SYNOPSIS
--------
-'git-init-db' [--template=<template_directory>] [--shared]
+'git-init-db' [--template=<template_directory>] [--shared[=<permissions>]]
OPTIONS
-------
+
+--
+
--template=<template_directory>::
- Provide the directory from which templates will be used.
- The default template directory is `/usr/share/git-core/templates`.
---shared::
- Specify that the git repository is to be shared amongst several users.
+Provide the directory from which templates will be used. The default template
+directory is `/usr/share/git-core/templates`.
+
+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}]::
+
+Specify that the git repository is to be shared amongst several users. This
+allows users belonging to the same group to push into that
+repository. When specified, the config variable "core.sharedRepository" is
+set so that files and directories under `$GIT_DIR` are created with the
+requested permissions. When not specified, git will use permissions reported
+by umask(2).
+
+The option can have the following values, defaulting to 'group' if no value
+is given:
+
+ - 'umask' (or 'false'): Use permissions reported by umask(2). The default,
+ when `--shared` is not specified.
+
+ - 'group' (or 'true'): Make the repository group-writable, (and g+sx, since
+ the git group may be not the primary group of all users).
+
+ - 'all' (or 'world' or 'everybody'): Same as 'group', but make the repository
+ readable by all users.
+
+By default, the configuration flag receive.denyNonFastforward is enabled
+in shared repositories, so that you cannot force a non fast-forwarding push
+into it.
+
+--
DESCRIPTION
An initial `HEAD` file that references the HEAD of the master branch
is also created.
-If `--template=<template_directory>` is specified, `<template_directory>`
-is used as the source of the template files rather than the default.
-The template files include some directory structure, some suggested
-"exclude patterns", and copies of non-executing "hook" files. The
-suggested patterns and hook files are all modifiable and extensible.
-
If the `$GIT_DIR` environment variable is set then it specifies a path
to use instead of `./.git` for the base of the repository.
environment variable then the sha1 directories are created underneath -
otherwise the default `$GIT_DIR/objects` directory is used.
-A shared repository allows users belonging to the same group to push into that
-repository. When specifying `--shared` the config variable "core.sharedRepository"
-is set to 'true' so that directories under `$GIT_DIR` are made group writable
-(and g+sx, since the git group may be not the primary group of all users).
-
Running `git-init-db` in an existing repository is safe. It will not overwrite
things that are already there. The primary reason for rerunning `git-init-db`
is to pick up newly added templates.