.9],
279 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.8.txt[1.6.5.8],
280 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.7.txt[1.6.5.7],
281 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.6.txt[1.6.5.6],
282 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.5.txt[1.6.5.5],
283 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.4.txt[1.6.5.4],
284 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.3.txt[1.6.5.3],
285 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.2.txt[1.6.5.2],
286 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.1.txt[1.6.5.1],
287 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.txt[1.6.5].
289 * link:v1.6.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.4.5]
292 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.5.txt[1.6.4.5],
293 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.4.txt[1.6.4.4],
294 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.3.txt[1.6.4.3],
295 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.2.txt[1.6.4.2],
296 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.1.txt[1.6.4.1],
297 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.txt[1.6.4].
299 * link:v1.6.3.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.3.4]
302 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.4.txt[1.6.3.4],
303 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.3.txt[1.6.3.3],
304 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.2.txt[1.6.3.2],
305 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.1.txt[1.6.3.1],
306 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.txt[1.6.3].
309 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.5.txt[1.6.2.5],
310 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.4.txt[1.6.2.4],
311 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.3.txt[1.6.2.3],
312 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.2.txt[1.6.2.2],
313 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.1.txt[1.6.2.1],
314 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.txt[1.6.2].
316 * link:v1.6.1.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.1.3]
319 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.3.txt[1.6.1.3],
320 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.2.txt[1.6.1.2],
321 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.1.txt[1.6.1.1],
322 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.txt[1.6.1].
324 * link:v1.6.0.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.0.6]
327 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.6.txt[1.6.0.6],
328 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.5.txt[1.6.0.5],
329 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.4.txt[1.6.0.4],
330 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.3.txt[1.6.0.3],
331 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.2.txt[1.6.0.2],
332 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.1.txt[1.6.0.1],
333 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.txt[1.6.0].
335 * link:v1.5.6.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.6.6]
338 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.6.txt[1.5.6.6],
339 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.5.txt[1.5.6.5],
340 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.4.txt[1.5.6.4],
341 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.3.txt[1.5.6.3],
342 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.2.txt[1.5.6.2],
343 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.1.txt[1.5.6.1],
344 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.txt[1.5.6].
346 * link:v1.5.5.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.5.6]
349 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.6.txt[1.5.5.6],
350 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.5.txt[1.5.5.5],
351 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.4.txt[1.5.5.4],
352 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.3.txt[1.5.5.3],
353 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.2.txt[1.5.5.2],
354 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.1.txt[1.5.5.1],
355 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.txt[1.5.5].
357 * link:v1.5.4.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.4.7]
360 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.7.txt[1.5.4.7],
361 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.6.txt[1.5.4.6],
362 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.5.txt[1.5.4.5],
363 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.4.txt[1.5.4.4],
364 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.3.txt[1.5.4.3],
365 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.2.txt[1.5.4.2],
366 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.1.txt[1.5.4.1],
367 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.txt[1.5.4].
369 * link:v1.5.3.8/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.3.8]
372 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.8.txt[1.5.3.8],
373 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.7.txt[1.5.3.7],
374 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.6.txt[1.5.3.6],
375 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.5.txt[1.5.3.5],
376 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.4.txt[1.5.3.4],
377 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.3.txt[1.5.3.3],
378 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.2.txt[1.5.3.2],
379 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.1.txt[1.5.3.1],
380 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.txt[1.5.3].
382 * link:v1.5.2.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.2.5]
385 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.5.txt[1.5.2.5],
386 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.4.txt[1.5.2.4],
387 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.3.txt[1.5.2.3],
388 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.2.txt[1.5.2.2],
389 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.1.txt[1.5.2.1],
390 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.txt[1.5.2].
392 * link:v1.5.1.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.1.6]
395 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.6.txt[1.5.1.6],
396 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.5.txt[1.5.1.5],
397 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.4.txt[1.5.1.4],
398 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.3.txt[1.5.1.3],
399 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.2.txt[1.5.1.2],
400 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.1.txt[1.5.1.1],
401 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.txt[1.5.1].
403 * link:v1.5.0.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.0.7]
406 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.7.txt[1.5.0.7],
407 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.6.txt[1.5.0.6],
408 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.5.txt[1.5.0.5],
409 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.3.txt[1.5.0.3],
410 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.2.txt[1.5.0.2],
411 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.1.txt[1.5.0.1],
412 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.txt[1.5.0].
414 * documentation for release link:v1.4.4.4/git.html[1.4.4.4],
415 link:v1.3.3/git.html[1.3.3],
416 link:v1.2.6/git.html[1.2.6],
417 link:v1.0.13/git.html[1.0.13].
426 Prints the Git suite version that the 'git' program came from.
429 Prints the synopsis and a list of the most commonly used
430 commands. If the option '--all' or '-a' is given then all
431 available commands are printed. If a Git command is named this
432 option will bring up the manual page for that command.
434 Other options are available to control how the manual page is
435 displayed. See linkgit:git-help[1] for more information,
436 because `git --help ...` is converted internally into `git
440 Run as if git was started in '<path>' instead of the current working
441 directory. When multiple `-C` options are given, each subsequent
442 non-absolute `-C <path>` is interpreted relative to the preceding `-C
445 This option affects options that expect path name like `--git-dir` and
446 `--work-tree` in that their interpretations of the path names would be
447 made relative to the working directory caused by the `-C` option. For
448 example the following invocations are equivalent:
450 git --git-dir=a.git --work-tree=b -C c status
451 git --git-dir=c/a.git --work-tree=c/b status
454 Pass a configuration parameter to the command. The value
455 given will override values from configuration files.
456 The <name> is expected in the same format as listed by
457 'git config' (subkeys separated by dots).
459 Note that omitting the `=` in `git -c foo.bar ...` is allowed and sets
460 `foo.bar` to the boolean true value (just like `[foo]bar` would in a
461 config file). Including the equals but with an empty value (like `git -c
462 foo.bar= ...`) sets `foo.bar` to the empty string.
464 --exec-path[=<path>]::
465 Path to wherever your core Git programs are installed.
466 This can also be controlled by setting the GIT_EXEC_PATH
467 environment variable. If no path is given, 'git' will print
468 the current setting and then exit.
471 Print the path, without trailing slash, where Git's HTML
472 documentation is installed and exit.
475 Print the manpath (see `man(1)`) for the man pages for
476 this version of Git and exit.
479 Print the path where the Info files documenting this
480 version of Git are installed and exit.
484 Pipe all output into 'less' (or if set, $PAGER) if standard
485 output is a terminal. This overrides the `pager.<cmd>`
486 configuration options (see the "Configuration Mechanism" section
490 Do not pipe Git output into a pager.
493 Set the path to the repository. This can also be controlled by
494 setting the GIT_DIR environment variable. It can be an absolute
495 path or relative path to current working directory.
498 Set the path to the working tree. It can be an absolute path
499 or a path relative to the current working directory.
500 This can also be controlled by setting the GIT_WORK_TREE
501 environment variable and the core.worktree configuration
502 variable (see core.worktree in linkgit:git-config[1] for a
503 more detailed discussion).
506 Set the Git namespace. See linkgit:gitnamespaces[7] for more
507 details. Equivalent to setting the `GIT_NAMESPACE` environment
511 Treat the repository as a bare repository. If GIT_DIR
512 environment is not set, it is set to the current working
515 --no-replace-objects::
516 Do not use replacement refs to replace Git objects. See
517 linkgit:git-replace[1] for more information.
519 --literal-pathspecs::
520 Treat pathspecs literally (i.e. no globbing, no pathspec magic).
521 This is equivalent to setting the `GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS` environment
525 Add "glob" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
526 the `GIT_GLOB_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`. Disabling
527 globbing on individual pathspecs can be done using pathspec
531 Add "literal" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
532 the `GIT_NOGLOB_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`. Enabling
533 globbing on individual pathspecs can be done using pathspec
537 Add "icase" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
538 the `GIT_ICASE_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`.
543 We divide Git into high level ("porcelain") commands and low level
544 ("plumbing") commands.
546 High-level commands (porcelain)
547 -------------------------------
549 We separate the porcelain commands into the main commands and some
550 ancillary user utilities.
552 Main porcelain commands
553 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
555 include::cmds-mainporcelain.txt[]
561 include::cmds-ancillarymanipulators.txt[]
565 include::cmds-ancillaryinterrogators.txt[]
568 Interacting with Others
569 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
571 These commands are to interact with foreign SCM and with other
572 people via patch over e-mail.
574 include::cmds-foreignscminterface.txt[]
577 Low-level commands (plumbing)
578 -----------------------------
580 Although Git includes its
581 own porcelain layer, its low-level commands are sufficient to support
582 development of alternative porcelains. Developers of such porcelains
583 might start by reading about linkgit:git-update-index[1] and
584 linkgit:git-read-tree[1].
586 The interface (input, output, set of options and the semantics)
587 to these low-level commands are meant to be a lot more stable
588 than Porcelain level commands, because these commands are
589 primarily for scripted use. The interface to Porcelain commands
590 on the other hand are subject to change in order to improve the
593 The following description divides
594 the low-level commands into commands that manipulate objects (in
595 the repository, index, and working tree), commands that interrogate and
596 compare objects, and commands that move objects and references between
600 Manipulation commands
601 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
603 include::cmds-plumbingmanipulators.txt[]
606 Interrogation commands
607 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
609 include::cmds-plumbinginterrogators.txt[]
611 In general, the interrogate commands do not touch the files in
615 Synching repositories
616 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
618 include::cmds-synchingrepositories.txt[]
620 The following are helper commands used by the above; end users
621 typically do not use them directly.
623 include::cmds-synchelpers.txt[]
626 Internal helper commands
627 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
629 These are internal helper commands used by other commands; end
630 users typically do not use them directly.
632 include::cmds-purehelpers.txt[]
635 Configuration Mechanism
636 -----------------------
638 Git uses a simple text format to store customizations that are per
639 repository and are per user. Such a configuration file may look
644 # A '#' or ';' character indicates a comment.
649 ; Don't trust file modes
654 name = "Junio C Hamano"
655 email = "gitster@pobox.com"
659 Various commands read from the configuration file and adjust
660 their operation accordingly. See linkgit:git-config[1] for a
661 list and more details about the configuration mechanism.
664 Identifier Terminology
665 ----------------------
667 Indicates the object name for any type of object.
670 Indicates a blob object name.
673 Indicates a tree object name.
676 Indicates a commit object name.
679 Indicates a tree, commit or tag object name. A
680 command that takes a <tree-ish> argument ultimately wants to
681 operate on a <tree> object but automatically dereferences
682 <commit> and <tag> objects that point at a <tree>.
685 Indicates a commit or tag object name. A
686 command that takes a <commit-ish> argument ultimately wants to
687 operate on a <commit> object but automatically dereferences
688 <tag> objects that point at a <commit>.
691 Indicates that an object type is required.
692 Currently one of: `blob`, `tree`, `commit`, or `tag`.
695 Indicates a filename - almost always relative to the
696 root of the tree structure `GIT_INDEX_FILE` describes.
700 Any Git command accepting any <object> can also use the following
704 indicates the head of the current branch.
708 (i.e. a `refs/tags/<tag>` reference).
712 (i.e. a `refs/heads/<head>` reference).
714 For a more complete list of ways to spell object names, see
715 "SPECIFYING REVISIONS" section in linkgit:gitrevisions[7].
718 File/Directory Structure
719 ------------------------
721 Please see the linkgit:gitrepository-layout[5] document.
723 Read linkgit:githooks[5] for more details about each hook.
725 Higher level SCMs may provide and manage additional information in the
731 Please see linkgit:gitglossary[7].
734 Environment Variables
735 ---------------------
736 Various Git commands use the following environment variables:
740 These environment variables apply to 'all' core Git commands. Nb: it
741 is worth noting that they may be used/overridden by SCMS sitting above
742 Git so take care if using Cogito etc.
745 This environment allows the specification of an alternate
746 index file. If not specified, the default of `$GIT_DIR/index`
749 'GIT_INDEX_VERSION'::
750 This environment variable allows the specification of an index
751 version for new repositories. It won't affect existing index
752 files. By default index file version [23] is used.
754 'GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY'::
755 If the object storage directory is specified via this
756 environment variable then the sha1 directories are created
757 underneath - otherwise the default `$GIT_DIR/objects`
760 'GIT_ALTERNATE_OBJECT_DIRECTORIES'::
761 Due to the immutable nature of Git objects, old objects can be
762 archived into shared, read-only directories. This variable
763 specifies a ":" separated (on Windows ";" separated) list
764 of Git object directories which can be used to search for Git
765 objects. New objects will not be written to these directories.
768 If the 'GIT_DIR' environment variable is set then it
769 specifies a path to use instead of the default `.git`
770 for the base of the repository.
771 The '--git-dir' command-line option also sets this value.
774 Set the path to the root of the working tree.
775 This can also be controlled by the '--work-tree' command-line
776 option and the core.worktree configuration variable.
779 Set the Git namespace; see linkgit:gitnamespaces[7] for details.
780 The '--namespace' command-line option also sets this value.
782 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES'::
783 This should be a colon-separated list of absolute paths. If
784 set, it is a list of directories that Git should not chdir up
785 into while looking for a repository directory (useful for
786 excluding slow-loading network directories). It will not
787 exclude the current working directory or a GIT_DIR set on the
788 command line or in the environment. Normally, Git has to read
789 the entries in this list and resolve any symlink that
790 might be present in order to compare them with the current
791 directory. However, if even this access is slow, you
792 can add an empty entry to the list to tell Git that the
793 subsequent entries are not symlinks and needn't be resolved;
795 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES=/maybe/symlink::/very/slow/non/symlink'.
797 'GIT_DISCOVERY_ACROSS_FILESYSTEM'::
798 When run in a directory that does not have ".git" repository
799 directory, Git tries to find such a directory in the parent
800 directories to find the top of the working tree, but by default it
801 does not cross filesystem boundaries. This environment variable
802 can be set to true to tell Git not to stop at filesystem
803 boundaries. Like 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES', this will not affect
804 an explicit repository directory set via 'GIT_DIR' or on the
812 'GIT_COMMITTER_NAME'::
813 'GIT_COMMITTER_EMAIL'::
814 'GIT_COMMITTER_DATE'::
816 see linkgit:git-commit-tree[1]
821 Only valid setting is "--unified=??" or "-u??" to set the
822 number of context lines shown when a unified diff is created.
823 This takes precedence over any "-U" or "--unified" option
824 value passed on the Git diff command line.
826 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF'::
827 When the environment variable 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is set, the
828 program named by it is called, instead of the diff invocation
829 described above. For a path that is added, removed, or modified,
830 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called with 7 parameters:
832 path old-file old-hex old-mode new-file new-hex new-mode
836 <old|new>-file:: are files GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF can use to read the
837 contents of <old|new>,
838 <old|new>-hex:: are the 40-hexdigit SHA-1 hashes,
839 <old|new>-mode:: are the octal representation of the file modes.
841 The file parameters can point at the user's working file
842 (e.g. `new-file` in "git-diff-files"), `/dev/null` (e.g. `old-file`
843 when a new file is added), or a temporary file (e.g. `old-file` in the
844 index). 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' should not worry about unlinking the
845 temporary file --- it is removed when 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' exits.
847 For a path that is unmerged, 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called with 1
850 For each path 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called, two environment variables,
851 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_COUNTER' and 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_TOTAL' are set.
853 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_COUNTER'::
854 A 1-based counter incremented by one for every path.
856 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_TOTAL'::
857 The total number of paths.
861 'GIT_MERGE_VERBOSITY'::
862 A number controlling the amount of output shown by
863 the recursive merge strategy. Overrides merge.verbosity.
864 See linkgit:git-merge[1]
867 This environment variable overrides `$PAGER`. If it is set
868 to an empty string or to the value "cat", Git will not launch
869 a pager. See also the `core.pager` option in
870 linkgit:git-config[1].
873 This environment variable overrides `$EDITOR` and `$VISUAL`.
874 It is used by several Git commands when, on interactive mode,
875 an editor is to be launched. See also linkgit:git-var[1]
876 and the `core.editor` option in linkgit:git-config[1].
879 If this environment variable is set then 'git fetch'
880 and 'git push' will use this command instead
881 of 'ssh' when they need to connect to a remote system.
882 The '$GIT_SSH' command will be given exactly two or
883 four arguments: the 'username@host' (or just 'host')
884 from the URL and the shell command to execute on that
885 remote system, optionally preceded by '-p' (literally) and
886 the 'port' from the URL when it specifies something other
887 than the default SSH port.
889 To pass options to the program that you want to list in GIT_SSH
890 you will need to wrap the program and options into a shell script,
891 then set GIT_SSH to refer to the shell script.
893 Usually it is easier to configure any desired options through your
894 personal `.ssh/config` file. Please consult your ssh documentation
898 If this environment variable is set, then Git commands which need to
899 acquire passwords or passphrases (e.g. for HTTP or IMAP authentication)
900 will call this program with a suitable prompt as command-line argument
901 and read the password from its STDOUT. See also the 'core.askpass'
902 option in linkgit:git-config[1].
904 'GIT_CONFIG_NOSYSTEM'::
905 Whether to skip reading settings from the system-wide
906 `$(prefix)/etc/gitconfig` file. This environment variable can
907 be used along with `$HOME` and `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME` to create a
908 predictable environment for a picky script, or you can set it
909 temporarily to avoid using a buggy `/etc/gitconfig` file while
910 waiting for someone with sufficient permissions to fix it.
913 If this environment variable is set to "1", then commands such
914 as 'git blame' (in incremental mode), 'git rev-list', 'git log',
915 'git check-attr' and 'git check-ignore' will
916 force a flush of the output stream after each record have been
918 variable is set to "0", the output of these commands will be done
919 using completely buffered I/O. If this environment variable is
920 not set, Git will choose buffered or record-oriented flushing
921 based on whether stdout appears to be redirected to a file or not.
924 Enables general trace messages, e.g. alias expansion, built-in
925 command execution and external command execution.
927 If this variable is set to "1", "2" or "true" (comparison
928 is case insensitive), trace messages will be printed to
931 If the variable is set to an integer value greater than 2
932 and lower than 10 (strictly) then Git will interpret this
933 value as an open file descriptor and will try to write the
934 trace messages into this file descriptor.
936 Alternatively, if the variable is set to an absolute path
937 (starting with a '/' character), Git will interpret this
938 as a file path and will try to write the trace messages
941 Unsetting the variable, or setting it to empty, "0" or
942 "false" (case insensitive) disables trace messages.
944 'GIT_TRACE_PACK_ACCESS'::
945 Enables trace messages for all accesses to any packs. For each
946 access, the pack file name and an offset in the pack is
947 recorded. This may be helpful for troubleshooting some
948 pack-related performance problems.
949 See 'GIT_TRACE' for available trace output options.
952 Enables trace messages for all packets coming in or out of a
953 given program. This can help with debugging object negotiation
954 or other protocol issues. Tracing is turned off at a packet
955 starting with "PACK".
956 See 'GIT_TRACE' for available trace output options.
958 'GIT_TRACE_PERFORMANCE'::
959 Enables performance related trace messages, e.g. total execution
960 time of each Git command.
961 See 'GIT_TRACE' for available trace output options.
964 Enables trace messages printing the .git, working tree and current
965 working directory after Git has completed its setup phase.
966 See 'GIT_TRACE' for available trace output options.
968 'GIT_TRACE_SHALLOW'::
969 Enables trace messages that can help debugging fetching /
970 cloning of shallow repositories.
971 See 'GIT_TRACE' for available trace output options.
973 GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS::
974 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
975 pathspecs literally, rather than as glob patterns. For example,
976 running `GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS=1 git log -- '*.c'` will search
977 for commits that touch the path `*.c`, not any paths that the
978 glob `*.c` matches. You might want this if you are feeding
979 literal paths to Git (e.g., paths previously given to you by
980 `git ls-tree`, `--raw` diff output, etc).
983 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
984 pathspecs as glob patterns (aka "glob" magic).
986 GIT_NOGLOB_PATHSPECS::
987 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
988 pathspecs as literal (aka "literal" magic).
990 GIT_ICASE_PATHSPECS::
991 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
992 pathspecs as case-insensitive.
994 'GIT_REFLOG_ACTION'::
995 When a ref is updated, reflog entries are created to keep
996 track of the reason why the ref was updated (which is
997 typically the name of the high-level command that updated
998 the ref), in addition to the old and new values of the ref.
999 A scripted Porcelain command can use set_reflog_action
1000 helper function in `git-sh-setup` to set its name to this
1001 variable when it is invoked as the top level command by the
1002 end user, to be recorded in the body of the reflog.
1005 Discussion[[Discussion]]
1006 ------------------------
1008 More detail on the following is available from the
1009 link:user-manual.html#git-concepts[Git concepts chapter of the
1010 user-manual] and linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7].
1012 A Git project normally consists of a working directory with a ".git"
1013 subdirectory at the top level. The .git directory contains, among other
1014 things, a compressed object database representing the complete history
1015 of the project, an "index" file which links that history to the current
1016 contents of the working tree, and named pointers into that history such
1017 as tags and branch heads.
1019 The object database contains objects of three main types: blobs, which
1020 hold file data; trees, which point to blobs and other trees to build up
1021 directory hierarchies; and commits, which each reference a single tree
1022 and some number of parent commits.
1024 The commit, equivalent to what other systems call a "changeset" or
1025 "version", represents a step in the project's history, and each parent
1026 represents an immediately preceding step. Commits with more than one
1027 parent represent merges of independent lines of development.
1029 All objects are named by the SHA-1 hash of their contents, normally
1030 written as a string of 40 hex digits. Such names are globally unique.
1031 The entire history leading up to a commit can be vouched for by signing
1032 just that commit. A fourth object type, the tag, is provided for this
1035 When first created, objects are stored in individual files, but for
1036 efficiency may later be compressed together into "pack files".
1038 Named pointers called refs mark interesting points in history. A ref
1039 may contain the SHA-1 name of an object or the name of another ref. Refs
1040 with names beginning `ref/head/` contain the SHA-1 name of the most
1041 recent commit (or "head") of a branch under development. SHA-1 names of
1042 tags of interest are stored under `ref/tags/`. A special ref named
1043 `HEAD` contains the name of the currently checked-out branch.
1045 The index file is initialized with a list of all paths and, for each
1046 path, a blob object and a set of attributes. The blob object represents
1047 the contents of the file as of the head of the current branch. The
1048 attributes (last modified time, size, etc.) are taken from the
1049 corresponding file in the working tree. Subsequent changes to the
1050 working tree can be found by comparing these attributes. The index may
1051 be updated with new content, and new commits may be created from the
1052 content stored in the index.
1054 The index is also capable of storing multiple entries (called "stages")
1055 for a given pathname. These stages are used to hold the various
1056 unmerged version of a file when a merge is in progress.
1058 FURTHER DOCUMENTATION
1059 ---------------------
1061 See the references in the "description" section to get started
1062 using Git. The following is probably more detail than necessary
1063 for a first-time user.
1065 The link:user-manual.html#git-concepts[Git concepts chapter of the
1066 user-manual] and linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7] both provide
1067 introductions to the underlying Git architecture.
1069 See linkgit:gitworkflows[7] for an overview of recommended workflows.
1071 See also the link:howto-index.html[howto] documents for some useful
1074 The internals are documented in the
1075 link:technical/api-index.html[Git API documentation].
1077 Users migrating from CVS may also want to
1078 read linkgit:gitcvs-migration[7].
1083 Git was started by Linus Torvalds, and is currently maintained by Junio
1084 C Hamano. Numerous contributions have come from the Git mailing list
1085 <git@vger.kernel.org>. http://www.openhub.net/p/git/contributors/summary
1086 gives you a more complete list of contributors.
1088 If you have a clone of git.git itself, the
1089 output of linkgit:git-shortlog[1] and linkgit:git-blame[1] can show you
1090 the authors for specific parts of the project.
1095 Report bugs to the Git mailing list <git@vger.kernel.org> where the
1096 development and maintenance is primarily done. You do not have to be
1097 subscribed to the list to send a message there.
1101 linkgit:gittutorial[7], linkgit:gittutorial-2[7],
1102 link:everyday.html[Everyday Git], linkgit:gitcvs-migration[7],
1103 linkgit:gitglossary[7], linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7],
1104 linkgit:gitcli[7], link:user-manual.html[The Git User's Manual],
1105 linkgit:gitworkflows[7]
1109 Part of the linkgit:git[1] suite