6 git - the stupid content tracker
12 'git' [--version] [--help] [-C <path>] [-c <name>=<value>]
13 [--exec-path[=<path>]] [--html-path] [--man-path] [--info-path]
14 [-p|--paginate|--no-pager] [--no-replace-objects] [--bare]
15 [--git-dir=<path>] [--work-tree=<path>] [--namespace=<name>]
20 Git is a fast, scalable, distributed revision control system with an
21 unusually rich command set that provides both high-level operations
22 and full access to internals.
24 See linkgit:gittutorial[7] to get started, then see
25 link:everyday.html[Everyday Git] for a useful minimum set of
26 commands. The link:user-manual.html[Git User's Manual] has a more
27 in-depth introduction.
29 After you mastered the basic concepts, you can come back to this
30 page to learn what commands Git offers. You can learn more about
31 individual Git commands with "git help command". linkgit:gitcli[7]
32 manual page gives you an overview of the command line command syntax.
34 Formatted and hyperlinked version of the latest Git documentation
35 can be viewed at `http://git-htmldocs.googlecode.com/git/git.html`.
41 You are reading the documentation for the latest (possibly
42 unreleased) version of Git, that is available from 'master'
43 branch of the `git.git` repository.
44 Documentation for older releases are available here:
46 * link:v1.8.5.2/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.5.2]
49 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.2.txt[1.8.5.2],
50 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.1.txt[1.8.5.1],
51 link:RelNotes/1.8.5.txt[1.8.5].
53 * link:v1.8.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.4.5]
56 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.5.txt[1.8.4.5],
57 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.4.txt[1.8.4.4],
58 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.3.txt[1.8.4.3],
59 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.2.txt[1.8.4.2],
60 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.1.txt[1.8.4.1],
61 link:RelNotes/1.8.4.txt[1.8.4].
63 * link:v1.8.3.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.3.4]
66 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.4.txt[1.8.3.4],
67 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.3.txt[1.8.3.3],
68 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.2.txt[1.8.3.2],
69 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.1.txt[1.8.3.1],
70 link:RelNotes/1.8.3.txt[1.8.3].
72 * link:v1.8.2.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.2.3]
75 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.3.txt[1.8.2.3],
76 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.2.txt[1.8.2.2],
77 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.1.txt[1.8.2.1],
78 link:RelNotes/1.8.2.txt[1.8.2].
80 * link:v1.8.1.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.1.6]
83 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.6.txt[1.8.1.6],
84 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.5.txt[1.8.1.5],
85 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.4.txt[1.8.1.4],
86 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.3.txt[1.8.1.3],
87 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.2.txt[1.8.1.2],
88 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.1.txt[1.8.1.1],
89 link:RelNotes/1.8.1.txt[1.8.1].
91 * link:v1.8.0.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.0.3]
94 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.3.txt[1.8.0.3],
95 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.2.txt[1.8.0.2],
96 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.1.txt[1.8.0.1],
97 link:RelNotes/1.8.0.txt[1.8.0].
99 * link:v1.7.12.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.12.4]
102 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.4.txt[1.7.12.4],
103 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.3.txt[1.7.12.3],
104 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.2.txt[1.7.12.2],
105 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.1.txt[1.7.12.1],
106 link:RelNotes/1.7.12.txt[1.7.12].
108 * link:v1.7.11.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.11.7]
111 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.7.txt[1.7.11.7],
112 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.6.txt[1.7.11.6],
113 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.5.txt[1.7.11.5],
114 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.4.txt[1.7.11.4],
115 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.3.txt[1.7.11.3],
116 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.2.txt[1.7.11.2],
117 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.1.txt[1.7.11.1],
118 link:RelNotes/1.7.11.txt[1.7.11].
120 * link:v1.7.10.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.10.5]
123 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.5.txt[1.7.10.5],
124 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.4.txt[1.7.10.4],
125 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.3.txt[1.7.10.3],
126 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.2.txt[1.7.10.2],
127 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.1.txt[1.7.10.1],
128 link:RelNotes/1.7.10.txt[1.7.10].
130 * link:v1.7.9.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.9.7]
133 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.7.txt[1.7.9.7],
134 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.6.txt[1.7.9.6],
135 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.5.txt[1.7.9.5],
136 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.4.txt[1.7.9.4],
137 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.3.txt[1.7.9.3],
138 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.2.txt[1.7.9.2],
139 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.1.txt[1.7.9.1],
140 link:RelNotes/1.7.9.txt[1.7.9].
142 * link:v1.7.8.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.8.6]
145 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.6.txt[1.7.8.6],
146 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.5.txt[1.7.8.5],
147 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.4.txt[1.7.8.4],
148 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.3.txt[1.7.8.3],
149 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.2.txt[1.7.8.2],
150 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.1.txt[1.7.8.1],
151 link:RelNotes/1.7.8.txt[1.7.8].
153 * link:v1.7.7.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.7.7]
156 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.7.txt[1.7.7.7],
157 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.6.txt[1.7.7.6],
158 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.5.txt[1.7.7.5],
159 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.4.txt[1.7.7.4],
160 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.3.txt[1.7.7.3],
161 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.2.txt[1.7.7.2],
162 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.1.txt[1.7.7.1],
163 link:RelNotes/1.7.7.txt[1.7.7].
165 * link:v1.7.6.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.6.6]
168 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.6.txt[1.7.6.6],
169 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.5.txt[1.7.6.5],
170 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.4.txt[1.7.6.4],
171 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.3.txt[1.7.6.3],
172 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.2.txt[1.7.6.2],
173 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.1.txt[1.7.6.1],
174 link:RelNotes/1.7.6.txt[1.7.6].
176 * link:v1.7.5.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.5.4]
179 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.4.txt[1.7.5.4],
180 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.3.txt[1.7.5.3],
181 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.2.txt[1.7.5.2],
182 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.1.txt[1.7.5.1],
183 link:RelNotes/1.7.5.txt[1.7.5].
185 * link:v1.7.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.4.5]
188 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.5.txt[1.7.4.5],
189 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.4.txt[1.7.4.4],
190 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.3.txt[1.7.4.3],
191 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.2.txt[1.7.4.2],
192 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.1.txt[1.7.4.1],
193 link:RelNotes/1.7.4.txt[1.7.4].
195 * link:v1.7.3.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.3.5]
198 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.5.txt[1.7.3.5],
199 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.4.txt[1.7.3.4],
200 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.3.txt[1.7.3.3],
201 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.2.txt[1.7.3.2],
202 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.1.txt[1.7.3.1],
203 link:RelNotes/1.7.3.txt[1.7.3].
205 * link:v1.7.2.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.2.5]
208 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.5.txt[1.7.2.5],
209 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.4.txt[1.7.2.4],
210 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.3.txt[1.7.2.3],
211 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.2.txt[1.7.2.2],
212 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.1.txt[1.7.2.1],
213 link:RelNotes/1.7.2.txt[1.7.2].
215 * link:v1.7.1.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.1.4]
218 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.4.txt[1.7.1.4],
219 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.3.txt[1.7.1.3],
220 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.2.txt[1.7.1.2],
221 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.1.txt[1.7.1.1],
222 link:RelNotes/1.7.1.txt[1.7.1].
224 * link:v1.7.0.9/git.html[documentation for release 1.7.0.9]
227 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.9.txt[1.7.0.9],
228 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.8.txt[1.7.0.8],
229 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.7.txt[1.7.0.7],
230 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.6.txt[1.7.0.6],
231 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.5.txt[1.7.0.5],
232 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.4.txt[1.7.0.4],
233 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.3.txt[1.7.0.3],
234 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.2.txt[1.7.0.2],
235 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.1.txt[1.7.0.1],
236 link:RelNotes/1.7.0.txt[1.7.0].
238 * link:v1.6.6.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.6.3]
241 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.3.txt[1.6.6.3],
242 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.2.txt[1.6.6.2],
243 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.1.txt[1.6.6.1],
244 link:RelNotes/1.6.6.txt[1.6.6].
246 * link:v1.6.5.9/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.5.9]
249 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.9.txt[1.6.5.9],
250 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.8.txt[1.6.5.8],
251 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.7.txt[1.6.5.7],
252 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.6.txt[1.6.5.6],
253 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.5.txt[1.6.5.5],
254 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.4.txt[1.6.5.4],
255 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.3.txt[1.6.5.3],
256 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.2.txt[1.6.5.2],
257 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.1.txt[1.6.5.1],
258 link:RelNotes/1.6.5.txt[1.6.5].
260 * link:v1.6.4.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.4.5]
263 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.5.txt[1.6.4.5],
264 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.4.txt[1.6.4.4],
265 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.3.txt[1.6.4.3],
266 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.2.txt[1.6.4.2],
267 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.1.txt[1.6.4.1],
268 link:RelNotes/1.6.4.txt[1.6.4].
270 * link:v1.6.3.4/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.3.4]
273 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.4.txt[1.6.3.4],
274 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.3.txt[1.6.3.3],
275 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.2.txt[1.6.3.2],
276 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.1.txt[1.6.3.1],
277 link:RelNotes/1.6.3.txt[1.6.3].
280 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.5.txt[1.6.2.5],
281 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.4.txt[1.6.2.4],
282 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.3.txt[1.6.2.3],
283 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.2.txt[1.6.2.2],
284 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.1.txt[1.6.2.1],
285 link:RelNotes/1.6.2.txt[1.6.2].
287 * link:v1.6.1.3/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.1.3]
290 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.3.txt[1.6.1.3],
291 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.2.txt[1.6.1.2],
292 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.1.txt[1.6.1.1],
293 link:RelNotes/1.6.1.txt[1.6.1].
295 * link:v1.6.0.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.0.6]
298 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.6.txt[1.6.0.6],
299 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.5.txt[1.6.0.5],
300 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.4.txt[1.6.0.4],
301 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.3.txt[1.6.0.3],
302 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.2.txt[1.6.0.2],
303 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.1.txt[1.6.0.1],
304 link:RelNotes/1.6.0.txt[1.6.0].
306 * link:v1.5.6.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.6.6]
309 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.6.txt[1.5.6.6],
310 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.5.txt[1.5.6.5],
311 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.4.txt[1.5.6.4],
312 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.3.txt[1.5.6.3],
313 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.2.txt[1.5.6.2],
314 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.1.txt[1.5.6.1],
315 link:RelNotes/1.5.6.txt[1.5.6].
317 * link:v1.5.5.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.5.6]
320 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.6.txt[1.5.5.6],
321 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.5.txt[1.5.5.5],
322 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.4.txt[1.5.5.4],
323 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.3.txt[1.5.5.3],
324 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.2.txt[1.5.5.2],
325 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.1.txt[1.5.5.1],
326 link:RelNotes/1.5.5.txt[1.5.5].
328 * link:v1.5.4.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.4.7]
331 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.7.txt[1.5.4.7],
332 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.6.txt[1.5.4.6],
333 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.5.txt[1.5.4.5],
334 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.4.txt[1.5.4.4],
335 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.3.txt[1.5.4.3],
336 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.2.txt[1.5.4.2],
337 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.1.txt[1.5.4.1],
338 link:RelNotes/1.5.4.txt[1.5.4].
340 * link:v1.5.3.8/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.3.8]
343 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.8.txt[1.5.3.8],
344 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.7.txt[1.5.3.7],
345 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.6.txt[1.5.3.6],
346 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.5.txt[1.5.3.5],
347 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.4.txt[1.5.3.4],
348 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.3.txt[1.5.3.3],
349 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.2.txt[1.5.3.2],
350 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.1.txt[1.5.3.1],
351 link:RelNotes/1.5.3.txt[1.5.3].
353 * link:v1.5.2.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.2.5]
356 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.5.txt[1.5.2.5],
357 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.4.txt[1.5.2.4],
358 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.3.txt[1.5.2.3],
359 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.2.txt[1.5.2.2],
360 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.1.txt[1.5.2.1],
361 link:RelNotes/1.5.2.txt[1.5.2].
363 * link:v1.5.1.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.1.6]
366 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.6.txt[1.5.1.6],
367 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.5.txt[1.5.1.5],
368 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.4.txt[1.5.1.4],
369 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.3.txt[1.5.1.3],
370 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.2.txt[1.5.1.2],
371 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.1.txt[1.5.1.1],
372 link:RelNotes/1.5.1.txt[1.5.1].
374 * link:v1.5.0.7/git.html[documentation for release 1.5.0.7]
377 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.7.txt[1.5.0.7],
378 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.6.txt[1.5.0.6],
379 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.5.txt[1.5.0.5],
380 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.3.txt[1.5.0.3],
381 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.2.txt[1.5.0.2],
382 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.1.txt[1.5.0.1],
383 link:RelNotes/1.5.0.txt[1.5.0].
385 * documentation for release link:v1.4.4.4/git.html[1.4.4.4],
386 link:v1.3.3/git.html[1.3.3],
387 link:v1.2.6/git.html[1.2.6],
388 link:v1.0.13/git.html[1.0.13].
397 Prints the Git suite version that the 'git' program came from.
400 Prints the synopsis and a list of the most commonly used
401 commands. If the option '--all' or '-a' is given then all
402 available commands are printed. If a Git command is named this
403 option will bring up the manual page for that command.
405 Other options are available to control how the manual page is
406 displayed. See linkgit:git-help[1] for more information,
407 because `git --help ...` is converted internally into `git
411 Run as if git was started in '<path>' instead of the current working
412 directory. When multiple `-C` options are given, each subsequent
413 non-absolute `-C <path>` is interpreted relative to the preceding `-C
416 This option affects options that expect path name like `--git-dir` and
417 `--work-tree` in that their interpretations of the path names would be
418 made relative to the working directory caused by the `-C` option. For
419 example the following invocations are equivalent:
421 git --git-dir=a.git --work-tree=b -C c status
422 git --git-dir=c/a.git --work-tree=c/b status
425 Pass a configuration parameter to the command. The value
426 given will override values from configuration files.
427 The <name> is expected in the same format as listed by
428 'git config' (subkeys separated by dots).
430 --exec-path[=<path>]::
431 Path to wherever your core Git programs are installed.
432 This can also be controlled by setting the GIT_EXEC_PATH
433 environment variable. If no path is given, 'git' will print
434 the current setting and then exit.
437 Print the path, without trailing slash, where Git's HTML
438 documentation is installed and exit.
441 Print the manpath (see `man(1)`) for the man pages for
442 this version of Git and exit.
445 Print the path where the Info files documenting this
446 version of Git are installed and exit.
450 Pipe all output into 'less' (or if set, $PAGER) if standard
451 output is a terminal. This overrides the `pager.<cmd>`
452 configuration options (see the "Configuration Mechanism" section
456 Do not pipe Git output into a pager.
459 Set the path to the repository. This can also be controlled by
460 setting the GIT_DIR environment variable. It can be an absolute
461 path or relative path to current working directory.
464 Set the path to the working tree. It can be an absolute path
465 or a path relative to the current working directory.
466 This can also be controlled by setting the GIT_WORK_TREE
467 environment variable and the core.worktree configuration
468 variable (see core.worktree in linkgit:git-config[1] for a
469 more detailed discussion).
472 Set the Git namespace. See linkgit:gitnamespaces[7] for more
473 details. Equivalent to setting the `GIT_NAMESPACE` environment
477 Treat the repository as a bare repository. If GIT_DIR
478 environment is not set, it is set to the current working
481 --no-replace-objects::
482 Do not use replacement refs to replace Git objects. See
483 linkgit:git-replace[1] for more information.
485 --literal-pathspecs::
486 Treat pathspecs literally (i.e. no globbing, no pathspec magic).
487 This is equivalent to setting the `GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS` environment
491 Add "glob" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
492 the `GIT_GLOB_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`. Disabling
493 globbing on individual pathspecs can be done using pathspec
497 Add "literal" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
498 the `GIT_NOGLOB_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`. Enabling
499 globbing on individual pathspecs can be done using pathspec
503 Add "icase" magic to all pathspec. This is equivalent to setting
504 the `GIT_ICASE_PATHSPECS` environment variable to `1`.
509 We divide Git into high level ("porcelain") commands and low level
510 ("plumbing") commands.
512 High-level commands (porcelain)
513 -------------------------------
515 We separate the porcelain commands into the main commands and some
516 ancillary user utilities.
518 Main porcelain commands
519 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
521 include::cmds-mainporcelain.txt[]
527 include::cmds-ancillarymanipulators.txt[]
531 include::cmds-ancillaryinterrogators.txt[]
534 Interacting with Others
535 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
537 These commands are to interact with foreign SCM and with other
538 people via patch over e-mail.
540 include::cmds-foreignscminterface.txt[]
543 Low-level commands (plumbing)
544 -----------------------------
546 Although Git includes its
547 own porcelain layer, its low-level commands are sufficient to support
548 development of alternative porcelains. Developers of such porcelains
549 might start by reading about linkgit:git-update-index[1] and
550 linkgit:git-read-tree[1].
552 The interface (input, output, set of options and the semantics)
553 to these low-level commands are meant to be a lot more stable
554 than Porcelain level commands, because these commands are
555 primarily for scripted use. The interface to Porcelain commands
556 on the other hand are subject to change in order to improve the
559 The following description divides
560 the low-level commands into commands that manipulate objects (in
561 the repository, index, and working tree), commands that interrogate and
562 compare objects, and commands that move objects and references between
566 Manipulation commands
567 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
569 include::cmds-plumbingmanipulators.txt[]
572 Interrogation commands
573 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
575 include::cmds-plumbinginterrogators.txt[]
577 In general, the interrogate commands do not touch the files in
581 Synching repositories
582 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
584 include::cmds-synchingrepositories.txt[]
586 The following are helper commands used by the above; end users
587 typically do not use them directly.
589 include::cmds-synchelpers.txt[]
592 Internal helper commands
593 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
595 These are internal helper commands used by other commands; end
596 users typically do not use them directly.
598 include::cmds-purehelpers.txt[]
601 Configuration Mechanism
602 -----------------------
604 Git uses a simple text format to store customizations that are per
605 repository and are per user. Such a configuration file may look
610 # A '#' or ';' character indicates a comment.
615 ; Don't trust file modes
620 name = "Junio C Hamano"
621 email = "gitster@pobox.com"
625 Various commands read from the configuration file and adjust
626 their operation accordingly. See linkgit:git-config[1] for a
627 list and more details about the configuration mechanism.
630 Identifier Terminology
631 ----------------------
633 Indicates the object name for any type of object.
636 Indicates a blob object name.
639 Indicates a tree object name.
642 Indicates a commit object name.
645 Indicates a tree, commit or tag object name. A
646 command that takes a <tree-ish> argument ultimately wants to
647 operate on a <tree> object but automatically dereferences
648 <commit> and <tag> objects that point at a <tree>.
651 Indicates a commit or tag object name. A
652 command that takes a <commit-ish> argument ultimately wants to
653 operate on a <commit> object but automatically dereferences
654 <tag> objects that point at a <commit>.
657 Indicates that an object type is required.
658 Currently one of: `blob`, `tree`, `commit`, or `tag`.
661 Indicates a filename - almost always relative to the
662 root of the tree structure `GIT_INDEX_FILE` describes.
666 Any Git command accepting any <object> can also use the following
670 indicates the head of the current branch.
674 (i.e. a `refs/tags/<tag>` reference).
678 (i.e. a `refs/heads/<head>` reference).
680 For a more complete list of ways to spell object names, see
681 "SPECIFYING REVISIONS" section in linkgit:gitrevisions[7].
684 File/Directory Structure
685 ------------------------
687 Please see the linkgit:gitrepository-layout[5] document.
689 Read linkgit:githooks[5] for more details about each hook.
691 Higher level SCMs may provide and manage additional information in the
697 Please see linkgit:gitglossary[7].
700 Environment Variables
701 ---------------------
702 Various Git commands use the following environment variables:
706 These environment variables apply to 'all' core Git commands. Nb: it
707 is worth noting that they may be used/overridden by SCMS sitting above
708 Git so take care if using Cogito etc.
711 This environment allows the specification of an alternate
712 index file. If not specified, the default of `$GIT_DIR/index`
715 'GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY'::
716 If the object storage directory is specified via this
717 environment variable then the sha1 directories are created
718 underneath - otherwise the default `$GIT_DIR/objects`
721 'GIT_ALTERNATE_OBJECT_DIRECTORIES'::
722 Due to the immutable nature of Git objects, old objects can be
723 archived into shared, read-only directories. This variable
724 specifies a ":" separated (on Windows ";" separated) list
725 of Git object directories which can be used to search for Git
726 objects. New objects will not be written to these directories.
729 If the 'GIT_DIR' environment variable is set then it
730 specifies a path to use instead of the default `.git`
731 for the base of the repository.
732 The '--git-dir' command-line option also sets this value.
735 Set the path to the root of the working tree.
736 This can also be controlled by the '--work-tree' command line
737 option and the core.worktree configuration variable.
740 Set the Git namespace; see linkgit:gitnamespaces[7] for details.
741 The '--namespace' command-line option also sets this value.
743 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES'::
744 This should be a colon-separated list of absolute paths. If
745 set, it is a list of directories that Git should not chdir up
746 into while looking for a repository directory (useful for
747 excluding slow-loading network directories). It will not
748 exclude the current working directory or a GIT_DIR set on the
749 command line or in the environment. Normally, Git has to read
750 the entries in this list and resolve any symlink that
751 might be present in order to compare them with the current
752 directory. However, if even this access is slow, you
753 can add an empty entry to the list to tell Git that the
754 subsequent entries are not symlinks and needn't be resolved;
756 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES=/maybe/symlink::/very/slow/non/symlink'.
758 'GIT_DISCOVERY_ACROSS_FILESYSTEM'::
759 When run in a directory that does not have ".git" repository
760 directory, Git tries to find such a directory in the parent
761 directories to find the top of the working tree, but by default it
762 does not cross filesystem boundaries. This environment variable
763 can be set to true to tell Git not to stop at filesystem
764 boundaries. Like 'GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES', this will not affect
765 an explicit repository directory set via 'GIT_DIR' or on the
773 'GIT_COMMITTER_NAME'::
774 'GIT_COMMITTER_EMAIL'::
775 'GIT_COMMITTER_DATE'::
777 see linkgit:git-commit-tree[1]
782 Only valid setting is "--unified=??" or "-u??" to set the
783 number of context lines shown when a unified diff is created.
784 This takes precedence over any "-U" or "--unified" option
785 value passed on the Git diff command line.
787 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF'::
788 When the environment variable 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is set, the
789 program named by it is called, instead of the diff invocation
790 described above. For a path that is added, removed, or modified,
791 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called with 7 parameters:
793 path old-file old-hex old-mode new-file new-hex new-mode
797 <old|new>-file:: are files GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF can use to read the
798 contents of <old|new>,
799 <old|new>-hex:: are the 40-hexdigit SHA-1 hashes,
800 <old|new>-mode:: are the octal representation of the file modes.
802 The file parameters can point at the user's working file
803 (e.g. `new-file` in "git-diff-files"), `/dev/null` (e.g. `old-file`
804 when a new file is added), or a temporary file (e.g. `old-file` in the
805 index). 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' should not worry about unlinking the
806 temporary file --- it is removed when 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' exits.
808 For a path that is unmerged, 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called with 1
813 'GIT_MERGE_VERBOSITY'::
814 A number controlling the amount of output shown by
815 the recursive merge strategy. Overrides merge.verbosity.
816 See linkgit:git-merge[1]
819 This environment variable overrides `$PAGER`. If it is set
820 to an empty string or to the value "cat", Git will not launch
821 a pager. See also the `core.pager` option in
822 linkgit:git-config[1].
825 This environment variable overrides `$EDITOR` and `$VISUAL`.
826 It is used by several Git commands when, on interactive mode,
827 an editor is to be launched. See also linkgit:git-var[1]
828 and the `core.editor` option in linkgit:git-config[1].
831 If this environment variable is set then 'git fetch'
832 and 'git push' will use this command instead
833 of 'ssh' when they need to connect to a remote system.
834 The '$GIT_SSH' command will be given exactly two or
835 four arguments: the 'username@host' (or just 'host')
836 from the URL and the shell command to execute on that
837 remote system, optionally preceded by '-p' (literally) and
838 the 'port' from the URL when it specifies something other
839 than the default SSH port.
841 To pass options to the program that you want to list in GIT_SSH
842 you will need to wrap the program and options into a shell script,
843 then set GIT_SSH to refer to the shell script.
845 Usually it is easier to configure any desired options through your
846 personal `.ssh/config` file. Please consult your ssh documentation
850 If this environment variable is set, then Git commands which need to
851 acquire passwords or passphrases (e.g. for HTTP or IMAP authentication)
852 will call this program with a suitable prompt as command line argument
853 and read the password from its STDOUT. See also the 'core.askpass'
854 option in linkgit:git-config[1].
856 'GIT_CONFIG_NOSYSTEM'::
857 Whether to skip reading settings from the system-wide
858 `$(prefix)/etc/gitconfig` file. This environment variable can
859 be used along with `$HOME` and `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME` to create a
860 predictable environment for a picky script, or you can set it
861 temporarily to avoid using a buggy `/etc/gitconfig` file while
862 waiting for someone with sufficient permissions to fix it.
865 If this environment variable is set to "1", then commands such
866 as 'git blame' (in incremental mode), 'git rev-list', 'git log',
867 'git check-attr' and 'git check-ignore' will
868 force a flush of the output stream after each record have been
870 variable is set to "0", the output of these commands will be done
871 using completely buffered I/O. If this environment variable is
872 not set, Git will choose buffered or record-oriented flushing
873 based on whether stdout appears to be redirected to a file or not.
876 If this variable is set to "1", "2" or "true" (comparison
877 is case insensitive), Git will print `trace:` messages on
878 stderr telling about alias expansion, built-in command
879 execution and external command execution.
880 If this variable is set to an integer value greater than 1
881 and lower than 10 (strictly) then Git will interpret this
882 value as an open file descriptor and will try to write the
883 trace messages into this file descriptor.
884 Alternatively, if this variable is set to an absolute path
885 (starting with a '/' character), Git will interpret this
886 as a file path and will try to write the trace messages
889 'GIT_TRACE_PACK_ACCESS'::
890 If this variable is set to a path, a file will be created at
891 the given path logging all accesses to any packs. For each
892 access, the pack file name and an offset in the pack is
893 recorded. This may be helpful for troubleshooting some
894 pack-related performance problems.
897 If this variable is set, it shows a trace of all packets
898 coming in or out of a given program. This can help with
899 debugging object negotiation or other protocol issues. Tracing
900 is turned off at a packet starting with "PACK".
902 GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS::
903 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
904 pathspecs literally, rather than as glob patterns. For example,
905 running `GIT_LITERAL_PATHSPECS=1 git log -- '*.c'` will search
906 for commits that touch the path `*.c`, not any paths that the
907 glob `*.c` matches. You might want this if you are feeding
908 literal paths to Git (e.g., paths previously given to you by
909 `git ls-tree`, `--raw` diff output, etc).
912 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
913 pathspecs as glob patterns (aka "glob" magic).
915 GIT_NOGLOB_PATHSPECS::
916 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
917 pathspecs as literal (aka "literal" magic).
919 GIT_ICASE_PATHSPECS::
920 Setting this variable to `1` will cause Git to treat all
921 pathspecs as case-insensitive.
923 'GIT_REFLOG_ACTION'::
924 When a ref is updated, reflog entries are created to keep
925 track of the reason why the ref was updated (which is
926 typically the name of the high-level command that updated
927 the ref), in addition to the old and new values of the ref.
928 A scripted Porcelain command can use set_reflog_action
929 helper function in `git-sh-setup` to set its name to this
930 variable when it is invoked as the top level command by the
931 end user, to be recorded in the body of the reflog.
934 Discussion[[Discussion]]
935 ------------------------
937 More detail on the following is available from the
938 link:user-manual.html#git-concepts[Git concepts chapter of the
939 user-manual] and linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7].
941 A Git project normally consists of a working directory with a ".git"
942 subdirectory at the top level. The .git directory contains, among other
943 things, a compressed object database representing the complete history
944 of the project, an "index" file which links that history to the current
945 contents of the working tree, and named pointers into that history such
946 as tags and branch heads.
948 The object database contains objects of three main types: blobs, which
949 hold file data; trees, which point to blobs and other trees to build up
950 directory hierarchies; and commits, which each reference a single tree
951 and some number of parent commits.
953 The commit, equivalent to what other systems call a "changeset" or
954 "version", represents a step in the project's history, and each parent
955 represents an immediately preceding step. Commits with more than one
956 parent represent merges of independent lines of development.
958 All objects are named by the SHA-1 hash of their contents, normally
959 written as a string of 40 hex digits. Such names are globally unique.
960 The entire history leading up to a commit can be vouched for by signing
961 just that commit. A fourth object type, the tag, is provided for this
964 When first created, objects are stored in individual files, but for
965 efficiency may later be compressed together into "pack files".
967 Named pointers called refs mark interesting points in history. A ref
968 may contain the SHA-1 name of an object or the name of another ref. Refs
969 with names beginning `ref/head/` contain the SHA-1 name of the most
970 recent commit (or "head") of a branch under development. SHA-1 names of
971 tags of interest are stored under `ref/tags/`. A special ref named
972 `HEAD` contains the name of the currently checked-out branch.
974 The index file is initialized with a list of all paths and, for each
975 path, a blob object and a set of attributes. The blob object represents
976 the contents of the file as of the head of the current branch. The
977 attributes (last modified time, size, etc.) are taken from the
978 corresponding file in the working tree. Subsequent changes to the
979 working tree can be found by comparing these attributes. The index may
980 be updated with new content, and new commits may be created from the
981 content stored in the index.
983 The index is also capable of storing multiple entries (called "stages")
984 for a given pathname. These stages are used to hold the various
985 unmerged version of a file when a merge is in progress.
987 FURTHER DOCUMENTATION
988 ---------------------
990 See the references in the "description" section to get started
991 using Git. The following is probably more detail than necessary
992 for a first-time user.
994 The link:user-manual.html#git-concepts[Git concepts chapter of the
995 user-manual] and linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7] both provide
996 introductions to the underlying Git architecture.
998 See linkgit:gitworkflows[7] for an overview of recommended workflows.
1000 See also the link:howto-index.html[howto] documents for some useful
1003 The internals are documented in the
1004 link:technical/api-index.html[Git API documentation].
1006 Users migrating from CVS may also want to
1007 read linkgit:gitcvs-migration[7].
1012 Git was started by Linus Torvalds, and is currently maintained by Junio
1013 C Hamano. Numerous contributions have come from the Git mailing list
1014 <git@vger.kernel.org>. http://www.ohloh.net/p/git/contributors/summary
1015 gives you a more complete list of contributors.
1017 If you have a clone of git.git itself, the
1018 output of linkgit:git-shortlog[1] and linkgit:git-blame[1] can show you
1019 the authors for specific parts of the project.
1024 Report bugs to the Git mailing list <git@vger.kernel.org> where the
1025 development and maintenance is primarily done. You do not have to be
1026 subscribed to the list to send a message there.
1030 linkgit:gittutorial[7], linkgit:gittutorial-2[7],
1031 link:everyday.html[Everyday Git], linkgit:gitcvs-migration[7],
1032 linkgit:gitglossary[7], linkgit:gitcore-tutorial[7],
1033 linkgit:gitcli[7], link:user-manual.html[The Git User's Manual],
1034 linkgit:gitworkflows[7]
1038 Part of the linkgit:git[1] suite