~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The gitweb cgi script provides users an easy way to browse your
-project's files and history without having to install Git; see the file
-gitweb/INSTALL in the Git source tree for instructions on setting it up.
+project's revisions, file contents and logs without having to install
+Git. Features like RSS/Atom feeds and blame/annotation details may
+optionally be enabled.
+
+The linkgit:git-instaweb[1] command provides a simple way to start
+browsing the repository using gitweb. The default server when using
+instaweb is lighttpd.
+
+See the file gitweb/INSTALL in the Git source tree and
+linkgit:gitweb[1] for instructions on details setting up a permanent
+installation with a CGI or Perl capable server.
+
+[[how-to-get-a-git-repository-with-minimal-history]]
+How to get a Git repository with minimal history
+------------------------------------------------
+
+A <<def_shallow_clone,shallow clone>>, with its truncated
+history, is useful when one is interested only in recent history
+of a project and getting full history from the upstream is
+expensive.
+
+A <<def_shallow_clone,shallow clone>> is created by specifying
+the linkgit:git-clone[1] `--depth` switch. The depth can later be
+changed with the linkgit:git-fetch[1] `--depth` switch, or full
+history restored with `--unshallow`.
+
+Merging inside a <<def_shallow_clone,shallow clone>> will work as long
+as a merge base is in the recent history.
+Otherwise, it will be like merging unrelated histories and may
+have to result in huge conflicts. This limitation may make such
+a repository unsuitable to be used in merge based workflows.
[[sharing-development-examples]]
Examples
Scan man pages to see if any assume more background than this manual
provides.
-Simplify beginning by suggesting disconnected head instead of
-temporary branch creation?
-
Add more good examples. Entire sections of just cookbook examples
might be a good idea; maybe make an "advanced examples" section a
standard end-of-chapter section?
Include cross-references to the glossary, where appropriate.
-Document shallow clones? See draft 1.5.0 release notes for some
-documentation.
-
Add a section on working with other version control systems, including
CVS, Subversion, and just imports of series of release tarballs.
-More details on gitweb?
-
Write a chapter on using plumbing and writing scripts.
Alternates, clone -reference, etc.