67d9b39cc7
Since 1296cbe4b4 (init: document `init.defaultBranch` better,
2020-12-11) "git-init.adoc" has advertised that the default name
of the initial branch may change in the future. The name "main"
is chosen to match the default used by the big Git forge web sites.
The advice printed when init.defaultBranch is not set is updated
to say that the default will change to "main" in Git 3.0. Building
with WITH_BREAKING_CHANGES enabled removes the advice and changes
the default branch name to "main". The code in guess_remote_head()
that looks for "refs/heads/master" is left unchanged as that is only
called when the remote server does not support the symref capability
in the v0 protocol or the symref extension to the ls-refs list in the
v2 protocol. Such an old server is more likely to be using "master"
as the default branch name.
With the exception of the "git-init.adoc" the documentation is left
unchanged. I had hoped to parameterize the name of the default branch
by using an asciidoc attribute. Unfortunately attribute expansion
is inhibited by backticks and we use backticks to mark up ref names
so that idea does not work. As the changes to git-init.adoc show
inserting ifdef's around each instance of the branch name "master"
is cumbersome and makes the documentation sources harder to read.
Apart from "git-init.adoc" there are some other files where "master" is
used as the name of the initial branch rather than as an example of a
branch name such as "user-manual.adoc" and "gitcore-tutorial.adoc". The
name appears a lot in those so updating it with ifdef's is not really
practical. We can update that document in the 3.0 release cycle. The
other documentation where master is used as an example branch name
can be gradually converted over time.
Signed-off-by: Phillip Wood <phillip.wood@dunelm.org.uk>
Signed-off-by: Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>
Git - fast, scalable, distributed revision control system
Git is a fast, scalable, distributed revision control system with an unusually rich command set that provides both high-level operations and full access to internals.
Git is an Open Source project covered by the GNU General Public License version 2 (some parts of it are under different licenses, compatible with the GPLv2). It was originally written by Linus Torvalds with help of a group of hackers around the net.
Please read the file INSTALL for installation instructions.
Many Git online resources are accessible from https://git-scm.com/ including full documentation and Git related tools.
See Documentation/gittutorial.adoc to get started, then see
Documentation/giteveryday.adoc for a useful minimum set of commands, and
Documentation/git-<commandname>.adoc for documentation of each command.
If git has been correctly installed, then the tutorial can also be
read with man gittutorial or git help tutorial, and the
documentation of each command with man git-<commandname> or git help <commandname>.
CVS users may also want to read Documentation/gitcvs-migration.adoc
(man gitcvs-migration or git help cvs-migration if git is
installed).
The user discussion and development of Git take place on the Git mailing list -- everyone is welcome to post bug reports, feature requests, comments and patches to git@vger.kernel.org (read Documentation/SubmittingPatches for instructions on patch submission and Documentation/CodingGuidelines).
Those wishing to help with error message, usage and informational message
string translations (localization l10) should see po/README.md
(a po file is a Portable Object file that holds the translations).
To subscribe to the list, send an email to git+subscribe@vger.kernel.org (see https://subspace.kernel.org/subscribing.html for details). The mailing list archives are available at https://lore.kernel.org/git/, https://marc.info/?l=git and other archival sites.
Issues which are security relevant should be disclosed privately to the Git Security mailing list git-security@googlegroups.com.
The maintainer frequently sends the "What's cooking" reports that list the current status of various development topics to the mailing list. The discussion following them give a good reference for project status, development direction and remaining tasks.
The name "git" was given by Linus Torvalds when he wrote the very first version. He described the tool as "the stupid content tracker" and the name as (depending on your mood):
- random three-letter combination that is pronounceable, and not actually used by any common UNIX command. The fact that it is a mispronunciation of "get" may or may not be relevant.
- stupid. contemptible and despicable. simple. Take your pick from the dictionary of slang.
- "global information tracker": you're in a good mood, and it actually works for you. Angels sing, and a light suddenly fills the room.
- "goddamn idiotic truckload of sh*t": when it breaks