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:v1.8.4.2/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.4.2]
49 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.2.txt[1.8.4.2],
50 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.1.txt[1.8.4.1],
51 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.txt[1.8.4].
53 * link:v1.8.3.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.3.4]
56 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.4.txt[1.8.3.4],
57 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.3.txt[1.8.3.3],
58 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.2.txt[1.8.3.2],
59 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.1.txt[1.8.3.1],
60 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.txt[1.8.3].
62 * link:v1.8.2.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.2.3]
65 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.3.txt[1.8.2.3],
66 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.2.txt[1.8.2.2],
67 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.1.txt[1.8.2.1],
68 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.txt[1.8.2].
70 * link:v1.8.1.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.1.6]
73 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.6.txt[1.8.1.6],
74 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.5.txt[1.8.1.5],
75 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.4.txt[1.8.1.4],
76 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.3.txt[1.8.1.3],
77 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.2.txt[1.8.1.2],
78 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.1.txt[1.8.1.1],
79 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.txt[1.8.1].
81 * link:v1.8.0.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.0.3]
84 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.3.txt[1.8.0.3],
85 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.2.txt[1.8.0.2],
86 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.1.txt[1.8.0.1],
87 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.txt[1.8.0].
89 * link:v1.7.12.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.12.4]
92 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.4.txt[1.7.12.4],
93 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.3.txt[1.7.12.3],
94 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.2.txt[1.7.12.2],
95 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.1.txt[1.7.12.1],
96 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.txt[1.7.12].
98 * link:v1.7.11.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.11.7]
101 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.7.txt[1.7.11.7],
102 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.6.txt[1.7.11.6],
103 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.5.txt[1.7.11.5],
104 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.4.txt[1.7.11.4],
105 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.3.txt[1.7.11.3],
106 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.2.txt[1.7.11.2],
107 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.1.txt[1.7.11.1],
108 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.txt[1.7.11].
110 * link:v1.7.10.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.10.5]
113 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.5.txt[1.7.10.5],
114 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.4.txt[1.7.10.4],
115 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.3.txt[1.7.10.3],
116 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.2.txt[1.7.10.2],
117 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.1.txt[1.7.10.1],
118 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.txt[1.7.10].
120 * link:v1.7.9.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.9.7]
123 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.7.txt[1.7.9.7],
124 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.6.txt[1.7.9.6],
125 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.5.txt[1.7.9.5],
126 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.4.txt[1.7.9.4],
127 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.3.txt[1.7.9.3],
128 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.2.txt[1.7.9.2],
129 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.1.txt[1.7.9.1],
130 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.txt[1.7.9].
132 * link:v1.7.8.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.8.6]
135 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.6.txt[1.7.8.6],
136 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.5.txt[1.7.8.5],
137 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.4.txt[1.7.8.4],
138 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.3.txt[1.7.8.3],
139 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.2.txt[1.7.8.2],
140 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.1.txt[1.7.8.1],
141 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.txt[1.7.8].
143 * link:v1.7.7.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.7.7]
146 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.7.txt[1.7.7.7],
147 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.6.txt[1.7.7.6],
148 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.5.txt[1.7.7.5],
149 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.4.txt[1.7.7.4],
150 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.3.txt[1.7.7.3],
151 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.2.txt[1.7.7.2],
152 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.1.txt[1.7.7.1],
153 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.txt[1.7.7].
155 * link:v1.7.6.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.6.6]
158 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.6.txt[1.7.6.6],
159 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.5.txt[1.7.6.5],
160 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.4.txt[1.7.6.4],
161 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.3.txt[1.7.6.3],
162 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.2.txt[1.7.6.2],
163 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.1.txt[1.7.6.1],
164 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.txt[1.7.6].
166 * link:v1.7.5.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.5.4]
169 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.4.txt[1.7.5.4],
170 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.3.txt[1.7.5.3],
171 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.2.txt[1.7.5.2],
172 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.1.txt[1.7.5.1],
173 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.txt[1.7.5].
175 * link:v1.7.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.4.5]
178 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.5.txt[1.7.4.5],
179 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.4.txt[1.7.4.4],
180 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.3.txt[1.7.4.3],
181 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.2.txt[1.7.4.2],
182 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.1.txt[1.7.4.1],
183 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.txt[1.7.4].
185 * link:v1.7.3.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.3.5]
188 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.5.txt[1.7.3.5],
189 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.4.txt[1.7.3.4],
190 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.3.txt[1.7.3.3],
191 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.2.txt[1.7.3.2],
192 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.1.txt[1.7.3.1],
193 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.txt[1.7.3].
195 * link:v1.7.2.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.2.5]
198 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.5.txt[1.7.2.5],
199 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.4.txt[1.7.2.4],
200 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.3.txt[1.7.2.3],
201 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.2.txt[1.7.2.2],
202 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.1.txt[1.7.2.1],
203 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.txt[1.7.2].
205 * link:v1.7.1.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.1.4]
208 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.4.txt[1.7.1.4],
209 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.3.txt[1.7.1.3],
210 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.2.txt[1.7.1.2],
211 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.1.txt[1.7.1.1],
212 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.txt[1.7.1].
214 * link:v1.7.0.9/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.0.9]
217 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.9.txt[1.7.0.9],
218 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.8.txt[1.7.0.8],
219 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.7.txt[1.7.0.7],
220 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.6.txt[1.7.0.6],
221 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.5.txt[1.7.0.5],
222 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.4.txt[1.7.0.4],
223 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.3.txt[1.7.0.3],
224 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.2.txt[1.7.0.2],
225 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.1.txt[1.7.0.1],
226 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.txt[1.7.0].
228 * link:v1.6.6.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.6.3]
231 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.3.txt[1.6.6.3],
232 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.2.txt[1.6.6.2],
233 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.1.txt[1.6.6.1],
234 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.txt[1.6.6].
236 * link:v1.6.5.9/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.5.9]
239 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.9.txt[1.6.5.9],
240 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.8.txt[1.6.5.8],
241 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.7.txt[1.6.5.7],
242 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.6.txt[1.6.5.6],
243 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.5.txt[1.6.5.5],
244 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.4.txt[1.6.5.4],
245 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.3.txt[1.6.5.3],
246 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.2.txt[1.6.5.2],
247 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.1.txt[1.6.5.1],
248 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.txt[1.6.5].
250 * link:v1.6.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.4.5]
253 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.5.txt[1.6.4.5],
254 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.4.txt[1.6.4.4],
255 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.3.txt[1.6.4.3],
256 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.2.txt[1.6.4.2],
257 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.1.txt[1.6.4.1],
258 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.txt[1.6.4].
260 * link:v1.6.3.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.3.4]
263 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.4.txt[1.6.3.4],
264 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.3.txt[1.6.3.3],
265 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.2.txt[1.6.3.2],
266 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.1.txt[1.6.3.1],
267 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.txt[1.6.3].
270 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.5.txt[1.6.2.5],
271 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.4.txt[1.6.2.4],
272 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.3.txt[1.6.2.3],
273 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.2.txt[1.6.2.2],
274 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.1.txt[1.6.2.1],
275 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.txt[1.6.2].
277 * link:v1.6.1.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.1.3]
280 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.3.txt[1.6.1.3],
281 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.2.txt[1.6.1.2],
282 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.1.txt[1.6.1.1],
283 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.txt[1.6.1].
285 * link:v1.6.0.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.0.6]
288 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.6.txt[1.6.0.6],
289 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.5.txt[1.6.0.5],
290 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.4.txt[1.6.0.4],
291 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.3.txt[1.6.0.3],
292 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.2.txt[1.6.0.2],
293 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.1.txt[1.6.0.1],
294 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.txt[1.6.0].
296 * link:v1.5.6.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.6.6]
299 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.6.txt[1.5.6.6],
300 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.5.txt[1.5.6.5],
301 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.4.txt[1.5.6.4],
302 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.3.txt[1.5.6.3],
303 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.2.txt[1.5.6.2],
304 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.1.txt[1.5.6.1],
305 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.txt[1.5.6].
307 * link:v1.5.5.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.5.6]
310 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.6.txt[1.5.5.6],
311 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.5.txt[1.5.5.5],
312 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.4.txt[1.5.5.4],
313 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.3.txt[1.5.5.3],
314 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.2.txt[1.5.5.2],
315 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.1.txt[1.5.5.1],
316 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.txt[1.5.5].
318 * link:v1.5.4.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.4.7]
321 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.7.txt[1.5.4.7],
322 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.6.txt[1.5.4.6],
323 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.5.txt[1.5.4.5],
324 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.4.txt[1.5.4.4],
325 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.3.txt[1.5.4.3],
326 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.2.txt[1.5.4.2],
327 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.1.txt[1.5.4.1],
328 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.txt[1.5.4].
330 * link:v1.5.3.8/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.3.8]
333 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.8.txt[1.5.3.8],
334 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.7.txt[1.5.3.7],
335 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.6.txt[1.5.3.6],
336 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.5.txt[1.5.3.5],
337 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.4.txt[1.5.3.4],
338 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.3.txt[1.5.3.3],
339 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.2.txt[1.5.3.2],
340 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.1.txt[1.5.3.1],
341 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.txt[1.5.3].
343 * link:v1.5.2.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.2.5]
346 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.5.txt[1.5.2.5],
347 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.4.txt[1.5.2.4],
348 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.3.txt[1.5.2.3],
349 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.2.txt[1.5.2.2],
350 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.1.txt[1.5.2.1],
351 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.txt[1.5.2].
353 * link:v1.5.1.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.1.6]
356 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.6.txt[1.5.1.6],
357 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.5.txt[1.5.1.5],
358 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.4.txt[1.5.1.4],
359 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.3.txt[1.5.1.3],
360 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.2.txt[1.5.1.2],
361 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.1.txt[1.5.1.1],
362 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.txt[1.5.1].
364 * link:v1.5.0.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.0.7]
367 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.7.txt[1.5.0.7],
368 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.6.txt[1.5.0.6],
369 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.5.txt[1.5.0.5],
370 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.3.txt[1.5.0.3],
371 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.2.txt[1.5.0.2],
372 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.1.txt[1.5.0.1],
373 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.txt[1.5.0].
375 * documentation for release link:v1.4.4.4/git.html[1.4.4.4],
376 link:v1.3.3/git.html[1.3.3],
377 link:v1.2.6/git.html[1.2.6],
378 link:v1.0.13/git.html[1.0.13].
387 Prints the Git suite version that the 'git' program came from.
390 Prints the synopsis and a list of the most commonly used
391 commands. If the option '--all' or '-a' is given then all
392 available commands are printed. If a Git command is named this
393 option will bring up the manual page for that command.
395 Other options are available to control how the manual page is
396 displayed. See linkgit:git-help[1] for more information,
397 because `git --help ...` is converted internally into `git
401 Run as if git was started in '<path>' instead of the current working
402 directory. When multiple `-C` options are given, each subsequent
403 non-absolute `-C <path>` is interpreted relative to the preceding `-C
406 This option affects options that expect path name like `--git-dir` and
407 `--work-tree` in that their interpretations of the path names would be
408 made relative to the working directory caused by the `-C` option. For
409 example the following invocations are equivalent:
411 git --git-dir=a.git --work-tree=b -C c status
412 git --git-dir=c/a.git --work-tree=c/b status
415 Pass a configuration parameter to the command. The value
416 given will override values from configuration files.
417 The <name> is expected in the same format as listed by
418 'git config' (subkeys separated by dots).
420 --exec-path[=<path>]::
421 Path to wherever your core Git programs are installed.
422 This can also be controlled by setting the GIT_EXEC_PATH
423 environment variable. If no path is given, 'git' will print
424 the current setting and then exit.
427 Print the path, without trailing slash, where Git's HTML
428 documentation is installed and exit.
431 Print the manpath (see `man(1)`) for the man pages for
432 this version of Git and exit.
435 Print the path where the Info files documenting this
436 version of Git are installed and exit.
440 Pipe all output into 'less' (or if set, $PAGER) if standard
441 output is a terminal. This overrides the `pager.<cmd>`
442 configuration options (see the "Configuration Mechanism" section
446 Do not pipe Git output into a pager.
449 Set the path to the repository. This can also be controlled by
450 setting the GIT_DIR environment variable. It can be an absolute
451 path or relative path to current working directory.
454 Set the path to the working tree. It can be an absolute path
455 or a path relative to the current working directory.
456 This can also be controlled by setting the GIT_WORK_TREE
457 environment variable and the core.worktree configuration
458 variable (see core.worktree in linkgit:git-config[1] for a
459 more detailed discussion).
462 Set the Git namespace. See linkgit:gitnamespaces[7] for more
463 details. Equivalent to setting the `GIT_NAMESPACE` environment
467 Treat the repository as a bare repository. If GIT_DIR
468 environment is not set, it is set to the current working
471 --no-replace-objects::
472 Do not use replacement refs to replace Git objects. See
473 linkgit:git-replace[1] for more information.
475 --literal-pathspecs::
476 Treat pathspecs literally (i.e. no globbing, no pathspec magic).
477 This is equivalent to setting the `GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS` environment
481 Add "glob" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
482 the `GIT_GLOB_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`. Disabling
483 globbing on individual pathspecs can be done using pathspec
487 Add "literal" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
488 the `GIT_NOGLOB_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`. Enabling
489 globbing on individual pathspecs can be done using pathspec
493 Add "icase" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
494 the `GIT_ICASE_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`.
499 We divide Git into high level ("porcelain") commands and low level
500 ("plumbing") commands.
502 High-level commands (porcelain)
503 -------------------------------
505 We separate the porcelain commands into the main commands and some
506 ancillary user utilities.
508 Main porcelain commands
509 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
511 include::cmds-mainporcelain.txt[]
517 include::cmds-ancillarymanipulators.txt[]
521 include::cmds-ancillaryinterrogators.txt[]
524 Interacting with Others
525 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
527 These commands are to interact with foreign SCM and with other
528 people via patch over e-mail.
530 include::cmds-foreignscminterface.txt[]
533 Low-level commands (plumbing)
534 -----------------------------
536 Although Git includes its
537 own porcelain layer, its low-level commands are sufficient to support
538 development of alternative porcelains. Developers of such porcelains
539 might start by reading about linkgit:git-update-index[1] and
540 linkgit:git-read-tree[1].
542 The interface (input, output, set of options and the semantics)
543 to these low-level commands are meant to be a lot more stable
544 than Porcelain level commands, because these commands are
545 primarily for scripted use. The interface to Porcelain commands
546 on the other hand are subject to change in order to improve the
549 The following description divides
550 the low-level commands into commands that manipulate objects (in
551 the repository, index, and working tree), commands that interrogate and
552 compare objects, and commands that move objects and references between
556 Manipulation commands
557 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
559 include::cmds-plumbingmanipulators.txt[]
562 Interrogation commands
563 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
565 include::cmds-plumbinginterrogators.txt[]
567 In general, the interrogate commands do not touch the files in
571 Synching repositories
572 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
574 include::cmds-synchingrepositories.txt[]
576 The following are helper commands used by the above; end users
577 typically do not use them directly.
579 include::cmds-synchelpers.txt[]
582 Internal helper commands
583 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
585 These are internal helper commands used by other commands; end
586 users typically do not use them directly.
588 include::cmds-purehelpers.txt[]
591 Configuration Mechanism
592 -----------------------
594 Git uses a simple text format to store customizations that are per
595 repository and are per user. Such a configuration file may look
600 # A '#' or ';' character indicates a comment.
605 ; Don't trust file modes
610 name = "Junio C Hamano"
611 email = "gitster@pobox.com"
615 Various commands read from the configuration file and adjust
616 their operation accordingly. See linkgit:git-config[1] for a
617 list and more details about the configuration mechanism.
620 Identifier Terminology
621 ----------------------
623 Indicates the object name for any type of object.
626 Indicates a blob object name.
629 Indicates a tree object name.
632 Indicates a commit object name.
635 Indicates a tree, commit or tag object name. A
636 command that takes a <tree-ish> argument ultimately wants to
637 operate on a <tree> object but automatically dereferences
638 <commit> and <tag> objects that point at a <tree>.
641 Indicates a commit or tag object name. A
642 command that takes a <commit-ish> argument ultimately wants to
643 operate on a <commit> object but automatically dereferences
644 <tag> objects that point at a <commit>.
647 Indicates that an object type is required.
648 Currently one of: `blob`, `tree`, `commit`, or `tag`.
651 Indicates a filename - almost always relative to the
652 root of the tree structure `GIT_INDEX_FILE` describes.
656 Any Git command accepting any <object> can also use the following
660 indicates the head of the current branch.
664 (i.e. a `refs/tags/<tag>` reference).
668 (i.e. a `refs/heads/<head>` reference).
670 For a more complete list of ways to spell object names, see
671 "SPECIFYING REVISIONS" section in linkgit:gitrevisions[7].
674 File/Directory Structure
675 ------------------------
677 Please see the linkgit:gitrepository-layout[5] document.
679 Read linkgit:githooks[5] for more details about each hook.
681 Higher level SCMs may provide and manage additional information in the
687 Please see linkgit:gitglossary[7].
690 Environment Variables
691 ---------------------
692 Various Git commands use the following environment variables:
696 These environment variables apply to 'all' core Git commands. Nb: it
697 is worth noting that they may be used/overridden by SCMS sitting above
698 Git so take care if using Cogito etc.
701 This environment allows the specification of an alternate
702 index file. If not specified, the default of `$GIT_DIR/index`
705 'GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY'::
706 If the object storage directory is specified via this
707 environment variable then the sha1 directories are created
708 underneath - otherwise the default `$GIT_DIR/objects`
711 'GIT_ALTERNATE_OBJECT_DIRECTORIES'::
712 Due to the immutable nature of Git objects, old objects can be
713 archived into shared, read-only directories. This variable
714 specifies a ":" separated (on Windows ";" separated) list
715 of Git object directories which can be used to search for Git
716 objects. New objects will not be written to these directories.
719 If the 'GIT_DIR' environment variable is set then it
720 specifies a path to use instead of the default `.git`
721 for the base of the repository.
722 The '--git-dir' command-line option also sets this value.
725 Set the path to the root of the working tree.
726 This can also be controlled by the '--work-tree' command line
727 option and the core.worktree configuration variable.
730 Set the Git namespace; see linkgit:gitnamespaces[7] for details.
731 The '--namespace' command-line option also sets this value.
733 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES'::
734 This should be a colon-separated list of absolute paths. If
735 set, it is a list of directories that Git should not chdir up
736 into while looking for a repository directory (useful for
737 excluding slow-loading network directories). It will not
738 exclude the current working directory or a GIT_DIR set on the
739 command line or in the environment. Normally, Git has to read
740 the entries in this list and resolve any symlink that
741 might be present in order to compare them with the current
742 directory. However, if even this access is slow, you
743 can add an empty entry to the list to tell Git that the
744 subsequent entries are not symlinks and needn't be resolved;
746 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES=/maybe/symlink::/very/slow/non/symlink'.
748 'GIT_DISCOVERY_ACROSS_FILESYSTEM'::
749 When run in a directory that does not have ".git" repository
750 directory, Git tries to find such a directory in the parent
751 directories to find the top of the working tree, but by default it
752 does not cross filesystem boundaries. This environment variable
753 can be set to true to tell Git not to stop at filesystem
754 boundaries. Like 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES', this will not affect
755 an explicit repository directory set via 'GIT_DIR' or on the
763 'GIT_COMMITTER_NAME'::
764 'GIT_COMMITTER_EMAIL'::
765 'GIT_COMMITTER_DATE'::
767 see linkgit:git-commit-tree[1]
772 Only valid setting is "--unified=??" or "-u??" to set the
773 number of context lines shown when a unified diff is created.
774 This takes precedence over any "-U" or "--unified" option
775 value passed on the Git diff command line.
777 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF'::
778 When the environment variable 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is set, the
779 program named by it is called, instead of the diff invocation
780 described above. For a path that is added, removed, or modified,
781 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called with 7 parameters:
783 path old-file old-hex old-mode new-file new-hex new-mode
787 <old|new>-file:: are files GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF can use to read the
788 contents of <old|new>,
789 <old|new>-hex:: are the 40-hexdigit SHA-1 hashes,
790 <old|new>-mode:: are the octal representation of the file modes.
792 The file parameters can point at the user's working file
793 (e.g. `new-file` in "git-diff-files"), `/dev/null` (e.g. `old-file`
794 when a new file is added), or a temporary file (e.g. `old-file` in the
795 index). 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' should not worry about unlinking the
796 temporary file --- it is removed when 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' exits.
798 For a path that is unmerged, 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called with 1
803 'GIT_MERGE_VERBOSITY'::
804 A number controlling the amount of output shown by
805 the recursive merge strategy. Overrides merge.verbosity.
806 See linkgit:git-merge[1]
809 This environment variable overrides `$PAGER`. If it is set
810 to an empty string or to the value "cat", Git will not launch
811 a pager. See also the `core.pager` option in
812 linkgit:git-config[1].
815 This environment variable overrides `$EDITOR` and `$VISUAL`.
816 It is used by several Git commands when, on interactive mode,
817 an editor is to be launched. See also linkgit:git-var[1]
818 and the `core.editor` option in linkgit:git-config[1].
821 If this environment variable is set then 'git fetch'
822 and 'git push' will use this command instead
823 of 'ssh' when they need to connect to a remote system.
824 The '$GIT_SSH' command will be given exactly two or
825 four arguments: the 'username@host' (or just 'host')
826 from the URL and the shell command to execute on that
827 remote system, optionally preceded by '-p' (literally) and
828 the 'port' from the URL when it specifies something other
829 than the default SSH port.
831 To pass options to the program that you want to list in GIT_SSH
832 you will need to wrap the program and options into a shell script,
833 then set GIT_SSH to refer to the shell script.
835 Usually it is easier to configure any desired options through your
836 personal `.ssh/config` file. Please consult your ssh documentation
840 If this environment variable is set, then Git commands which need to
841 acquire passwords or passphrases (e.g. for HTTP or IMAP authentication)
842 will call this program with a suitable prompt as command line argument
843 and read the password from its STDOUT. See also the 'core.askpass'
844 option in linkgit:git-config[1].
846 'GIT_CONFIG_NOSYSTEM'::
847 Whether to skip reading settings from the system-wide
848 `$(prefix)/etc/gitconfig` file. This environment variable can
849 be used along with `$HOME` and `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME` to create a
850 predictable environment for a picky script, or you can set it
851 temporarily to avoid using a buggy `/etc/gitconfig` file while
852 waiting for someone with sufficient permissions to fix it.
855 If this environment variable is set to "1", then commands such
856 as 'git blame' (in incremental mode), 'git rev-list', 'git log',
857 'git check-attr' and 'git check-ignore' will
858 force a flush of the output stream after each record have been
860 variable is set to "0", the output of these commands will be done
861 using completely buffered I/O. If this environment variable is
862 not set, Git will choose buffered or record-oriented flushing
863 based on whether stdout appears to be redirected to a file or not.
866 If this variable is set to "1", "2" or "true" (comparison
867 is case insensitive), Git will print `trace:` messages on
868 stderr telling about alias expansion, built-in command
869 execution and external command execution.
870 If this variable is set to an integer value greater than 1
871 and lower than 10 (strictly) then Git will interpret this
872 value as an open file descriptor and will try to write the
873 trace messages into this file descriptor.
874 Alternatively, if this variable is set to an absolute path
875 (starting with a '/' character), Git will interpret this
876 as a file path and will try to write the trace messages
879 'GIT_TRACE_PACK_ACCESS'::
880 If this variable is set to a path, a file will be created at
881 the given path logging all accesses to any packs. For each
882 access, the pack file name and an offset in the pack is
883 recorded. This may be helpful for troubleshooting some
884 pack-related performance problems.
887 If this variable is set, it shows a trace of all packets
888 coming in or out of a given program. This can help with
889 debugging object negotiation or other protocol issues. Tracing
890 is turned off at a packet starting with "PACK".
892 GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS::
893 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
894 pathspecs literally, rather than as glob patterns. For example,
895 running `GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS=1 git log -- '*.c'` will search
896 for commits that touch the path `*.c`, not any paths that the
897 glob `*.c` matches. You might want this if you are feeding
898 literal paths to Git (e.g., paths previously given to you by
899 `git ls-tree`, `--raw` diff output, etc).
902 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
903 pathspecs as glob patterns (aka "glob" magic).
905 GIT_NOGLOB_PATHSPECS::
906 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
907 pathspecs as literal (aka "literal" magic).
909 GIT_ICASE_PATHSPECS::
910 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
911 pathspecs as case-insensitive.
913 'GIT_REFLOG_ACTION'::
914 When a ref is updated, reflog entries are created to keep
915 track of the reason why the ref was updated (which is
916 typically the name of the high-level command that updated
917 the ref), in addition to the old and new values of the ref.
918 A scripted Porcelain command can use set_reflog_action
919 helper function in `git-sh-setup` to set its name to this
920 variable when it is invoked as the top level command by the
921 end user, to be recorded in the body of the reflog.
924 Discussion[[Discussion]]
925 ------------------------
927 More detail on the following is available from the
928 link:user-manual.html#git-concepts[Git concepts chapter of the
929 user-manual] and linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7].
931 A Git project normally consists of a working directory with a ".git"
932 subdirectory at the top level. The .git directory contains, among other
933 things, a compressed object database representing the complete history
934 of the project, an "index" file which links that history to the current
935 contents of the working tree, and named pointers into that history such
936 as tags and branch heads.
938 The object database contains objects of three main types: blobs, which
939 hold file data; trees, which point to blobs and other trees to build up
940 directory hierarchies; and commits, which each reference a single tree
941 and some number of parent commits.
943 The commit, equivalent to what other systems call a "changeset" or
944 "version", represents a step in the project's history, and each parent
945 represents an immediately preceding step. Commits with more than one
946 parent represent merges of independent lines of development.
948 All objects are named by the SHA-1 hash of their contents, normally
949 written as a string of 40 hex digits. Such names are globally unique.
950 The entire history leading up to a commit can be vouched for by signing
951 just that commit. A fourth object type, the tag, is provided for this
954 When first created, objects are stored in individual files, but for
955 efficiency may later be compressed together into "pack files".
957 Named pointers called refs mark interesting points in history. A ref
958 may contain the SHA-1 name of an object or the name of another ref. Refs
959 with names beginning `ref/head/` contain the SHA-1 name of the most
960 recent commit (or "head") of a branch under development. SHA-1 names of
961 tags of interest are stored under `ref/tags/`. A special ref named
962 `HEAD` contains the name of the currently checked-out branch.
964 The index file is initialized with a list of all paths and, for each
965 path, a blob object and a set of attributes. The blob object represents
966 the contents of the file as of the head of the current branch. The
967 attributes (last modified time, size, etc.) are taken from the
968 corresponding file in the working tree. Subsequent changes to the
969 working tree can be found by comparing these attributes. The index may
970 be updated with new content, and new commits may be created from the
971 content stored in the index.
973 The index is also capable of storing multiple entries (called "stages")
974 for a given pathname. These stages are used to hold the various
975 unmerged version of a file when a merge is in progress.
977 FURTHER DOCUMENTATION
978 ---------------------
980 See the references in the "description" section to get started
981 using Git. The following is probably more detail than necessary
982 for a first-time user.
984 The link:user-manual.html#git-concepts[Git concepts chapter of the
985 user-manual] and linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7] both provide
986 introductions to the underlying Git architecture.
988 See linkgit:gitworkflows[7] for an overview of recommended workflows.
990 See also the link:howto-index.html[howto] documents for some useful
993 The internals are documented in the
994 link:technical/api-index.html[Git API documentation].
996 Users migrating from CVS may also want to
997 read linkgit:gitcvs-migration[7].
1002 Git was started by Linus Torvalds, and is currently maintained by Junio
1003 C Hamano. Numerous contributions have come from the Git mailing list
1004 <git@vger.kernel.org>. http://www.ohloh.net/p/git/contributors/summary
1005 gives you a more complete list of contributors.
1007 If you have a clone of git.git itself, the
1008 output of linkgit:git-shortlog[1] and linkgit:git-blame[1] can show you
1009 the authors for specific parts of the project.
1014 Report bugs to the Git mailing list <git@vger.kernel.org> where the
1015 development and maintenance is primarily done. You do not have to be
1016 subscribed to the list to send a message there.
1020 linkgit:gittutorial[7], linkgit:gittutorial-2[7],
1021 link:everyday.html[Everyday Git], linkgit:gitcvs-migration[7],
1022 linkgit:gitglossary[7], linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7],
1023 linkgit:gitcli[7], link:user-manual.html[The Git User's Manual],
1024 linkgit:gitworkflows[7]
1028 Part of the linkgit:git[1] suite