055930bc89
The "-l" option is short for "--create-reflog". This has caused much confusion over the years. Most people expect it to work as "--list", because that would match the other "mode" options like -d/--delete and -m/--move, as well as the similar -l/--list option of git-tag. Adding to the confusion, using "-l" _appears_ to work as "--list" in some cases: $ git branch -l * master because the branch command defaults to listing (so even trying to specify --list in the command above is redundant). But that may bite the user later when they add a pattern, like: $ git branch -l foo which does not return an empty list, but in fact creates a new branch (with a reflog, naturally) called "foo". It's also probably quite uncommon for people to actually use "-l" to create a reflog. Since0bee591869(Enable reflogs by default in any repository with a working directory., 2006-12-14), this is the default in non-bare repositories. So it's rather unfortunate that the feature squats on the short-and-sweet "-l" (which was only added in3a4b3f269c(Create/delete branch ref logs., 2006-05-19), meaning there were only 7 months where it was actually useful). Let's deprecate "-l" in hopes of eventually re-purposing it to "--list". Note that we issue the warning only when we're not in list mode. This means that people for whom it works as a happy accident, namely: $ git branch -l master won't see the warning at all. And when we eventually switch to it meaning "--list", that will just continue to work. We do the issue the warning for these important cases: - when we are actually creating a branch, in case the user really did mean it as "--create-reflog" - when we are in some _other_ mode, like deletion. There the "-l" is a noop for now, but it will eventually conflict with any other mode request, and the user should be told that this is changing. Signed-off-by: Jeff King <peff@peff.net> 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.txt to get started, then see
Documentation/giteveryday.txt for a useful minimum set of commands, and
Documentation/git-.txt 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.txt
(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). To subscribe to the list, send an email with just "subscribe git" in the body to majordomo@vger.kernel.org. The mailing list archives are available at https://public-inbox.org/git/, http://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