6 git - the stupid content tracker
12 'git' [--version] [--help] [-C <path>] [-c <name>=<value>]
13 [--exec-path[=<path>]] [--html-path] [--man-path] [--info-path]
14 [-p|--paginate|--no-pager] [--no-replace-objects] [--bare]
15 [--git-dir=<path>] [--work-tree=<path>] [--namespace=<name>]
20 Git is a fast, scalable, distributed revision control system with an
21 unusually rich command set that provides both high-level operations
22 and full access to internals.
24 See linkgit:gittutorial[7] to get started, then see
25 link:everyday.html[Everyday Git] for a useful minimum set of
26 commands. The link:user-manual.html[Git User's Manual] has a more
27 in-depth introduction.
29 After you mastered the basic concepts, you can come back to this
30 page to learn what commands Git offers. You can learn more about
31 individual Git commands with "git help command". linkgit:gitcli[7]
32 manual page gives you an overview of the command line command syntax.
34 Formatted and hyperlinked version of the latest Git documentation
35 can be viewed at `http://git-htmldocs.googlecode.com/git/git.html`.
41 You are reading the documentation for the latest (possibly
42 unreleased) version of Git, that is available from 'master'
43 branch of the `git.git` repository.
44 Documentation for older releases are available here:
46 * link:v1.9.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.9.3]
49 link:RelNotes/1.9.3.txt[1.9.3],
50 link:RelNotes/1.9.2.txt[1.9.2],
51 link:RelNotes/1.9.1.txt[1.9.1],
52 link:RelNotes/1.9.0.txt[1.9.0].
54 * link:v1.8.5.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.5.5]
57 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.5.txt[1.8.5.5],
58 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.4.txt[1.8.5.4],
59 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.3.txt[1.8.5.3],
60 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.2.txt[1.8.5.2],
61 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.1.txt[1.8.5.1],
62 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.txt[1.8.5].
64 * link:v1.8.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.4.5]
67 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.5.txt[1.8.4.5],
68 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.4.txt[1.8.4.4],
69 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.3.txt[1.8.4.3],
70 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.2.txt[1.8.4.2],
71 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.1.txt[1.8.4.1],
72 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.txt[1.8.4].
74 * link:v1.8.3.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.3.4]
77 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.4.txt[1.8.3.4],
78 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.3.txt[1.8.3.3],
79 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.2.txt[1.8.3.2],
80 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.1.txt[1.8.3.1],
81 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.txt[1.8.3].
83 * link:v1.8.2.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.2.3]
86 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.3.txt[1.8.2.3],
87 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.2.txt[1.8.2.2],
88 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.1.txt[1.8.2.1],
89 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.txt[1.8.2].
91 * link:v1.8.1.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.1.6]
94 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.6.txt[1.8.1.6],
95 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.5.txt[1.8.1.5],
96 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.4.txt[1.8.1.4],
97 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.3.txt[1.8.1.3],
98 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.2.txt[1.8.1.2],
99 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.1.txt[1.8.1.1],
100 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.txt[1.8.1].
102 * link:v1.8.0.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.0.3]
105 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.3.txt[1.8.0.3],
106 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.2.txt[1.8.0.2],
107 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.1.txt[1.8.0.1],
108 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.txt[1.8.0].
110 * link:v1.7.12.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.12.4]
113 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.4.txt[1.7.12.4],
114 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.3.txt[1.7.12.3],
115 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.2.txt[1.7.12.2],
116 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.1.txt[1.7.12.1],
117 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.txt[1.7.12].
119 * link:v1.7.11.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.11.7]
122 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.7.txt[1.7.11.7],
123 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.6.txt[1.7.11.6],
124 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.5.txt[1.7.11.5],
125 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.4.txt[1.7.11.4],
126 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.3.txt[1.7.11.3],
127 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.2.txt[1.7.11.2],
128 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.1.txt[1.7.11.1],
129 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.txt[1.7.11].
131 * link:v1.7.10.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.10.5]
134 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.5.txt[1.7.10.5],
135 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.4.txt[1.7.10.4],
136 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.3.txt[1.7.10.3],
137 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.2.txt[1.7.10.2],
138 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.1.txt[1.7.10.1],
139 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.txt[1.7.10].
141 * link:v1.7.9.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.9.7]
144 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.7.txt[1.7.9.7],
145 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.6.txt[1.7.9.6],
146 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.5.txt[1.7.9.5],
147 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.4.txt[1.7.9.4],
148 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.3.txt[1.7.9.3],
149 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.2.txt[1.7.9.2],
150 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.1.txt[1.7.9.1],
151 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.txt[1.7.9].
153 * link:v1.7.8.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.8.6]
156 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.6.txt[1.7.8.6],
157 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.5.txt[1.7.8.5],
158 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.4.txt[1.7.8.4],
159 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.3.txt[1.7.8.3],
160 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.2.txt[1.7.8.2],
161 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.1.txt[1.7.8.1],
162 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.txt[1.7.8].
164 * link:v1.7.7.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.7.7]
167 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.7.txt[1.7.7.7],
168 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.6.txt[1.7.7.6],
169 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.5.txt[1.7.7.5],
170 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.4.txt[1.7.7.4],
171 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.3.txt[1.7.7.3],
172 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.2.txt[1.7.7.2],
173 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.1.txt[1.7.7.1],
174 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.txt[1.7.7].
176 * link:v1.7.6.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.6.6]
179 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.6.txt[1.7.6.6],
180 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.5.txt[1.7.6.5],
181 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.4.txt[1.7.6.4],
182 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.3.txt[1.7.6.3],
183 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.2.txt[1.7.6.2],
184 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.1.txt[1.7.6.1],
185 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.txt[1.7.6].
187 * link:v1.7.5.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.5.4]
190 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.4.txt[1.7.5.4],
191 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.3.txt[1.7.5.3],
192 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.2.txt[1.7.5.2],
193 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.1.txt[1.7.5.1],
194 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.txt[1.7.5].
196 * link:v1.7.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.4.5]
199 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.5.txt[1.7.4.5],
200 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.4.txt[1.7.4.4],
201 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.3.txt[1.7.4.3],
202 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.2.txt[1.7.4.2],
203 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.1.txt[1.7.4.1],
204 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.txt[1.7.4].
206 * link:v1.7.3.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.3.5]
209 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.5.txt[1.7.3.5],
210 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.4.txt[1.7.3.4],
211 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.3.txt[1.7.3.3],
212 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.2.txt[1.7.3.2],
213 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.1.txt[1.7.3.1],
214 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.txt[1.7.3].
216 * link:v1.7.2.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.2.5]
219 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.5.txt[1.7.2.5],
220 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.4.txt[1.7.2.4],
221 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.3.txt[1.7.2.3],
222 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.2.txt[1.7.2.2],
223 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.1.txt[1.7.2.1],
224 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.txt[1.7.2].
226 * link:v1.7.1.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.1.4]
229 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.4.txt[1.7.1.4],
230 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.3.txt[1.7.1.3],
231 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.2.txt[1.7.1.2],
232 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.1.txt[1.7.1.1],
233 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.txt[1.7.1].
235 * link:v1.7.0.9/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.0.9]
238 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.9.txt[1.7.0.9],
239 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.8.txt[1.7.0.8],
240 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.7.txt[1.7.0.7],
241 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.6.txt[1.7.0.6],
242 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.5.txt[1.7.0.5],
243 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.4.txt[1.7.0.4],
244 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.3.txt[1.7.0.3],
245 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.2.txt[1.7.0.2],
246 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.1.txt[1.7.0.1],
247 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.txt[1.7.0].
249 * link:v1.6.6.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.6.3]
252 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.3.txt[1.6.6.3],
253 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.2.txt[1.6.6.2],
254 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.1.txt[1.6.6.1],
255 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.txt[1.6.6].
257 * link:v1.6.5.9/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.5.9]
260 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.9.txt[1.6.5.9],
261 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.8.txt[1.6.5.8],
262 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.7.txt[1.6.5.7],
263 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.6.txt[1.6.5.6],
264 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.5.txt[1.6.5.5],
265 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.4.txt[1.6.5.4],
266 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.3.txt[1.6.5.3],
267 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.2.txt[1.6.5.2],
268 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.1.txt[1.6.5.1],
269 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.txt[1.6.5].
271 * link:v1.6.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.4.5]
274 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.5.txt[1.6.4.5],
275 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.4.txt[1.6.4.4],
276 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.3.txt[1.6.4.3],
277 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.2.txt[1.6.4.2],
278 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.1.txt[1.6.4.1],
279 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.txt[1.6.4].
281 * link:v1.6.3.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.3.4]
284 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.4.txt[1.6.3.4],
285 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.3.txt[1.6.3.3],
286 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.2.txt[1.6.3.2],
287 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.1.txt[1.6.3.1],
288 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.txt[1.6.3].
291 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.5.txt[1.6.2.5],
292 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.4.txt[1.6.2.4],
293 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.3.txt[1.6.2.3],
294 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.2.txt[1.6.2.2],
295 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.1.txt[1.6.2.1],
296 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.txt[1.6.2].
298 * link:v1.6.1.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.1.3]
301 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.3.txt[1.6.1.3],
302 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.2.txt[1.6.1.2],
303 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.1.txt[1.6.1.1],
304 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.txt[1.6.1].
306 * link:v1.6.0.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.0.6]
309 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.6.txt[1.6.0.6],
310 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.5.txt[1.6.0.5],
311 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.4.txt[1.6.0.4],
312 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.3.txt[1.6.0.3],
313 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.2.txt[1.6.0.2],
314 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.1.txt[1.6.0.1],
315 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.txt[1.6.0].
317 * link:v1.5.6.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.6.6]
320 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.6.txt[1.5.6.6],
321 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.5.txt[1.5.6.5],
322 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.4.txt[1.5.6.4],
323 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.3.txt[1.5.6.3],
324 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.2.txt[1.5.6.2],
325 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.1.txt[1.5.6.1],
326 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.txt[1.5.6].
328 * link:v1.5.5.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.5.6]
331 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.6.txt[1.5.5.6],
332 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.5.txt[1.5.5.5],
333 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.4.txt[1.5.5.4],
334 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.3.txt[1.5.5.3],
335 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.2.txt[1.5.5.2],
336 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.1.txt[1.5.5.1],
337 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.txt[1.5.5].
339 * link:v1.5.4.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.4.7]
342 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.7.txt[1.5.4.7],
343 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.6.txt[1.5.4.6],
344 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.5.txt[1.5.4.5],
345 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.4.txt[1.5.4.4],
346 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.3.txt[1.5.4.3],
347 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.2.txt[1.5.4.2],
348 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.1.txt[1.5.4.1],
349 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.txt[1.5.4].
351 * link:v1.5.3.8/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.3.8]
354 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.8.txt[1.5.3.8],
355 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.7.txt[1.5.3.7],
356 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.6.txt[1.5.3.6],
357 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.5.txt[1.5.3.5],
358 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.4.txt[1.5.3.4],
359 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.3.txt[1.5.3.3],
360 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.2.txt[1.5.3.2],
361 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.1.txt[1.5.3.1],
362 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.txt[1.5.3].
364 * link:v1.5.2.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.2.5]
367 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.5.txt[1.5.2.5],
368 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.4.txt[1.5.2.4],
369 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.3.txt[1.5.2.3],
370 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.2.txt[1.5.2.2],
371 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.1.txt[1.5.2.1],
372 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.txt[1.5.2].
374 * link:v1.5.1.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.1.6]
377 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.6.txt[1.5.1.6],
378 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.5.txt[1.5.1.5],
379 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.4.txt[1.5.1.4],
380 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.3.txt[1.5.1.3],
381 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.2.txt[1.5.1.2],
382 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.1.txt[1.5.1.1],
383 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.txt[1.5.1].
385 * link:v1.5.0.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.0.7]
388 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.7.txt[1.5.0.7],
389 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.6.txt[1.5.0.6],
390 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.5.txt[1.5.0.5],
391 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.3.txt[1.5.0.3],
392 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.2.txt[1.5.0.2],
393 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.1.txt[1.5.0.1],
394 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.txt[1.5.0].
396 * documentation for release link:v1.4.4.4/git.html[1.4.4.4],
397 link:v1.3.3/git.html[1.3.3],
398 link:v1.2.6/git.html[1.2.6],
399 link:v1.0.13/git.html[1.0.13].
408 Prints the Git suite version that the 'git' program came from.
411 Prints the synopsis and a list of the most commonly used
412 commands. If the option '--all' or '-a' is given then all
413 available commands are printed. If a Git command is named this
414 option will bring up the manual page for that command.
416 Other options are available to control how the manual page is
417 displayed. See linkgit:git-help[1] for more information,
418 because `git --help ...` is converted internally into `git
422 Run as if git was started in '<path>' instead of the current working
423 directory. When multiple `-C` options are given, each subsequent
424 non-absolute `-C <path>` is interpreted relative to the preceding `-C
427 This option affects options that expect path name like `--git-dir` and
428 `--work-tree` in that their interpretations of the path names would be
429 made relative to the working directory caused by the `-C` option. For
430 example the following invocations are equivalent:
432 git --git-dir=a.git --work-tree=b -C c status
433 git --git-dir=c/a.git --work-tree=c/b status
436 Pass a configuration parameter to the command. The value
437 given will override values from configuration files.
438 The <name> is expected in the same format as listed by
439 'git config' (subkeys separated by dots).
441 --exec-path[=<path>]::
442 Path to wherever your core Git programs are installed.
443 This can also be controlled by setting the GIT_EXEC_PATH
444 environment variable. If no path is given, 'git' will print
445 the current setting and then exit.
448 Print the path, without trailing slash, where Git's HTML
449 documentation is installed and exit.
452 Print the manpath (see `man(1)`) for the man pages for
453 this version of Git and exit.
456 Print the path where the Info files documenting this
457 version of Git are installed and exit.
461 Pipe all output into 'less' (or if set, $PAGER) if standard
462 output is a terminal. This overrides the `pager.<cmd>`
463 configuration options (see the "Configuration Mechanism" section
467 Do not pipe Git output into a pager.
470 Set the path to the repository. This can also be controlled by
471 setting the GIT_DIR environment variable. It can be an absolute
472 path or relative path to current working directory.
475 Set the path to the working tree. It can be an absolute path
476 or a path relative to the current working directory.
477 This can also be controlled by setting the GIT_WORK_TREE
478 environment variable and the core.worktree configuration
479 variable (see core.worktree in linkgit:git-config[1] for a
480 more detailed discussion).
483 Set the Git namespace. See linkgit:gitnamespaces[7] for more
484 details. Equivalent to setting the `GIT_NAMESPACE` environment
488 Treat the repository as a bare repository. If GIT_DIR
489 environment is not set, it is set to the current working
492 --no-replace-objects::
493 Do not use replacement refs to replace Git objects. See
494 linkgit:git-replace[1] for more information.
496 --literal-pathspecs::
497 Treat pathspecs literally (i.e. no globbing, no pathspec magic).
498 This is equivalent to setting the `GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS` environment
502 Add "glob" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
503 the `GIT_GLOB_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`. Disabling
504 globbing on individual pathspecs can be done using pathspec
508 Add "literal" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
509 the `GIT_NOGLOB_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`. Enabling
510 globbing on individual pathspecs can be done using pathspec
514 Add "icase" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
515 the `GIT_ICASE_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`.
520 We divide Git into high level ("porcelain") commands and low level
521 ("plumbing") commands.
523 High-level commands (porcelain)
524 -------------------------------
526 We separate the porcelain commands into the main commands and some
527 ancillary user utilities.
529 Main porcelain commands
530 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
532 include::cmds-mainporcelain.txt[]
538 include::cmds-ancillarymanipulators.txt[]
542 include::cmds-ancillaryinterrogators.txt[]
545 Interacting with Others
546 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
548 These commands are to interact with foreign SCM and with other
549 people via patch over e-mail.
551 include::cmds-foreignscminterface.txt[]
554 Low-level commands (plumbing)
555 -----------------------------
557 Although Git includes its
558 own porcelain layer, its low-level commands are sufficient to support
559 development of alternative porcelains. Developers of such porcelains
560 might start by reading about linkgit:git-update-index[1] and
561 linkgit:git-read-tree[1].
563 The interface (input, output, set of options and the semantics)
564 to these low-level commands are meant to be a lot more stable
565 than Porcelain level commands, because these commands are
566 primarily for scripted use. The interface to Porcelain commands
567 on the other hand are subject to change in order to improve the
570 The following description divides
571 the low-level commands into commands that manipulate objects (in
572 the repository, index, and working tree), commands that interrogate and
573 compare objects, and commands that move objects and references between
577 Manipulation commands
578 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
580 include::cmds-plumbingmanipulators.txt[]
583 Interrogation commands
584 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
586 include::cmds-plumbinginterrogators.txt[]
588 In general, the interrogate commands do not touch the files in
592 Synching repositories
593 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
595 include::cmds-synchingrepositories.txt[]
597 The following are helper commands used by the above; end users
598 typically do not use them directly.
600 include::cmds-synchelpers.txt[]
603 Internal helper commands
604 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
606 These are internal helper commands used by other commands; end
607 users typically do not use them directly.
609 include::cmds-purehelpers.txt[]
612 Configuration Mechanism
613 -----------------------
615 Git uses a simple text format to store customizations that are per
616 repository and are per user. Such a configuration file may look
621 # A '#' or ';' character indicates a comment.
626 ; Don't trust file modes
631 name = "Junio C Hamano"
632 email = "gitster@pobox.com"
636 Various commands read from the configuration file and adjust
637 their operation accordingly. See linkgit:git-config[1] for a
638 list and more details about the configuration mechanism.
641 Identifier Terminology
642 ----------------------
644 Indicates the object name for any type of object.
647 Indicates a blob object name.
650 Indicates a tree object name.
653 Indicates a commit object name.
656 Indicates a tree, commit or tag object name. A
657 command that takes a <tree-ish> argument ultimately wants to
658 operate on a <tree> object but automatically dereferences
659 <commit> and <tag> objects that point at a <tree>.
662 Indicates a commit or tag object name. A
663 command that takes a <commit-ish> argument ultimately wants to
664 operate on a <commit> object but automatically dereferences
665 <tag> objects that point at a <commit>.
668 Indicates that an object type is required.
669 Currently one of: `blob`, `tree`, `commit`, or `tag`.
672 Indicates a filename - almost always relative to the
673 root of the tree structure `GIT_INDEX_FILE` describes.
677 Any Git command accepting any <object> can also use the following
681 indicates the head of the current branch.
685 (i.e. a `refs/tags/<tag>` reference).
689 (i.e. a `refs/heads/<head>` reference).
691 For a more complete list of ways to spell object names, see
692 "SPECIFYING REVISIONS" section in linkgit:gitrevisions[7].
695 File/Directory Structure
696 ------------------------
698 Please see the linkgit:gitrepository-layout[5] document.
700 Read linkgit:githooks[5] for more details about each hook.
702 Higher level SCMs may provide and manage additional information in the
708 Please see linkgit:gitglossary[7].
711 Environment Variables
712 ---------------------
713 Various Git commands use the following environment variables:
717 These environment variables apply to 'all' core Git commands. Nb: it
718 is worth noting that they may be used/overridden by SCMS sitting above
719 Git so take care if using Cogito etc.
722 This environment allows the specification of an alternate
723 index file. If not specified, the default of `$GIT_DIR/index`
726 'GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY'::
727 If the object storage directory is specified via this
728 environment variable then the sha1 directories are created
729 underneath - otherwise the default `$GIT_DIR/objects`
732 'GIT_ALTERNATE_OBJECT_DIRECTORIES'::
733 Due to the immutable nature of Git objects, old objects can be
734 archived into shared, read-only directories. This variable
735 specifies a ":" separated (on Windows ";" separated) list
736 of Git object directories which can be used to search for Git
737 objects. New objects will not be written to these directories.
740 If the 'GIT_DIR' environment variable is set then it
741 specifies a path to use instead of the default `.git`
742 for the base of the repository.
743 The '--git-dir' command-line option also sets this value.
746 Set the path to the root of the working tree.
747 This can also be controlled by the '--work-tree' command line
748 option and the core.worktree configuration variable.
751 Set the Git namespace; see linkgit:gitnamespaces[7] for details.
752 The '--namespace' command-line option also sets this value.
754 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES'::
755 This should be a colon-separated list of absolute paths. If
756 set, it is a list of directories that Git should not chdir up
757 into while looking for a repository directory (useful for
758 excluding slow-loading network directories). It will not
759 exclude the current working directory or a GIT_DIR set on the
760 command line or in the environment. Normally, Git has to read
761 the entries in this list and resolve any symlink that
762 might be present in order to compare them with the current
763 directory. However, if even this access is slow, you
764 can add an empty entry to the list to tell Git that the
765 subsequent entries are not symlinks and needn't be resolved;
767 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES=/maybe/symlink::/very/slow/non/symlink'.
769 'GIT_DISCOVERY_ACROSS_FILESYSTEM'::
770 When run in a directory that does not have ".git" repository
771 directory, Git tries to find such a directory in the parent
772 directories to find the top of the working tree, but by default it
773 does not cross filesystem boundaries. This environment variable
774 can be set to true to tell Git not to stop at filesystem
775 boundaries. Like 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES', this will not affect
776 an explicit repository directory set via 'GIT_DIR' or on the
784 'GIT_COMMITTER_NAME'::
785 'GIT_COMMITTER_EMAIL'::
786 'GIT_COMMITTER_DATE'::
788 see linkgit:git-commit-tree[1]
793 Only valid setting is "--unified=??" or "-u??" to set the
794 number of context lines shown when a unified diff is created.
795 This takes precedence over any "-U" or "--unified" option
796 value passed on the Git diff command line.
798 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF'::
799 When the environment variable 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is set, the
800 program named by it is called, instead of the diff invocation
801 described above. For a path that is added, removed, or modified,
802 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called with 7 parameters:
804 path old-file old-hex old-mode new-file new-hex new-mode
808 <old|new>-file:: are files GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF can use to read the
809 contents of <old|new>,
810 <old|new>-hex:: are the 40-hexdigit SHA-1 hashes,
811 <old|new>-mode:: are the octal representation of the file modes.
813 The file parameters can point at the user's working file
814 (e.g. `new-file` in "git-diff-files"), `/dev/null` (e.g. `old-file`
815 when a new file is added), or a temporary file (e.g. `old-file` in the
816 index). 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' should not worry about unlinking the
817 temporary file --- it is removed when 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' exits.
819 For a path that is unmerged, 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called with 1
822 For each path 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called, two environment variables,
823 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_COUNTER' and 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_TOTAL' are set.
825 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_COUNTER'::
826 A 1-based counter incremented by one for every path.
828 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_TOTAL'::
829 The total number of paths.
833 'GIT_MERGE_VERBOSITY'::
834 A number controlling the amount of output shown by
835 the recursive merge strategy. Overrides merge.verbosity.
836 See linkgit:git-merge[1]
839 This environment variable overrides `$PAGER`. If it is set
840 to an empty string or to the value "cat", Git will not launch
841 a pager. See also the `core.pager` option in
842 linkgit:git-config[1].
845 This environment variable overrides `$EDITOR` and `$VISUAL`.
846 It is used by several Git commands when, on interactive mode,
847 an editor is to be launched. See also linkgit:git-var[1]
848 and the `core.editor` option in linkgit:git-config[1].
851 If this environment variable is set then 'git fetch'
852 and 'git push' will use this command instead
853 of 'ssh' when they need to connect to a remote system.
854 The '$GIT_SSH' command will be given exactly two or
855 four arguments: the 'username@host' (or just 'host')
856 from the URL and the shell command to execute on that
857 remote system, optionally preceded by '-p' (literally) and
858 the 'port' from the URL when it specifies something other
859 than the default SSH port.
861 To pass options to the program that you want to list in GIT_SSH
862 you will need to wrap the program and options into a shell script,
863 then set GIT_SSH to refer to the shell script.
865 Usually it is easier to configure any desired options through your
866 personal `.ssh/config` file. Please consult your ssh documentation
870 If this environment variable is set, then Git commands which need to
871 acquire passwords or passphrases (e.g. for HTTP or IMAP authentication)
872 will call this program with a suitable prompt as command line argument
873 and read the password from its STDOUT. See also the 'core.askpass'
874 option in linkgit:git-config[1].
876 'GIT_CONFIG_NOSYSTEM'::
877 Whether to skip reading settings from the system-wide
878 `$(prefix)/etc/gitconfig` file. This environment variable can
879 be used along with `$HOME` and `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME` to create a
880 predictable environment for a picky script, or you can set it
881 temporarily to avoid using a buggy `/etc/gitconfig` file while
882 waiting for someone with sufficient permissions to fix it.
885 If this environment variable is set to "1", then commands such
886 as 'git blame' (in incremental mode), 'git rev-list', 'git log',
887 'git check-attr' and 'git check-ignore' will
888 force a flush of the output stream after each record have been
890 variable is set to "0", the output of these commands will be done
891 using completely buffered I/O. If this environment variable is
892 not set, Git will choose buffered or record-oriented flushing
893 based on whether stdout appears to be redirected to a file or not.
896 If this variable is set to "1", "2" or "true" (comparison
897 is case insensitive), Git will print `trace:` messages on
898 stderr telling about alias expansion, built-in command
899 execution and external command execution.
900 If this variable is set to an integer value greater than 1
901 and lower than 10 (strictly) then Git will interpret this
902 value as an open file descriptor and will try to write the
903 trace messages into this file descriptor.
904 Alternatively, if this variable is set to an absolute path
905 (starting with a '/' character), Git will interpret this
906 as a file path and will try to write the trace messages
909 'GIT_TRACE_PACK_ACCESS'::
910 If this variable is set to a path, a file will be created at
911 the given path logging all accesses to any packs. For each
912 access, the pack file name and an offset in the pack is
913 recorded. This may be helpful for troubleshooting some
914 pack-related performance problems.
917 If this variable is set, it shows a trace of all packets
918 coming in or out of a given program. This can help with
919 debugging object negotiation or other protocol issues. Tracing
920 is turned off at a packet starting with "PACK".
922 GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS::
923 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
924 pathspecs literally, rather than as glob patterns. For example,
925 running `GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS=1 git log -- '*.c'` will search
926 for commits that touch the path `*.c`, not any paths that the
927 glob `*.c` matches. You might want this if you are feeding
928 literal paths to Git (e.g., paths previously given to you by
929 `git ls-tree`, `--raw` diff output, etc).
932 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
933 pathspecs as glob patterns (aka "glob" magic).
935 GIT_NOGLOB_PATHSPECS::
936 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
937 pathspecs as literal (aka "literal" magic).
939 GIT_ICASE_PATHSPECS::
940 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
941 pathspecs as case-insensitive.
943 'GIT_REFLOG_ACTION'::
944 When a ref is updated, reflog entries are created to keep
945 track of the reason why the ref was updated (which is
946 typically the name of the high-level command that updated
947 the ref), in addition to the old and new values of the ref.
948 A scripted Porcelain command can use set_reflog_action
949 helper function in `git-sh-setup` to set its name to this
950 variable when it is invoked as the top level command by the
951 end user, to be recorded in the body of the reflog.
954 Discussion[[Discussion]]
955 ------------------------
957 More detail on the following is available from the
958 link:user-manual.html#git-concepts[Git concepts chapter of the
959 user-manual] and linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7].
961 A Git project normally consists of a working directory with a ".git"
962 subdirectory at the top level. The .git directory contains, among other
963 things, a compressed object database representing the complete history
964 of the project, an "index" file which links that history to the current
965 contents of the working tree, and named pointers into that history such
966 as tags and branch heads.
968 The object database contains objects of three main types: blobs, which
969 hold file data; trees, which point to blobs and other trees to build up
970 directory hierarchies; and commits, which each reference a single tree
971 and some number of parent commits.
973 The commit, equivalent to what other systems call a "changeset" or
974 "version", represents a step in the project's history, and each parent
975 represents an immediately preceding step. Commits with more than one
976 parent represent merges of independent lines of development.
978 All objects are named by the SHA-1 hash of their contents, normally
979 written as a string of 40 hex digits. Such names are globally unique.
980 The entire history leading up to a commit can be vouched for by signing
981 just that commit. A fourth object type, the tag, is provided for this
984 When first created, objects are stored in individual files, but for
985 efficiency may later be compressed together into "pack files".
987 Named pointers called refs mark interesting points in history. A ref
988 may contain the SHA-1 name of an object or the name of another ref. Refs
989 with names beginning `ref/head/` contain the SHA-1 name of the most
990 recent commit (or "head") of a branch under development. SHA-1 names of
991 tags of interest are stored under `ref/tags/`. A special ref named
992 `HEAD` contains the name of the currently checked-out branch.
994 The index file is initialized with a list of all paths and, for each
995 path, a blob object and a set of attributes. The blob object represents
996 the contents of the file as of the head of the current branch. The
997 attributes (last modified time, size, etc.) are taken from the
998 corresponding file in the working tree. Subsequent changes to the
999 working tree can be found by comparing these attributes. The index may
1000 be updated with new content, and new commits may be created from the
1001 content stored in the index.
1003 The index is also capable of storing multiple entries (called "stages")
1004 for a given pathname. These stages are used to hold the various
1005 unmerged version of a file when a merge is in progress.
1007 FURTHER DOCUMENTATION
1008 ---------------------
1010 See the references in the "description" section to get started
1011 using Git. The following is probably more detail than necessary
1012 for a first-time user.
1014 The link:user-manual.html#git-concepts[Git concepts chapter of the
1015 user-manual] and linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7] both provide
1016 introductions to the underlying Git architecture.
1018 See linkgit:gitworkflows[7] for an overview of recommended workflows.
1020 See also the link:howto-index.html[howto] documents for some useful
1023 The internals are documented in the
1024 link:technical/api-index.html[Git API documentation].
1026 Users migrating from CVS may also want to
1027 read linkgit:gitcvs-migration[7].
1032 Git was started by Linus Torvalds, and is currently maintained by Junio
1033 C Hamano. Numerous contributions have come from the Git mailing list
1034 <git@vger.kernel.org>. http://www.ohloh.net/p/git/contributors/summary
1035 gives you a more complete list of contributors.
1037 If you have a clone of git.git itself, the
1038 output of linkgit:git-shortlog[1] and linkgit:git-blame[1] can show you
1039 the authors for specific parts of the project.
1044 Report bugs to the Git mailing list <git@vger.kernel.org> where the
1045 development and maintenance is primarily done. You do not have to be
1046 subscribed to the list to send a message there.
1050 linkgit:gittutorial[7], linkgit:gittutorial-2[7],
1051 link:everyday.html[Everyday Git], linkgit:gitcvs-migration[7],
1052 linkgit:gitglossary[7], linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7],
1053 linkgit:gitcli[7], link:user-manual.html[The Git User's Manual],
1054 linkgit:gitworkflows[7]
1058 Part of the linkgit:git[1] suite