git-pack-refs (1)

Name

git-pack-refs - Pack heads and tags for efficient repository access

Synopsis

git pack-refs [--all] [--no-prune]

Description

Git Manual                                       GIT-PACK-REFS(1)



NAME
     git-pack-refs - Pack heads and tags for efficient repository
     access

SYNOPSIS
     git pack-refs [--all] [--no-prune]


DESCRIPTION
     Traditionally, tips of branches and tags (collectively known
     as refs) were stored one file per ref under $GIT_DIR/refs
     directory. While many branch tips tend to be updated often,
     most tags and some branch tips are never updated. When a
     repository has hundreds or thousands of tags, this
     one-file-per-ref format both wastes storage and hurts
     performance.

     This command is used to solve the storage and performance
     problem by stashing the refs in a single file,
     $GIT_DIR/packed-refs. When a ref is missing from the
     traditional $GIT_DIR/refs hierarchy, it is looked up in this
     file and used if found.

     Subsequent updates to branches always create new files under
     $GIT_DIR/refs hierarchy.

     A recommended practice to deal with a repository with too
     many refs is to pack its refs with --all --prune once, and
     occasionally run git pack-refs --prune. Tags are by
     definition stationary and are not expected to change. Branch
     heads will be packed with the initial pack-refs --all, but
     only the currently active branch heads will become unpacked,
     and the next pack-refs (without --all) will leave them
     unpacked.

OPTIONS
     --all
         The command by default packs all tags and refs that are
         already packed, and leaves other refs alone. This is
         because branches are expected to be actively developed
         and packing their tips does not help performance. This
         option causes branch tips to be packed as well. Useful
         for a repository with many branches of historical
         interests.

     --no-prune
         The command usually removes loose refs under
         $GIT_DIR/refs hierarchy after packing them. This option
         tells it not to.

GIT
     Part of the git(1) suite



Git 1.7.9.2          Last change: 02/22/2012                    1






Git Manual                                       GIT-PACK-REFS(1)



ATTRIBUTES
     See attributes(5) for descriptions of the following
     attributes:

     +---------------+--------------------------+
     |ATTRIBUTE TYPE |     ATTRIBUTE VALUE      |
     +---------------+--------------------------+
     |Availability   | developer/versioning/git |
     +---------------+--------------------------+
     |Stability      | Uncommitted              |
     +---------------+--------------------------+
NOTES
     This software was built from source available at
     https://java.net/projects/solaris-userland.  The original
     community source was downloaded from  http://git-
     core.googlecode.com/files/git-1.7.9.2.tar.gz

     Further information about this software can be found on the
     open source community website at http://git-scm.com/.




































Git 1.7.9.2          Last change: 02/22/2012                    2