git(7)
======
-May 2005
NAME
----
This is reference information for the core git commands.
-The Discussion section below contains much useful definition and
+Before reading this cover to cover, you may want to take a look
+at the link:tutorial.html[tutorial] document.
+
+The <<Discussion>> section below contains much useful definition and
clarification info - read that first. And of the commands, I suggest
-reading link:git-update-cache.html[git-update-cache] and
-link:git-read-tree.html[git-read-tree] first - I wish I had!
+reading gitlink:git-update-index[1] and
+gitlink:git-read-tree[1] first - I wish I had!
+
+If you are migrating from CVS, link:cvs-migration.html[cvs migration]
+document may be helpful after you finish the tutorial.
+
+After you get the general feel from the tutorial and this
+overview page, you may want to take a look at the
+link:howto-index.html[howto] documents.
+
David Greaves <david@dgreaves.com>
08/05/05
Commands Overview
-----------------
The git commands can helpfully be split into those that manipulate
-the repository, the cache and the working fileset and those that
-interrogate and compare them.
+the repository, the cache and the working fileset, those that
+interrogate and compare them, and those that moves objects and
+references between repositories.
-There are also some ancilliary programs that can be viewed as useful
+In addition, git itself comes with a spartan set of porcelain
+commands. They are usable but are not meant to compete with real
+Porcelains.
+
+There are also some ancillary programs that can be viewed as useful
aids for using the core commands but which are unlikely to be used by
SCMs layered over git.
Manipulation commands
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-link:git-checkout-cache.html[git-checkout-cache]::
+gitlink:git-apply[1]::
+ Reads a "diff -up1" or git generated patch file and
+ applies it to the working tree.
+
+gitlink:git-checkout-index[1]::
Copy files from the cache to the working directory
-link:git-commit-tree.html[git-commit-tree]::
+gitlink:git-commit-tree[1]::
Creates a new commit object
-link:git-init-db.html[git-init-db]::
+gitlink:git-hash-object[1]::
+ Computes the object ID from a file.
+
+gitlink:git-index-pack.html[1]::
+ Build pack index file for an existing packed archive.
+
+gitlink:git-init-db[1]::
Creates an empty git object database
-link:git-merge-base.html[git-merge-base]::
- Finds as good a common ancestor as possible for a merge
+gitlink:git-merge-index[1]::
+ Runs a merge for files needing merging
-link:git-mktag.html[git-mktag]::
+gitlink:git-mktag[1]::
Creates a tag object
-link:git-read-tree.html[git-read-tree]::
+gitlink:git-pack-objects[1]::
+ Creates a packed archive of objects.
+
+gitlink:git-prune-packed[1]::
+ Remove extra objects that are already in pack files.
+
+gitlink:git-read-tree[1]::
Reads tree information into the directory cache
-link:git-update-cache.html[git-update-cache]::
- Modifies the index or directory cache
+gitlink:git-unpack-objects[1]::
+ Unpacks objects out of a packed archive.
-link:git-hash-object.html[git-hash-object]::
- Computes the object ID from a file.
+gitlink:git-update-index[1]::
+ Modifies the index or directory cache
-link:git-write-tree.html[git-write-tree]::
+gitlink:git-write-tree[1]::
Creates a tree from the current cache
+
Interrogation commands
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-link:git-cat-file.html[git-cat-file]::
- Provide content or type information for repository objects
-link:git-check-files.html[git-check-files]::
- Verify a list of files are up-to-date
+gitlink:git-cat-file[1]::
+ Provide content or type information for repository objects
-link:git-diff-cache.html[git-diff-cache]::
+gitlink:git-diff-index[1]::
Compares content and mode of blobs between the cache and repository
-link:git-diff-files.html[git-diff-files]::
+gitlink:git-diff-files[1]::
Compares files in the working tree and the cache
-link:git-diff-tree.html[git-diff-tree]::
- Compares the content and mode of blobs found via two tree objects
+gitlink:git-diff-stages[1]::
+ Compares two "merge stages" in the index file.
-link:git-export.html[git-export]::
- Exports each commit and a diff against each of its parents
+gitlink:git-diff-tree[1]::
+ Compares the content and mode of blobs found via two tree objects
-link:git-fsck-cache.html[git-fsck-cache]::
+gitlink:git-fsck-objects[1]::
Verifies the connectivity and validity of the objects in the database
-link:git-ls-files.html[git-ls-files]::
+gitlink:git-ls-files[1]::
Information about files in the cache/working directory
-link:git-ls-tree.html[git-ls-tree]::
+gitlink:git-ls-tree[1]::
Displays a tree object in human readable form
-link:git-merge-cache.html[git-merge-cache]::
- Runs a merge for files needing merging
+gitlink:git-merge-base[1]::
+ Finds as good a common ancestor as possible for a merge
+
+gitlink:git-name-rev[1]::
+ Find symbolic names for given revs
-link:git-rev-list.html[git-rev-list]::
+gitlink:git-rev-list[1]::
Lists commit objects in reverse chronological order
-link:git-rev-tree.html[git-rev-tree]::
- Provides the revision tree for one or more commits
+gitlink:git-show-index[1]::
+ Displays contents of a pack idx file.
-link:git-tar-tree.html[git-tar-tree]::
+gitlink:git-tar-tree[1]::
Creates a tar archive of the files in the named tree
-link:git-unpack-file.html[git-unpack-file]::
+gitlink:git-unpack-file[1]::
Creates a temporary file with a blob's contents
-link:git-verify-pack.html[git-verify-pack]::
- Validates packed GIT archive files
+gitlink:git-var[1]::
+ Displays a git logical variable
+
+gitlink:git-verify-pack[1]::
+ Validates packed git archive files
The interrogate commands may create files - and you can force them to
touch the working file set - but in general they don't
-Ancilliary Commands
--------------------
-Manipulators:
+Synching repositories
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+gitlink:git-clone-pack[1]::
+ Clones a repository into the current repository (engine
+ for ssh and local transport)
+
+gitlink:git-fetch-pack[1]::
+ Updates from a remote repository.
+
+gitlink:git-http-fetch[1]::
+ Downloads a remote git repository via HTTP
+
+gitlink:git-local-fetch[1]::
+ Duplicates another git repository on a local system
+
+gitlink:git-peek-remote[1]::
+ Lists references on a remote repository using upload-pack protocol.
+
+gitlink:git-receive-pack[1]::
+ Invoked by 'git-send-pack' to receive what is pushed to it.
+
+gitlink:git-send-pack[1]::
+ Pushes to a remote repository, intelligently.
+
+gitlink:git-shell[1]::
+ Restricted shell for GIT-only SSH access.
+
+gitlink:git-ssh-fetch[1]::
+ Pulls from a remote repository over ssh connection
+
+gitlink:git-ssh-upload[1]::
+ Helper "server-side" program used by git-ssh-fetch
+
+gitlink:git-update-server-info[1]::
+ Updates auxiliary information on a dumb server to help
+ clients discover references and packs on it.
+
+gitlink:git-upload-pack[1]::
+ Invoked by 'git-clone-pack' and 'git-fetch-pack' to push
+ what are asked for.
+
+
+Porcelain-ish Commands
+----------------------
+
+gitlink:git-add[1]::
+ Add paths to the index file.
+
+gitlink:git-am[1]::
+ Apply patches from a mailbox, but cooler.
+
+gitlink:git-applymbox[1]::
+ Apply patches from a mailbox.
+
+gitlink:git-bisect[1]::
+ Find the change that introduced a bug.
+
+gitlink:git-branch[1]::
+ Create and Show branches.
+
+gitlink:git-checkout[1]::
+ Checkout and switch to a branch.
+
+gitlink:git-cherry-pick[1]::
+ Cherry-pick the effect of an existing commit.
+
+gitlink:git-clone[1]::
+ Clones a repository into a new directory.
+
+gitlink:git-commit[1]::
+ Record changes to the repository.
+
+gitlink:git-diff[1]::
+ Show changes between commits, commit and working tree, etc.
+
+gitlink:git-fetch[1]::
+ Download from a remote repository via various protocols.
-link:git-apply-patch-script.html[git-apply-patch-script]::
- Sample script to apply the diffs from git-diff-*
+gitlink:git-format-patch[1]::
+ Prepare patches for e-mail submission.
-link:git-convert-cache.html[git-convert-cache]::
- Converts old-style GIT repository
+gitlink:git-grep[1]::
+ Print lines matching a pattern
-link:git-http-pull.html[git-http-pull]::
- Downloads a remote GIT repository via HTTP
+gitlink:git-log[1]::
+ Shows commit logs.
-link:git-local-pull.html[git-local-pull]::
- Duplicates another GIT repository on a local system
+gitlink:git-ls-remote[1]::
+ Shows references in a remote or local repository.
-link:git-merge-one-file-script.html[git-merge-one-file-script]::
- The standard helper program to use with "git-merge-cache"
+gitlink:git-merge[1]::
+ Grand unified merge driver.
-link:git-pull-script.html[git-pull-script]::
- Script used by Linus to pull and merge a remote repository
+gitlink:git-mv[1]::
+ Move or rename a file, a directory, or a symlink.
-link:git-prune-script.html[git-prune-script]::
+gitlink:git-octopus[1]::
+ Merge more than two commits.
+
+gitlink:git-pull[1]::
+ Fetch from and merge with a remote repository.
+
+gitlink:git-push[1]::
+ Update remote refs along with associated objects.
+
+gitlink:git-rebase[1]::
+ Rebase local commits to new upstream head.
+
+gitlink:git-rename[1]::
+ Rename files and directories.
+
+gitlink:git-repack[1]::
+ Pack unpacked objects in a repository.
+
+gitlink:git-reset[1]::
+ Reset current HEAD to the specified state.
+
+gitlink:git-resolve[1]::
+ Merge two commits.
+
+gitlink:git-revert[1]::
+ Revert an existing commit.
+
+gitlink:git-shortlog[1]::
+ Summarizes 'git log' output.
+
+gitlink:git-show-branch[1]::
+ Show branches and their commits.
+
+gitlink:git-status[1]::
+ Shows the working tree status.
+
+gitlink:git-verify-tag[1]::
+ Check the GPG signature of tag.
+
+gitlink:git-whatchanged[1]::
+ Shows commit logs and differences they introduce.
+
+
+Ancillary Commands
+------------------
+Manipulators:
+
+gitlink:git-applypatch[1]::
+ Apply one patch extracted from an e-mail.
+
+gitlink:git-archimport[1]::
+ Import an arch repository into git.
+
+gitlink:git-convert-objects[1]::
+ Converts old-style git repository
+
+gitlink:git-cvsimport[1]::
+ Salvage your data out of another SCM people love to hate.
+
+gitlink:git-merge-one-file[1]::
+ The standard helper program to use with "git-merge-index"
+
+gitlink:git-prune[1]::
Prunes all unreachable objects from the object database
-link:git-resolve-script.html[git-resolve-script]::
- Script used to merge two trees
+gitlink:git-relink[1]::
+ Hardlink common objects in local repositories.
+
+gitlink:git-svnimport[1]::
+ Import a SVN repository into git.
+
+gitlink:git-sh-setup[1]::
+ Common git shell script setup code.
-link:git-tag-script.html[git-tag-script]::
+gitlink:git-symbolic-ref[1]::
+ Read and modify symbolic refs
+
+gitlink:git-tag[1]::
An example script to create a tag object signed with GPG
-link:git-ssh-pull.html[git-ssh-pull]::
- Pulls from a remote repository over ssh connection
+gitlink:git-update-ref[1]::
+ Update the object name stored in a ref safely.
+
-Interogators:
+Interrogators:
-link:git-diff-helper.html[git-diff-helper]::
- Generates patch format output for git-diff-*
+gitlink:git-check-ref-format[1]::
+ Make sure ref name is well formed.
-link:git-ssh-push.html[git-ssh-push]::
- Helper "server-side" program used by git-ssh-pull
+gitlink:git-cherry[1]::
+ Find commits not merged upstream.
+gitlink:git-count-objects[1]::
+ Count unpacked number of objects and their disk consumption.
+
+gitlink:git-daemon[1]::
+ A really simple server for git repositories.
+
+gitlink:git-get-tar-commit-id[1]::
+ Extract commit ID from an archive created using git-tar-tree.
+
+gitlink:git-mailinfo[1]::
+ Extracts patch from a single e-mail message.
+
+gitlink:git-mailsplit[1]::
+ git-mailsplit.
+
+gitlink:git-patch-id[1]::
+ Compute unique ID for a patch.
+
+gitlink:git-parse-remote[1]::
+ Routines to help parsing $GIT_DIR/remotes/
+
+gitlink:git-request-pull[1]::
+ git-request-pull.
+
+gitlink:git-rev-parse[1]::
+ Pick out and massage parameters.
+
+gitlink:git-send-email[1]::
+ Send patch e-mails out of "format-patch --mbox" output.
+
+gitlink:git-symbolic-refs[1]::
+ Read and modify symbolic refs.
+
+gitlink:git-stripspace[1]::
+ Filter out empty lines.
+
+
+Commands not yet documented
+---------------------------
+
+gitlink:gitk[1]::
+ gitk.
+
+
+Configuration Mechanism
+-----------------------
+
+Starting from 0.99.9 (actually mid 0.99.8.GIT), .git/config file
+is used to hold per-repository configuration options. It is a
+simple text file modelled after `.ini` format familiar to some
+people. Here is an example:
+
+------------
+#
+# This is the config file, and
+# a '#' or ';' character indicates
+# a comment
+#
+
+; core variables
+[core]
+ ; Don't trust file modes
+ filemode = false
+
+; user identity
+[user]
+ name = "Junio C Hamano"
+ email = "junkio@twinsun.com"
+
+------------
+
+Various commands read from the configuration file and adjust
+their operation accordingly.
Identifier Terminology
Symbolic Identifiers
--------------------
-Any git comand accepting any <object> can also use the following
+Any git command accepting any <object> can also use the following
symbolic notation:
HEAD::
File/Directory Structure
------------------------
-The git-core manipulates the following areas in the directory:
-
- .git/ The base (overridden with $GIT_DIR)
- objects/ The object base (overridden with $GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY)
- ??/ 'First 2 chars of object' directories
-
-It can interrogate (but never updates) the following areas:
- refs/ Directories containing symbolic names for objects
- (each file contains the hex SHA1 + newline)
- heads/ Commits which are heads of various sorts
- tags/ Tags, by the tag name (or some local renaming of it)
- snap/ ????
- ... Everything else isn't shared
- HEAD Symlink to refs/heads/<something>
+Please see link:repository-layout.html[repository layout] document.
Higher level SCMs may provide and manage additional information in the
GIT_DIR.
+
Terminology
-----------
-Each line contains terms which you may see used interchangeably
-
- object database, .git directory
- directory cache, index
- id, sha1, sha1-id, sha1 hash
- type, tag
+Please see link:glossary.html[glossary] document.
Environment Variables
'GIT_ALTERNATE_OBJECT_DIRECTORIES'::
Due to the immutable nature of git objects, old objects can be
archived into shared, read-only directories. This variable
- specifies a ":" seperated list of git object directories which
+ specifies a ":" separated list of git object directories which
can be used to search for git objects. New objects will not be
written to these directories.
'GIT_AUTHOR_DATE'::
'GIT_COMMITTER_NAME'::
'GIT_COMMITTER_EMAIL'::
- see link:git-commit-tree.html[git-commit-tree]
+ see gitlink:git-commit-tree[1]
git Diffs
~~~~~~~~~
'GIT_DIFF_OPTS'::
'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF'::
see the "generating patches" section in :
- link:git-diff-cache.html[git-diff-cache];
- link:git-diff-files.html[git-diff-files];
- link:git-diff-tree.html[git-diff-tree]
+ gitlink:git-diff-index[1];
+ gitlink:git-diff-files[1];
+ gitlink:git-diff-tree[1]
-Discussion
-----------
+Discussion[[Discussion]]
+------------------------
include::../README[]
Author
GIT
---
-Part of the link:git.html[git] suite
+Part of the gitlink:git[7] suite