A bare repository is normally an appropriately
named <<def_directory,directory>> with a `.git` suffix that does not
have a locally checked-out copy of any of the files under
- revision control. That is, all of the `git`
+ revision control. That is, all of the Git
administrative and control files that would normally be present in the
hidden `.git` sub-directory are directly present in the
`repository.git` directory instead,
<<def_commit,commit>> on a branch is referred to as the tip of
that branch. The tip of the branch is referenced by a branch
<<def_head,head>>, which moves forward as additional development
- is done on the branch. A single git
+ is done on the branch. A single Git
<<def_repository,repository>> can track an arbitrary number of
branches, but your <<def_working_tree,working tree>> is
associated with just one of them (the "current" or "checked out"
<<def_commit,commit>> could be one of its <<def_parent,parents>>).
[[def_changeset]]changeset::
- BitKeeper/cvsps speak for "<<def_commit,commit>>". Since git does not
+ BitKeeper/cvsps speak for "<<def_commit,commit>>". Since Git does not
store changes, but states, it really does not make sense to use the term
- "changesets" with git.
+ "changesets" with Git.
[[def_checkout]]checkout::
The action of updating all or part of the
[[def_cherry-picking]]cherry-picking::
In <<def_SCM,SCM>> jargon, "cherry pick" means to choose a subset of
changes out of a series of changes (typically commits) and record them
- as a new series of changes on top of a different codebase. In GIT, this is
+ as a new series of changes on top of a different codebase. In Git, this is
performed by the "git cherry-pick" command to extract the change introduced
by an existing <<def_commit,commit>> and to record it based on the tip
of the current <<def_branch,branch>> as a new commit.
[[def_commit]]commit::
As a noun: A single point in the
- git history; the entire history of a project is represented as a
+ Git history; the entire history of a project is represented as a
set of interrelated commits. The word "commit" is often
- used by git in the same places other revision control systems
+ used by Git in the same places other revision control systems
use the words "revision" or "version". Also used as a short
hand for <<def_commit_object,commit object>>.
+
As a verb: The action of storing a new snapshot of the project's
-state in the git history, by creating a new commit representing the current
+state in the Git history, by creating a new commit representing the current
state of the <<def_index,index>> and advancing <<def_HEAD,HEAD>>
to point at the new commit.
to the top <<def_directory,directory>> of the stored
revision.
-[[def_core_git]]core git::
- Fundamental data structures and utilities of git. Exposes only limited
+[[def_core_git]]core Git::
+ Fundamental data structures and utilities of Git. Exposes only limited
source code management tools.
[[def_DAG]]DAG::
[[def_detached_HEAD]]detached HEAD::
Normally the <<def_HEAD,HEAD>> stores the name of a
- <<def_branch,branch>>. However, git also allows you to <<def_checkout,check out>>
- an arbitrary <<def_commit,commit>> that isn't necessarily the tip of any
- particular branch. In this case HEAD is said to be "detached".
-
-[[def_dircache]]dircache::
- You are *waaaaay* behind. See <<def_index,index>>.
+ <<def_branch,branch>>, and commands that operate on the
+ history HEAD represents operate on the history leading to the
+ tip of the branch the HEAD points at. However, Git also
+ allows you to <<def_checkout,check out>> an arbitrary
+ <<def_commit,commit>> that isn't necessarily the tip of any
+ particular branch. The HEAD in such a state is called
+ "detached".
++
+Note that commands that operate on the history of the current branch
+(e.g. `git commit` to build a new history on top of it) still work
+while the HEAD is detached. They update the HEAD to point at the tip
+of the updated history without affecting any branch. Commands that
+update or inquire information _about_ the current branch (e.g. `git
+branch --set-upstream-to` that sets what remote tracking branch the
+current branch integrates with) obviously do not work, as there is no
+(real) current branch to ask about in this state.
[[def_directory]]directory::
The list you get with "ls" :-)
it contains modifications which have not been <<def_commit,committed>> to the current
<<def_branch,branch>>.
-[[def_ent]]ent::
- Favorite synonym to "<<def_tree-ish,tree-ish>>" by some total geeks. See
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ent_(Middle-earth) for an in-depth
- explanation. Avoid this term, not to confuse people.
-
[[def_evil_merge]]evil merge::
An evil merge is a <<def_merge,merge>> that introduces changes that
do not appear in any <<def_parent,parent>>.
and to get them, too. See also linkgit:git-fetch[1].
[[def_file_system]]file system::
- Linus Torvalds originally designed git to be a user space file system,
+ Linus Torvalds originally designed Git to be a user space file system,
i.e. the infrastructure to hold files and directories. That ensured the
- efficiency and speed of git.
+ efficiency and speed of Git.
-[[def_git_archive]]git archive::
+[[def_git_archive]]Git archive::
Synonym for <<def_repository,repository>> (for arch people).
+[[def_gitfile]]gitfile::
+ A plain file `.git` at the root of a working tree that
+ points at the directory that is the real repository.
+
[[def_grafts]]grafts::
Grafts enables two otherwise different lines of development to be joined
together by recording fake ancestry information for commits. This way
- you can make git pretend the set of <<def_parent,parents>> a <<def_commit,commit>> has
+ you can make Git pretend the set of <<def_parent,parents>> a <<def_commit,commit>> has
is different from what was recorded when the commit was
created. Configured via the `.git/info/grafts` file.
[[def_hash]]hash::
- In git's context, synonym to <<def_object_name,object name>>.
+ In Git's context, synonym for <<def_object_name,object name>>.
[[def_head]]head::
A <<def_ref,named reference>> to the <<def_commit,commit>> at the tip of a
A synonym for <<def_head,head>>.
[[def_hook]]hook::
- During the normal execution of several git commands, call-outs are made
+ During the normal execution of several Git commands, call-outs are made
to optional scripts that allow a developer to add functionality or
checking. Typically, the hooks allow for a command to be pre-verified
and potentially aborted, and allow for a post-notification after the
operation is done. The hook scripts are found in the
`$GIT_DIR/hooks/` directory, and are enabled by simply
removing the `.sample` suffix from the filename. In earlier versions
- of git you had to make them executable.
+ of Git you had to make them executable.
[[def_index]]index::
A collection of files with stat information, whose contents are stored
[[def_master]]master::
The default development <<def_branch,branch>>. Whenever you
- create a git <<def_repository,repository>>, a branch named
+ create a Git <<def_repository,repository>>, a branch named
"master" is created, and becomes the active branch. In most
cases, this contains the local development, though that is
purely by convention and is not required.
"merge".
[[def_object]]object::
- The unit of storage in git. It is uniquely identified by the
- <<def_SHA1,SHA1>> of its contents. Consequently, an
+ The unit of storage in Git. It is uniquely identified by the
+ <<def_SHA1,SHA-1>> of its contents. Consequently, an
object can not be changed.
[[def_object_database]]object database::
Synonym for <<def_object_name,object name>>.
[[def_object_name]]object name::
- The unique identifier of an <<def_object,object>>. The <<def_hash,hash>>
- of the object's contents using the Secure Hash Algorithm
- 1 and usually represented by the 40 character hexadecimal encoding of
- the <<def_hash,hash>> of the object.
+ The unique identifier of an <<def_object,object>>. The
+ object name is usually represented by a 40 character
+ hexadecimal string. Also colloquially called <<def_SHA1,SHA-1>>.
[[def_object_type]]object type::
One of the identifiers "<<def_commit_object,commit>>",
<<def_object,object>>.
[[def_octopus]]octopus::
- To <<def_merge,merge>> more than two <<def_branch,branches>>. Also denotes an
- intelligent predator.
+ To <<def_merge,merge>> more than two <<def_branch,branches>>.
[[def_origin]]origin::
The default upstream <<def_repository,repository>>. Most projects have
pack.
[[def_pathspec]]pathspec::
- Pattern used to specify paths.
+ Pattern used to limit paths in Git commands.
+
Pathspecs are used on the command line of "git ls-files", "git
ls-tree", "git add", "git grep", "git diff", "git checkout",
worktree. See the documentation of each command for whether
paths are relative to the current directory or toplevel. The
pathspec syntax is as follows:
++
+--
* any path matches itself
* the pathspec up to the last slash represents a
of the pathname. Paths relative to the directory
prefix will be matched against that pattern using fnmatch(3);
in particular, '*' and '?' _can_ match directory separators.
+
+--
+
For example, Documentation/*.jpg will match all .jpg files
in the Documentation subtree,
including Documentation/chapter_1/figure_1.jpg.
-
+
A pathspec that begins with a colon `:` has special meaning. In the
short form, the leading colon `:` is followed by zero or more "magic
against the path.
+
The "magic signature" consists of an ASCII symbol that is not
-alphanumeric.
-+
---
-top `/`;;
- The magic word `top` (mnemonic: `/`) makes the pattern match
- from the root of the working tree, even when you are running
- the command from inside a subdirectory.
---
-+
-Currently only the slash `/` is recognized as the "magic signature",
-but it is envisioned that we will support more types of magic in later
-versions of git.
+alphanumeric. Currently only the slash `/` is recognized as a
+"magic signature": it makes the pattern match from the root of
+the working tree, even when you are running the command from
+inside a subdirectory.
+
A pathspec with only a colon means "there is no pathspec". This form
should not be combined with other pathspec.
particular line of text. See linkgit:git-diff[1].
[[def_plumbing]]plumbing::
- Cute name for <<def_core_git,core git>>.
+ Cute name for <<def_core_git,core Git>>.
[[def_porcelain]]porcelain::
Cute name for programs and program suites depending on
- <<def_core_git,core git>>, presenting a high level access to
- core git. Porcelains expose more of a <<def_SCM,SCM>>
+ <<def_core_git,core Git>>, presenting a high level access to
+ core Git. Porcelains expose more of a <<def_SCM,SCM>>
interface than the <<def_plumbing,plumbing>>.
[[def_pull]]pull::
to the result.
[[def_ref]]ref::
- A 40-byte hex representation of a <<def_SHA1,SHA1>> or a name that
+ A 40-byte hex representation of a <<def_SHA1,SHA-1>> or a name that
denotes a particular <<def_object,object>>. They may be stored in
a file under `$GIT_DIR/refs/` directory, or
in the `$GIT_DIR/packed-refs` file.
[[def_refspec]]refspec::
A "refspec" is used by <<def_fetch,fetch>> and
<<def_push,push>> to describe the mapping between remote
- <<def_ref,ref>> and local ref. They are combined with a colon in
- the format <src>:<dst>, preceded by an optional plus sign, +.
- For example: `git fetch $URL
- refs/heads/master:refs/heads/origin` means "grab the master
- <<def_branch,branch>> <<def_head,head>> from the $URL and store
- it as my origin branch head". And `git push
- $URL refs/heads/master:refs/heads/to-upstream` means "publish my
- master branch head as to-upstream branch at $URL". See also
- linkgit:git-push[1].
+ <<def_ref,ref>> and local ref.
[[def_remote_tracking_branch]]remote-tracking branch::
- A regular git <<def_branch,branch>> that is used to follow changes from
+ A regular Git <<def_branch,branch>> that is used to follow changes from
another <<def_repository,repository>>. A remote-tracking
branch should not contain direct modifications or have local commits
made to it. A remote-tracking branch can usually be
[[def_SCM]]SCM::
Source code management (tool).
-[[def_SHA1]]SHA1::
- Synonym for <<def_object_name,object name>>.
+[[def_SHA1]]SHA-1::
+ "Secure Hash Algorithm 1"; a cryptographic hash function.
+ In the context of Git used as a synonym for <<def_object_name,object name>>.
[[def_shallow_repository]]shallow repository::
A shallow <<def_repository,repository>> has an incomplete
history some of whose <<def_commit,commits>> have <<def_parent,parents>> cauterized away (in other
- words, git is told to pretend that these commits do not have the
+ words, Git is told to pretend that these commits do not have the
parents, even though they are recorded in the <<def_commit_object,commit
object>>). This is sometimes useful when you are interested only in the
recent history of a project even though the real history recorded in the
its history can be later deepened with linkgit:git-fetch[1].
[[def_symref]]symref::
- Symbolic reference: instead of containing the <<def_SHA1,SHA1>>
+ Symbolic reference: instead of containing the <<def_SHA1,SHA-1>>
id itself, it is of the format 'ref: refs/some/thing' and when
referenced, it recursively dereferences to this reference.
'<<def_HEAD,HEAD>>' is a prime example of a symref. Symbolic
object of an arbitrary type (typically a tag points to either a
<<def_tag_object,tag>> or a <<def_commit_object,commit object>>).
In contrast to a <<def_head,head>>, a tag is not updated by
- the `commit` command. A git tag has nothing to do with a Lisp
+ the `commit` command. A Git tag has nothing to do with a Lisp
tag (which would be called an <<def_object_type,object type>>
- in git's context). A tag is most typically used to mark a particular
+ in Git's context). A tag is most typically used to mark a particular
point in the commit ancestry <<def_chain,chain>>.
[[def_tag_object]]tag object::
signature, in which case it is called a "signed tag object".
[[def_topic_branch]]topic branch::
- A regular git <<def_branch,branch>> that is used by a developer to
+ A regular Git <<def_branch,branch>> that is used by a developer to
identify a conceptual line of development. Since branches are very easy
and inexpensive, it is often desirable to have several small branches
that each contain very well defined concepts or small incremental yet