git(7)
======
-May 2005
NAME
----
SYNOPSIS
--------
-'git-<command>' <args>
+'git' [--version] [--exec-path[=GIT_EXEC_PATH]] [--help] COMMAND [ARGS]
DESCRIPTION
-----------
+'git' is both a program and a directory content tracker system.
+The program 'git' is just a wrapper to reach the core git programs
+(or a potty if you like, as it's not exactly porcelain but still
+brings your stuff to the plumbing).
+
+OPTIONS
+-------
+--version::
+ prints the git suite version that the 'git' program came from.
+
+--help::
+ prints the synopsis and a list of available commands.
+ If a git command is named this option will bring up the
+ man-page for that command.
+
+--exec-path::
+ path to wherever your core git programs are installed.
+ This can also be controlled by setting the GIT_EXEC_PATH
+ environment variable. If no path is given 'git' will print
+ the current setting and then exit.
+
+CORE GIT COMMANDS
+-----------------
+Before reading this cover to cover, you may want to take a look
+at the link:tutorial.html[tutorial] document.
-This is reference information for the core git commands.
-
-The Discussion section below contains much useful definition and
+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, those that
+the repository, the index and the working fileset, those that
interrogate and compare them, and those that moves objects and
references between repositories.
commands. They are usable but are not meant to compete with real
Porcelains.
-There are also some ancilliary programs that can be viewed as useful
+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]::
- Copy files from the cache to the working directory
+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 index 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[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]::
- Reads tree information into the directory cache
+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 index
-link:git-update-cache.html[git-update-cache]::
+gitlink:git-unpack-objects[1]::
+ Unpacks objects out of a packed archive.
+
+gitlink:git-update-index[1]::
Modifies the index or directory cache
-link:git-hash-object.html[git-hash-object]::
- Computes the object ID from a file.
+gitlink:git-write-tree[1]::
+ Creates a tree from the current index
-link:git-write-tree.html[git-write-tree]::
- Creates a tree from the current cache
Interrogation commands
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-link:git-cat-file.html[git-cat-file]::
+
+gitlink:git-cat-file[1]::
Provide content or type information for repository objects
-link:git-diff-cache.html[git-diff-cache]::
- Compares content and mode of blobs between the cache and repository
+gitlink:git-diff-index[1]::
+ Compares content and mode of blobs between the index and repository
-link:git-diff-files.html[git-diff-files]::
- Compares files in the working tree and the cache
+gitlink:git-diff-files[1]::
+ Compares files in the working tree and the index
-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]::
- Information about files in the cache/working directory
+gitlink:git-ls-files[1]::
+ Information about files in the index/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-var.html[git-var]::
+gitlink:git-var[1]::
Displays a git logical variable
-link:git-verify-pack.html[git-verify-pack]::
- Validates packed GIT archive files
+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
Synching repositories
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-link:git-clone-script.html[git-clone-script]::
- Clones a repository into the current repository (user interface)
-
-link:git-clone-pack.html[git-clone-pack]::
+gitlink:git-clone-pack[1]::
Clones a repository into the current repository (engine
for ssh and local transport)
-link:git-http-pull.html[git-http-pull]::
- Downloads a remote GIT repository via HTTP
+gitlink:git-fetch-pack[1]::
+ Updates from a remote repository.
-link:git-local-pull.html[git-local-pull]::
- Duplicates another GIT repository on a local system
+gitlink:git-http-fetch[1]::
+ Downloads a remote git repository via HTTP
-link:git-ssh-pull.html[git-ssh-pull]::
- Pulls from a remote repository over ssh connection
+gitlink:git-local-fetch[1]::
+ Duplicates another git repository on a local system
-link:git-send-pack.html[git-send-pack]::
- Pushes to a remote repository, intelligently.
+gitlink:git-peek-remote[1]::
+ Lists references on a remote repository using upload-pack protocol.
-link:git-receive-pack.html[git-receive-pack]::
+gitlink:git-receive-pack[1]::
Invoked by 'git-send-pack' to receive what is pushed to it.
-link:git-clone-pack.html[git-clone-pack]::
- Clones from a remote repository.
+gitlink:git-send-pack[1]::
+ Pushes to a remote repository, intelligently.
-link:git-fetch-pack.html[git-fetch-pack]::
- Updates from a remote repository.
+gitlink:git-shell[1]::
+ Restricted shell for GIT-only SSH access.
-link:git-peek-remote.html[git-peek-remote]::
- Lists references on a remote repository using upload-pack protocol.
+gitlink:git-ssh-fetch[1]::
+ Pulls from a remote repository over ssh connection
-link:git-upload-pack.html[git-upload-pack]::
- Invoked by 'git-clone-pack' and 'git-fetch-pack' to push
- what are asked for.
+gitlink:git-ssh-upload[1]::
+ Helper "server-side" program used by git-ssh-fetch
-link:git-update-server-info.html[git-update-server-info]::
+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.
-Porcelainish Commands
----------------------
-link:git-fetch-script.html[git-fetch-script]::
+
+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-pull-script.html[git-pull-script]::
+gitlink:git-format-patch[1]::
+ Prepare patches for e-mail submission.
+
+gitlink:git-grep[1]::
+ Print lines matching a pattern
+
+gitlink:git-log[1]::
+ Shows commit logs.
+
+gitlink:git-ls-remote[1]::
+ Shows references in a remote or local repository.
+
+gitlink:git-merge[1]::
+ Grand unified merge driver.
+
+gitlink:git-mv[1]::
+ Move or rename a file, a directory, or a symlink.
+
+gitlink:git-octopus[1]::
+ Merge more than two commits.
+
+gitlink:git-pull[1]::
Fetch from and merge with a remote repository.
-link:git-commit-script.html[git-commit-script]::
- Record changes to the 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-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.
-Ancilliary Commands
--------------------
+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:
-link:git-apply-patch-script.html[git-apply-patch-script]::
- Sample script to apply the diffs from git-diff-*
+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
-link:git-convert-cache.html[git-convert-cache]::
- Converts old-style GIT repository
+gitlink:git-cvsimport[1]::
+ Salvage your data out of another SCM people love to hate.
-link:git-merge-one-file-script.html[git-merge-one-file-script]::
- The standard helper program to use with "git-merge-cache"
+gitlink:git-lost-found[1]::
+ Recover lost refs that luckily have not yet been pruned.
-link:git-prune-script.html[git-prune-script]::
+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
+gitlink:git-update-ref[1]::
+ Update the object name stored in a ref safely.
+
+
+Interrogators:
-Interogators:
+gitlink:git-check-ref-format[1]::
+ Make sure ref name is well formed.
-link:git-diff-helper.html[git-diff-helper]::
- Generates patch format output for git-diff-*
+gitlink:git-cherry[1]::
+ Find commits not merged upstream.
-link:git-ssh-push.html[git-ssh-push]::
- Helper "server-side" program used by git-ssh-pull
+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 $GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY)
- ??/ 'First 2 chars of object' directories.
- pack/ Packed archives.
- refs/ Directories containing symbolic names for objects
- (each file contains the hex SHA1 + newline)
- heads/ Commits which are heads of various sorts
- tags/ Tags, by the tag name (or some local renaming of it)
- */ Any other subdirectory of refs/ can be used to store
- files similar to what are under refs/heads/.
- HEAD Symlink to refs/heads/<current-branch-name>
+Please see link:repository-layout.html[repository layout] document.
Higher level SCMs may provide and manage additional information in the
GIT_DIR.
+
Terminology
-----------
-Each line contains terms which you may see used interchangeably
-
- object database, .git directory
- directory cache, index
- id, sha1, sha1-id, sha1 hash
- type, tag
+Please see link:glossary.html[glossary] document.
Environment Variables
'GIT_INDEX_FILE'::
This environment allows the specification of an alternate
- cache/index file. If not specified, the default of
- `$GIT_DIR/index` is used.
+ index file. If not specified, the default of `$GIT_DIR/index`
+ is used.
'GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY'::
If the object storage directory is specified via this
'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
-------
-Written by Linus Torvalds <torvalds@osdl.org> and the git-list <git@vger.kernel.org>.
+Authors
+-------
+ git's founding father is Linus Torvalds <torvalds@osdl.org>.
+ The current git nurse is Junio C. Hamano <junkio@cox.net>.
+ The git potty was written by Andres Ericsson <ae@op5.se>.
+ General upbringing is handled by the git-list <git@vger.kernel.org>.
Documentation
--------------
GIT
---
-Part of the link:git.html[git] suite
+Part of the gitlink:git[7] suite