git-pack-refs - Pack heads and tags for efficient repository access
git pack-refs [--all] [--no-prune]
GIT-PACK-REFS(1) 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
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 02/22/2012 GIT-PACK-REFS(1)