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:v2.0.1/git.html[documentation for release 2.0.1]
49 link:RelNotes/2.0.1.txt[2.0.1],
50 link:RelNotes/2.0.0.txt[2.0.0].
52 * link:v1.9.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.9.4]
55 link:RelNotes/1.9.4.txt[1.9.4],
56 link:RelNotes/1.9.3.txt[1.9.3],
57 link:RelNotes/1.9.2.txt[1.9.2],
58 link:RelNotes/1.9.1.txt[1.9.1],
59 link:RelNotes/1.9.0.txt[1.9.0].
61 * link:v1.8.5.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.5.5]
64 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.5.txt[1.8.5.5],
65 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.4.txt[1.8.5.4],
66 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.3.txt[1.8.5.3],
67 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.2.txt[1.8.5.2],
68 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.1.txt[1.8.5.1],
69 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.txt[1.8.5].
71 * link:v1.8.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.4.5]
74 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.5.txt[1.8.4.5],
75 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.4.txt[1.8.4.4],
76 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.3.txt[1.8.4.3],
77 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.2.txt[1.8.4.2],
78 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.1.txt[1.8.4.1],
79 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.txt[1.8.4].
81 * link:v1.8.3.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.3.4]
84 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.4.txt[1.8.3.4],
85 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.3.txt[1.8.3.3],
86 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.2.txt[1.8.3.2],
87 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.1.txt[1.8.3.1],
88 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.txt[1.8.3].
90 * link:v1.8.2.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.2.3]
93 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.3.txt[1.8.2.3],
94 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.2.txt[1.8.2.2],
95 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.1.txt[1.8.2.1],
96 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.txt[1.8.2].
98 * link:v1.8.1.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.1.6]
101 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.6.txt[1.8.1.6],
102 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.5.txt[1.8.1.5],
103 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.4.txt[1.8.1.4],
104 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.3.txt[1.8.1.3],
105 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.2.txt[1.8.1.2],
106 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.1.txt[1.8.1.1],
107 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.txt[1.8.1].
109 * link:v1.8.0.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.0.3]
112 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.3.txt[1.8.0.3],
113 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.2.txt[1.8.0.2],
114 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.1.txt[1.8.0.1],
115 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.txt[1.8.0].
117 * link:v1.7.12.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.12.4]
120 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.4.txt[1.7.12.4],
121 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.3.txt[1.7.12.3],
122 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.2.txt[1.7.12.2],
123 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.1.txt[1.7.12.1],
124 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.txt[1.7.12].
126 * link:v1.7.11.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.11.7]
129 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.7.txt[1.7.11.7],
130 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.6.txt[1.7.11.6],
131 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.5.txt[1.7.11.5],
132 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.4.txt[1.7.11.4],
133 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.3.txt[1.7.11.3],
134 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.2.txt[1.7.11.2],
135 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.1.txt[1.7.11.1],
136 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.txt[1.7.11].
138 * link:v1.7.10.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.10.5]
141 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.5.txt[1.7.10.5],
142 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.4.txt[1.7.10.4],
143 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.3.txt[1.7.10.3],
144 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.2.txt[1.7.10.2],
145 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.1.txt[1.7.10.1],
146 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.txt[1.7.10].
148 * link:v1.7.9.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.9.7]
151 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.7.txt[1.7.9.7],
152 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.6.txt[1.7.9.6],
153 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.5.txt[1.7.9.5],
154 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.4.txt[1.7.9.4],
155 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.3.txt[1.7.9.3],
156 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.2.txt[1.7.9.2],
157 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.1.txt[1.7.9.1],
158 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.txt[1.7.9].
160 * link:v1.7.8.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.8.6]
163 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.6.txt[1.7.8.6],
164 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.5.txt[1.7.8.5],
165 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.4.txt[1.7.8.4],
166 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.3.txt[1.7.8.3],
167 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.2.txt[1.7.8.2],
168 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.1.txt[1.7.8.1],
169 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.txt[1.7.8].
171 * link:v1.7.7.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.7.7]
174 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.7.txt[1.7.7.7],
175 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.6.txt[1.7.7.6],
176 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.5.txt[1.7.7.5],
177 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.4.txt[1.7.7.4],
178 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.3.txt[1.7.7.3],
179 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.2.txt[1.7.7.2],
180 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.1.txt[1.7.7.1],
181 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.txt[1.7.7].
183 * link:v1.7.6.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.6.6]
186 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.6.txt[1.7.6.6],
187 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.5.txt[1.7.6.5],
188 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.4.txt[1.7.6.4],
189 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.3.txt[1.7.6.3],
190 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.2.txt[1.7.6.2],
191 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.1.txt[1.7.6.1],
192 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.txt[1.7.6].
194 * link:v1.7.5.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.5.4]
197 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.4.txt[1.7.5.4],
198 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.3.txt[1.7.5.3],
199 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.2.txt[1.7.5.2],
200 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.1.txt[1.7.5.1],
201 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.txt[1.7.5].
203 * link:v1.7.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.4.5]
206 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.5.txt[1.7.4.5],
207 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.4.txt[1.7.4.4],
208 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.3.txt[1.7.4.3],
209 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.2.txt[1.7.4.2],
210 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.1.txt[1.7.4.1],
211 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.txt[1.7.4].
213 * link:v1.7.3.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.3.5]
216 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.5.txt[1.7.3.5],
217 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.4.txt[1.7.3.4],
218 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.3.txt[1.7.3.3],
219 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.2.txt[1.7.3.2],
220 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.1.txt[1.7.3.1],
221 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.txt[1.7.3].
223 * link:v1.7.2.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.2.5]
226 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.5.txt[1.7.2.5],
227 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.4.txt[1.7.2.4],
228 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.3.txt[1.7.2.3],
229 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.2.txt[1.7.2.2],
230 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.1.txt[1.7.2.1],
231 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.txt[1.7.2].
233 * link:v1.7.1.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.1.4]
236 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.4.txt[1.7.1.4],
237 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.3.txt[1.7.1.3],
238 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.2.txt[1.7.1.2],
239 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.1.txt[1.7.1.1],
240 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.txt[1.7.1].
242 * link:v1.7.0.9/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.0.9]
245 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.9.txt[1.7.0.9],
246 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.8.txt[1.7.0.8],
247 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.7.txt[1.7.0.7],
248 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.6.txt[1.7.0.6],
249 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.5.txt[1.7.0.5],
250 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.4.txt[1.7.0.4],
251 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.3.txt[1.7.0.3],
252 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.2.txt[1.7.0.2],
253 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.1.txt[1.7.0.1],
254 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.txt[1.7.0].
256 * link:v1.6.6.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.6.3]
259 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.3.txt[1.6.6.3],
260 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.2.txt[1.6.6.2],
261 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.1.txt[1.6.6.1],
262 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.txt[1.6.6].
264 * link:v1.6.5.9/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.5.9]
267 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.9.txt[1.6.5.9],
268 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.8.txt[1.6.5.8],
269 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.7.txt[1.6.5.7],
270 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.6.txt[1.6.5.6],
271 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.5.txt[1.6.5.5],
272 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.4.txt[1.6.5.4],
273 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.3.txt[1.6.5.3],
274 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.2.txt[1.6.5.2],
275 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.1.txt[1.6.5.1],
276 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.txt[1.6.5].
278 * link:v1.6.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.4.5]
281 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.5.txt[1.6.4.5],
282 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.4.txt[1.6.4.4],
283 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.3.txt[1.6.4.3],
284 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.2.txt[1.6.4.2],
285 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.1.txt[1.6.4.1],
286 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.txt[1.6.4].
288 * link:v1.6.3.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.3.4]
291 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.4.txt[1.6.3.4],
292 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.3.txt[1.6.3.3],
293 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.2.txt[1.6.3.2],
294 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.1.txt[1.6.3.1],
295 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.txt[1.6.3].
298 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.5.txt[1.6.2.5],
299 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.4.txt[1.6.2.4],
300 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.3.txt[1.6.2.3],
301 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.2.txt[1.6.2.2],
302 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.1.txt[1.6.2.1],
303 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.txt[1.6.2].
305 * link:v1.6.1.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.1.3]
308 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.3.txt[1.6.1.3],
309 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.2.txt[1.6.1.2],
310 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.1.txt[1.6.1.1],
311 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.txt[1.6.1].
313 * link:v1.6.0.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.0.6]
316 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.6.txt[1.6.0.6],
317 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.5.txt[1.6.0.5],
318 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.4.txt[1.6.0.4],
319 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.3.txt[1.6.0.3],
320 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.2.txt[1.6.0.2],
321 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.1.txt[1.6.0.1],
322 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.txt[1.6.0].
324 * link:v1.5.6.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.6.6]
327 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.6.txt[1.5.6.6],
328 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.5.txt[1.5.6.5],
329 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.4.txt[1.5.6.4],
330 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.3.txt[1.5.6.3],
331 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.2.txt[1.5.6.2],
332 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.1.txt[1.5.6.1],
333 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.txt[1.5.6].
335 * link:v1.5.5.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.5.6]
338 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.6.txt[1.5.5.6],
339 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.5.txt[1.5.5.5],
340 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.4.txt[1.5.5.4],
341 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.3.txt[1.5.5.3],
342 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.2.txt[1.5.5.2],
343 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.1.txt[1.5.5.1],
344 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.txt[1.5.5].
346 * link:v1.5.4.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.4.7]
349 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.7.txt[1.5.4.7],
350 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.6.txt[1.5.4.6],
351 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.5.txt[1.5.4.5],
352 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.4.txt[1.5.4.4],
353 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.3.txt[1.5.4.3],
354 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.2.txt[1.5.4.2],
355 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.1.txt[1.5.4.1],
356 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.txt[1.5.4].
358 * link:v1.5.3.8/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.3.8]
361 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.8.txt[1.5.3.8],
362 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.7.txt[1.5.3.7],
363 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.6.txt[1.5.3.6],
364 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.5.txt[1.5.3.5],
365 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.4.txt[1.5.3.4],
366 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.3.txt[1.5.3.3],
367 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.2.txt[1.5.3.2],
368 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.1.txt[1.5.3.1],
369 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.txt[1.5.3].
371 * link:v1.5.2.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.2.5]
374 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.5.txt[1.5.2.5],
375 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.4.txt[1.5.2.4],
376 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.3.txt[1.5.2.3],
377 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.2.txt[1.5.2.2],
378 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.1.txt[1.5.2.1],
379 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.txt[1.5.2].
381 * link:v1.5.1.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.1.6]
384 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.6.txt[1.5.1.6],
385 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.5.txt[1.5.1.5],
386 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.4.txt[1.5.1.4],
387 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.3.txt[1.5.1.3],
388 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.2.txt[1.5.1.2],
389 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.1.txt[1.5.1.1],
390 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.txt[1.5.1].
392 * link:v1.5.0.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.0.7]
395 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.7.txt[1.5.0.7],
396 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.6.txt[1.5.0.6],
397 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.5.txt[1.5.0.5],
398 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.3.txt[1.5.0.3],
399 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.2.txt[1.5.0.2],
400 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.1.txt[1.5.0.1],
401 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.txt[1.5.0].
403 * documentation for release link:v1.4.4.4/git.html[1.4.4.4],
404 link:v1.3.3/git.html[1.3.3],
405 link:v1.2.6/git.html[1.2.6],
406 link:v1.0.13/git.html[1.0.13].
415 Prints the Git suite version that the 'git' program came from.
418 Prints the synopsis and a list of the most commonly used
419 commands. If the option '--all' or '-a' is given then all
420 available commands are printed. If a Git command is named this
421 option will bring up the manual page for that command.
423 Other options are available to control how the manual page is
424 displayed. See linkgit:git-help[1] for more information,
425 because `git --help ...` is converted internally into `git
429 Run as if git was started in '<path>' instead of the current working
430 directory. When multiple `-C` options are given, each subsequent
431 non-absolute `-C <path>` is interpreted relative to the preceding `-C
434 This option affects options that expect path name like `--git-dir` and
435 `--work-tree` in that their interpretations of the path names would be
436 made relative to the working directory caused by the `-C` option. For
437 example the following invocations are equivalent:
439 git --git-dir=a.git --work-tree=b -C c status
440 git --git-dir=c/a.git --work-tree=c/b status
443 Pass a configuration parameter to the command. The value
444 given will override values from configuration files.
445 The <name> is expected in the same format as listed by
446 'git config' (subkeys separated by dots).
448 --exec-path[=<path>]::
449 Path to wherever your core Git programs are installed.
450 This can also be controlled by setting the GIT_EXEC_PATH
451 environment variable. If no path is given, 'git' will print
452 the current setting and then exit.
455 Print the path, without trailing slash, where Git's HTML
456 documentation is installed and exit.
459 Print the manpath (see `man(1)`) for the man pages for
460 this version of Git and exit.
463 Print the path where the Info files documenting this
464 version of Git are installed and exit.
468 Pipe all output into 'less' (or if set, $PAGER) if standard
469 output is a terminal. This overrides the `pager.<cmd>`
470 configuration options (see the "Configuration Mechanism" section
474 Do not pipe Git output into a pager.
477 Set the path to the repository. This can also be controlled by
478 setting the GIT_DIR environment variable. It can be an absolute
479 path or relative path to current working directory.
482 Set the path to the working tree. It can be an absolute path
483 or a path relative to the current working directory.
484 This can also be controlled by setting the GIT_WORK_TREE
485 environment variable and the core.worktree configuration
486 variable (see core.worktree in linkgit:git-config[1] for a
487 more detailed discussion).
490 Set the Git namespace. See linkgit:gitnamespaces[7] for more
491 details. Equivalent to setting the `GIT_NAMESPACE` environment
495 Treat the repository as a bare repository. If GIT_DIR
496 environment is not set, it is set to the current working
499 --no-replace-objects::
500 Do not use replacement refs to replace Git objects. See
501 linkgit:git-replace[1] for more information.
503 --literal-pathspecs::
504 Treat pathspecs literally (i.e. no globbing, no pathspec magic).
505 This is equivalent to setting the `GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS` environment
509 Add "glob" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
510 the `GIT_GLOB_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`. Disabling
511 globbing on individual pathspecs can be done using pathspec
515 Add "literal" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
516 the `GIT_NOGLOB_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`. Enabling
517 globbing on individual pathspecs can be done using pathspec
521 Add "icase" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
522 the `GIT_ICASE_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`.
527 We divide Git into high level ("porcelain") commands and low level
528 ("plumbing") commands.
530 High-level commands (porcelain)
531 -------------------------------
533 We separate the porcelain commands into the main commands and some
534 ancillary user utilities.
536 Main porcelain commands
537 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
539 include::cmds-mainporcelain.txt[]
545 include::cmds-ancillarymanipulators.txt[]
549 include::cmds-ancillaryinterrogators.txt[]
552 Interacting with Others
553 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
555 These commands are to interact with foreign SCM and with other
556 people via patch over e-mail.
558 include::cmds-foreignscminterface.txt[]
561 Low-level commands (plumbing)
562 -----------------------------
564 Although Git includes its
565 own porcelain layer, its low-level commands are sufficient to support
566 development of alternative porcelains. Developers of such porcelains
567 might start by reading about linkgit:git-update-index[1] and
568 linkgit:git-read-tree[1].
570 The interface (input, output, set of options and the semantics)
571 to these low-level commands are meant to be a lot more stable
572 than Porcelain level commands, because these commands are
573 primarily for scripted use. The interface to Porcelain commands
574 on the other hand are subject to change in order to improve the
577 The following description divides
578 the low-level commands into commands that manipulate objects (in
579 the repository, index, and working tree), commands that interrogate and
580 compare objects, and commands that move objects and references between
584 Manipulation commands
585 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
587 include::cmds-plumbingmanipulators.txt[]
590 Interrogation commands
591 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
593 include::cmds-plumbinginterrogators.txt[]
595 In general, the interrogate commands do not touch the files in
599 Synching repositories
600 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
602 include::cmds-synchingrepositories.txt[]
604 The following are helper commands used by the above; end users
605 typically do not use them directly.
607 include::cmds-synchelpers.txt[]
610 Internal helper commands
611 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
613 These are internal helper commands used by other commands; end
614 users typically do not use them directly.
616 include::cmds-purehelpers.txt[]
619 Configuration Mechanism
620 -----------------------
622 Git uses a simple text format to store customizations that are per
623 repository and are per user. Such a configuration file may look
628 # A '#' or ';' character indicates a comment.
633 ; Don't trust file modes
638 name = "Junio C Hamano"
639 email = "gitster@pobox.com"
643 Various commands read from the configuration file and adjust
644 their operation accordingly. See linkgit:git-config[1] for a
645 list and more details about the configuration mechanism.
648 Identifier Terminology
649 ----------------------
651 Indicates the object name for any type of object.
654 Indicates a blob object name.
657 Indicates a tree object name.
660 Indicates a commit object name.
663 Indicates a tree, commit or tag object name. A
664 command that takes a <tree-ish> argument ultimately wants to
665 operate on a <tree> object but automatically dereferences
666 <commit> and <tag> objects that point at a <tree>.
669 Indicates a commit or tag object name. A
670 command that takes a <commit-ish> argument ultimately wants to
671 operate on a <commit> object but automatically dereferences
672 <tag> objects that point at a <commit>.
675 Indicates that an object type is required.
676 Currently one of: `blob`, `tree`, `commit`, or `tag`.
679 Indicates a filename - almost always relative to the
680 root of the tree structure `GIT_INDEX_FILE` describes.
684 Any Git command accepting any <object> can also use the following
688 indicates the head of the current branch.
692 (i.e. a `refs/tags/<tag>` reference).
696 (i.e. a `refs/heads/<head>` reference).
698 For a more complete list of ways to spell object names, see
699 "SPECIFYING REVISIONS" section in linkgit:gitrevisions[7].
702 File/Directory Structure
703 ------------------------
705 Please see the linkgit:gitrepository-layout[5] document.
707 Read linkgit:githooks[5] for more details about each hook.
709 Higher level SCMs may provide and manage additional information in the
715 Please see linkgit:gitglossary[7].
718 Environment Variables
719 ---------------------
720 Various Git commands use the following environment variables:
724 These environment variables apply to 'all' core Git commands. Nb: it
725 is worth noting that they may be used/overridden by SCMS sitting above
726 Git so take care if using Cogito etc.
729 This environment allows the specification of an alternate
730 index file. If not specified, the default of `$GIT_DIR/index`
733 'GIT_INDEX_VERSION'::
734 This environment variable allows the specification of an index
735 version for new repositories. It won't affect existing index
736 files. By default index file version [23] is used.
738 'GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY'::
739 If the object storage directory is specified via this
740 environment variable then the sha1 directories are created
741 underneath - otherwise the default `$GIT_DIR/objects`
744 'GIT_ALTERNATE_OBJECT_DIRECTORIES'::
745 Due to the immutable nature of Git objects, old objects can be
746 archived into shared, read-only directories. This variable
747 specifies a ":" separated (on Windows ";" separated) list
748 of Git object directories which can be used to search for Git
749 objects. New objects will not be written to these directories.
752 If the 'GIT_DIR' environment variable is set then it
753 specifies a path to use instead of the default `.git`
754 for the base of the repository.
755 The '--git-dir' command-line option also sets this value.
758 Set the path to the root of the working tree.
759 This can also be controlled by the '--work-tree' command-line
760 option and the core.worktree configuration variable.
763 Set the Git namespace; see linkgit:gitnamespaces[7] for details.
764 The '--namespace' command-line option also sets this value.
766 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES'::
767 This should be a colon-separated list of absolute paths. If
768 set, it is a list of directories that Git should not chdir up
769 into while looking for a repository directory (useful for
770 excluding slow-loading network directories). It will not
771 exclude the current working directory or a GIT_DIR set on the
772 command line or in the environment. Normally, Git has to read
773 the entries in this list and resolve any symlink that
774 might be present in order to compare them with the current
775 directory. However, if even this access is slow, you
776 can add an empty entry to the list to tell Git that the
777 subsequent entries are not symlinks and needn't be resolved;
779 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES=/maybe/symlink::/very/slow/non/symlink'.
781 'GIT_DISCOVERY_ACROSS_FILESYSTEM'::
782 When run in a directory that does not have ".git" repository
783 directory, Git tries to find such a directory in the parent
784 directories to find the top of the working tree, but by default it
785 does not cross filesystem boundaries. This environment variable
786 can be set to true to tell Git not to stop at filesystem
787 boundaries. Like 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES', this will not affect
788 an explicit repository directory set via 'GIT_DIR' or on the
796 'GIT_COMMITTER_NAME'::
797 'GIT_COMMITTER_EMAIL'::
798 'GIT_COMMITTER_DATE'::
800 see linkgit:git-commit-tree[1]
805 Only valid setting is "--unified=??" or "-u??" to set the
806 number of context lines shown when a unified diff is created.
807 This takes precedence over any "-U" or "--unified" option
808 value passed on the Git diff command line.
810 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF'::
811 When the environment variable 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is set, the
812 program named by it is called, instead of the diff invocation
813 described above. For a path that is added, removed, or modified,
814 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called with 7 parameters:
816 path old-file old-hex old-mode new-file new-hex new-mode
820 <old|new>-file:: are files GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF can use to read the
821 contents of <old|new>,
822 <old|new>-hex:: are the 40-hexdigit SHA-1 hashes,
823 <old|new>-mode:: are the octal representation of the file modes.
825 The file parameters can point at the user's working file
826 (e.g. `new-file` in "git-diff-files"), `/dev/null` (e.g. `old-file`
827 when a new file is added), or a temporary file (e.g. `old-file` in the
828 index). 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' should not worry about unlinking the
829 temporary file --- it is removed when 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' exits.
831 For a path that is unmerged, 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called with 1
834 For each path 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called, two environment variables,
835 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_COUNTER' and 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_TOTAL' are set.
837 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_COUNTER'::
838 A 1-based counter incremented by one for every path.
840 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_TOTAL'::
841 The total number of paths.
845 'GIT_MERGE_VERBOSITY'::
846 A number controlling the amount of output shown by
847 the recursive merge strategy. Overrides merge.verbosity.
848 See linkgit:git-merge[1]
851 This environment variable overrides `$PAGER`. If it is set
852 to an empty string or to the value "cat", Git will not launch
853 a pager. See also the `core.pager` option in
854 linkgit:git-config[1].
857 This environment variable overrides `$EDITOR` and `$VISUAL`.
858 It is used by several Git commands when, on interactive mode,
859 an editor is to be launched. See also linkgit:git-var[1]
860 and the `core.editor` option in linkgit:git-config[1].
863 If this environment variable is set then 'git fetch'
864 and 'git push' will use this command instead
865 of 'ssh' when they need to connect to a remote system.
866 The '$GIT_SSH' command will be given exactly two or
867 four arguments: the 'username@host' (or just 'host')
868 from the URL and the shell command to execute on that
869 remote system, optionally preceded by '-p' (literally) and
870 the 'port' from the URL when it specifies something other
871 than the default SSH port.
873 To pass options to the program that you want to list in GIT_SSH
874 you will need to wrap the program and options into a shell script,
875 then set GIT_SSH to refer to the shell script.
877 Usually it is easier to configure any desired options through your
878 personal `.ssh/config` file. Please consult your ssh documentation
882 If this environment variable is set, then Git commands which need to
883 acquire passwords or passphrases (e.g. for HTTP or IMAP authentication)
884 will call this program with a suitable prompt as command-line argument
885 and read the password from its STDOUT. See also the 'core.askpass'
886 option in linkgit:git-config[1].
888 'GIT_CONFIG_NOSYSTEM'::
889 Whether to skip reading settings from the system-wide
890 `$(prefix)/etc/gitconfig` file. This environment variable can
891 be used along with `$HOME` and `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME` to create a
892 predictable environment for a picky script, or you can set it
893 temporarily to avoid using a buggy `/etc/gitconfig` file while
894 waiting for someone with sufficient permissions to fix it.
897 If this environment variable is set to "1", then commands such
898 as 'git blame' (in incremental mode), 'git rev-list', 'git log',
899 'git check-attr' and 'git check-ignore' will
900 force a flush of the output stream after each record have been
902 variable is set to "0", the output of these commands will be done
903 using completely buffered I/O. If this environment variable is
904 not set, Git will choose buffered or record-oriented flushing
905 based on whether stdout appears to be redirected to a file or not.
908 If this variable is set to "1", "2" or "true" (comparison
909 is case insensitive), Git will print `trace:` messages on
910 stderr telling about alias expansion, built-in command
911 execution and external command execution.
912 If this variable is set to an integer value greater than 1
913 and lower than 10 (strictly) then Git will interpret this
914 value as an open file descriptor and will try to write the
915 trace messages into this file descriptor.
916 Alternatively, if this variable is set to an absolute path
917 (starting with a '/' character), Git will interpret this
918 as a file path and will try to write the trace messages
921 'GIT_TRACE_PACK_ACCESS'::
922 If this variable is set to a path, a file will be created at
923 the given path logging all accesses to any packs. For each
924 access, the pack file name and an offset in the pack is
925 recorded. This may be helpful for troubleshooting some
926 pack-related performance problems.
929 If this variable is set, it shows a trace of all packets
930 coming in or out of a given program. This can help with
931 debugging object negotiation or other protocol issues. Tracing
932 is turned off at a packet starting with "PACK".
934 GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS::
935 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
936 pathspecs literally, rather than as glob patterns. For example,
937 running `GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS=1 git log -- '*.c'` will search
938 for commits that touch the path `*.c`, not any paths that the
939 glob `*.c` matches. You might want this if you are feeding
940 literal paths to Git (e.g., paths previously given to you by
941 `git ls-tree`, `--raw` diff output, etc).
944 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
945 pathspecs as glob patterns (aka "glob" magic).
947 GIT_NOGLOB_PATHSPECS::
948 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
949 pathspecs as literal (aka "literal" magic).
951 GIT_ICASE_PATHSPECS::
952 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
953 pathspecs as case-insensitive.
955 'GIT_REFLOG_ACTION'::
956 When a ref is updated, reflog entries are created to keep
957 track of the reason why the ref was updated (which is
958 typically the name of the high-level command that updated
959 the ref), in addition to the old and new values of the ref.
960 A scripted Porcelain command can use set_reflog_action
961 helper function in `git-sh-setup` to set its name to this
962 variable when it is invoked as the top level command by the
963 end user, to be recorded in the body of the reflog.
966 Discussion[[Discussion]]
967 ------------------------
969 More detail on the following is available from the
970 link:user-manual.html#git-concepts[Git concepts chapter of the
971 user-manual] and linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7].
973 A Git project normally consists of a working directory with a ".git"
974 subdirectory at the top level. The .git directory contains, among other
975 things, a compressed object database representing the complete history
976 of the project, an "index" file which links that history to the current
977 contents of the working tree, and named pointers into that history such
978 as tags and branch heads.
980 The object database contains objects of three main types: blobs, which
981 hold file data; trees, which point to blobs and other trees to build up
982 directory hierarchies; and commits, which each reference a single tree
983 and some number of parent commits.
985 The commit, equivalent to what other systems call a "changeset" or
986 "version", represents a step in the project's history, and each parent
987 represents an immediately preceding step. Commits with more than one
988 parent represent merges of independent lines of development.
990 All objects are named by the SHA-1 hash of their contents, normally
991 written as a string of 40 hex digits. Such names are globally unique.
992 The entire history leading up to a commit can be vouched for by signing
993 just that commit. A fourth object type, the tag, is provided for this
996 When first created, objects are stored in individual files, but for
997 efficiency may later be compressed together into "pack files".
999 Named pointers called refs mark interesting points in history. A ref
1000 may contain the SHA-1 name of an object or the name of another ref. Refs
1001 with names beginning `ref/head/` contain the SHA-1 name of the most
1002 recent commit (or "head") of a branch under development. SHA-1 names of
1003 tags of interest are stored under `ref/tags/`. A special ref named
1004 `HEAD` contains the name of the currently checked-out branch.
1006 The index file is initialized with a list of all paths and, for each
1007 path, a blob object and a set of attributes. The blob object represents
1008 the contents of the file as of the head of the current branch. The
1009 attributes (last modified time, size, etc.) are taken from the
1010 corresponding file in the working tree. Subsequent changes to the
1011 working tree can be found by comparing these attributes. The index may
1012 be updated with new content, and new commits may be created from the
1013 content stored in the index.
1015 The index is also capable of storing multiple entries (called "stages")
1016 for a given pathname. These stages are used to hold the various
1017 unmerged version of a file when a merge is in progress.
1019 FURTHER DOCUMENTATION
1020 ---------------------
1022 See the references in the "description" section to get started
1023 using Git. The following is probably more detail than necessary
1024 for a first-time user.
1026 The link:user-manual.html#git-concepts[Git concepts chapter of the
1027 user-manual] and linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7] both provide
1028 introductions to the underlying Git architecture.
1030 See linkgit:gitworkflows[7] for an overview of recommended workflows.
1032 See also the link:howto-index.html[howto] documents for some useful
1035 The internals are documented in the
1036 link:technical/api-index.html[Git API documentation].
1038 Users migrating from CVS may also want to
1039 read linkgit:gitcvs-migration[7].
1044 Git was started by Linus Torvalds, and is currently maintained by Junio
1045 C Hamano. Numerous contributions have come from the Git mailing list
1046 <git@vger.kernel.org>. http://www.ohloh.net/p/git/contributors/summary
1047 gives you a more complete list of contributors.
1049 If you have a clone of git.git itself, the
1050 output of linkgit:git-shortlog[1] and linkgit:git-blame[1] can show you
1051 the authors for specific parts of the project.
1056 Report bugs to the Git mailing list <git@vger.kernel.org> where the
1057 development and maintenance is primarily done. You do not have to be
1058 subscribed to the list to send a message there.
1062 linkgit:gittutorial[7], linkgit:gittutorial-2[7],
1063 link:everyday.html[Everyday Git], linkgit:gitcvs-migration[7],
1064 linkgit:gitglossary[7], linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7],
1065 linkgit:gitcli[7], link:user-manual.html[The Git User's Manual],
1066 linkgit:gitworkflows[7]
1070 Part of the linkgit:git[1] suite