get_repo_base() {
        (
-               cd "`/bin/pwd`" &&
+               cd "$(/bin/pwd)" &&
                cd "$1" || cd "$1.git" &&
                {
                        cd .git
 }
 
 if [ -n "$GIT_SSL_NO_VERIFY" -o \
-       "`git config --bool http.sslVerify`" = false ]; then
+       "$(git config --bool http.sslVerify)" = false ]; then
     curl_extra_args="-k"
 fi
 
        clone_tmp="$GIT_DIR/clone-tmp" &&
        mkdir -p "$clone_tmp" || exit 1
        if [ -n "$GIT_CURL_FTP_NO_EPSV" -o \
-               "`git config --bool http.noEPSV`" = true ]; then
+               "$(git config --bool http.noEPSV)" = true ]; then
                curl_extra_args="${curl_extra_args} --disable-epsv"
        fi
        http_fetch "$1/info/refs" "$clone_tmp/refs" ||
        test "z$quiet" = z && v=-v || v=
        while read sha1 refname
        do
-               name=`expr "z$refname" : 'zrefs/\(.*\)'` &&
+               name=$(expr "z$refname" : 'zrefs/\(.*\)') &&
                case "$name" in
                *^*)    continue;;
                esac
                *)      continue ;;
                esac
                if test -n "$use_separate_remote" &&
-                  branch_name=`expr "z$name" : 'zheads/\(.*\)'`
+                  branch_name=$(expr "z$name" : 'zheads/\(.*\)')
                then
                        tname="remotes/$origin/$branch_name"
                else
        http_fetch "$1/HEAD" "$GIT_DIR/REMOTE_HEAD" ||
        rm -f "$GIT_DIR/REMOTE_HEAD"
        if test -f "$GIT_DIR/REMOTE_HEAD"; then
-               head_sha1=`cat "$GIT_DIR/REMOTE_HEAD"`
+               head_sha1=$(cat "$GIT_DIR/REMOTE_HEAD")
                case "$head_sha1" in
                'ref: refs/'*)
                        ;;
        # a non-bare repository is always in separate-remote layout
        remote_top="refs/remotes/$origin"
        head_sha1=
-       test ! -r "$GIT_DIR/REMOTE_HEAD" || head_sha1=`cat "$GIT_DIR/REMOTE_HEAD"`
+       test ! -r "$GIT_DIR/REMOTE_HEAD" || head_sha1=$(cat "$GIT_DIR/REMOTE_HEAD")
        case "$head_sha1" in
        'ref: refs/'*)
                # Uh-oh, the remote told us (http transport done against
                # new style repository with a symref HEAD).
                # Ideally we should skip the guesswork but for now
                # opt for minimum change.
-               head_sha1=`expr "z$head_sha1" : 'zref: refs/heads/\(.*\)'`
-               head_sha1=`cat "$GIT_DIR/$remote_top/$head_sha1"`
+               head_sha1=$(expr "z$head_sha1" : 'zref: refs/heads/\(.*\)')
+               head_sha1=$(cat "$GIT_DIR/$remote_top/$head_sha1")
                ;;
        esac
 
                while read name
                do
                        test t = $done && continue
-                       branch_tip=`cat "$GIT_DIR/$remote_top/$name"`
+                       branch_tip=$(cat "$GIT_DIR/$remote_top/$name")
                        if test "$head_sha1" = "$branch_tip"
                        then
                                echo "$name"