--template=<template_directory>::
-Provide the directory from which templates will be used. The default template
-directory is `/usr/share/git-core/templates`.
+Specify the directory from which templates will be used. (See the "TEMPLATE
+DIRECTORY" section below.)
-When specified, `<template_directory>` is used as the source of the template
-files rather than the default. The template files include some directory
-structure, some suggested "exclude patterns", and copies of non-executing
-"hook" files. The suggested patterns and hook files are all modifiable and
-extensible.
-
---shared[={false|true|umask|group|all|world|everybody|0xxx}]::
+--shared[=(false|true|umask|group|all|world|everybody|0xxx)]::
Specify that the git repository is to be shared amongst several users. This
allows users belonging to the same group to push into that
setting the configuration variables. The old name is retained
for backward compatibility reasons.
+TEMPLATE DIRECTORY
+------------------
+
+The template directory contains files and directories that will be copied to
+the `$GIT_DIR` after it is created.
+
+The template directory used will (in order):
+
+ - The argument given with the `--template` option.
+
+ - The contents of the `$GIT_TEMPLATE_DIR` environment variable.
+
+ - The `init.templatedir` configuration variable.
+
+ - The default template directory: `/usr/share/git-core/templates`.
+
+The default template directory includes some directory structure, some
+suggested "exclude patterns", and copies of sample "hook" files.
+The suggested patterns and hook files are all modifiable and extensible.
EXAMPLES
--------
<1> prepare /path/to/my/codebase/.git directory
<2> add all existing file to the index
-
-Author
-------
-Written by Linus Torvalds <torvalds@osdl.org>
-
-Documentation
---------------
-Documentation by David Greaves, Junio C Hamano and the git-list <git@vger.kernel.org>.
-
GIT
---
Part of the linkgit:git[1] suite