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1 | git-pack-refs(1) |
2 | ================ | |
3 | ||
4 | NAME | |
5 | ---- | |
6 | git-pack-refs - Pack heads and tags for efficient repository access | |
7 | ||
8 | SYNOPSIS | |
9 | -------- | |
b1889c36 | 10 | 'git pack-refs' [--all] [--no-prune] |
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11 | |
12 | DESCRIPTION | |
13 | ----------- | |
14 | ||
15 | Traditionally, tips of branches and tags (collectively known as | |
16 | 'refs') were stored one file per ref under `$GIT_DIR/refs` | |
17 | directory. While many branch tips tend to be updated often, | |
18 | most tags and some branch tips are never updated. When a | |
19 | repository has hundreds or thousands of tags, this | |
20 | one-file-per-ref format both wastes storage and hurts | |
21 | performance. | |
22 | ||
23 | This command is used to solve the storage and performance | |
24 | problem by stashing the refs in a single file, | |
25 | `$GIT_DIR/packed-refs`. When a ref is missing from the | |
26 | traditional `$GIT_DIR/refs` hierarchy, it is looked up in this | |
27 | file and used if found. | |
28 | ||
38b7ccbe | 29 | Subsequent updates to branches always create new files under |
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30 | `$GIT_DIR/refs` hierarchy. |
31 | ||
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32 | A recommended practice to deal with a repository with too many |
33 | refs is to pack its refs with `--all --prune` once, and | |
b1889c36 | 34 | occasionally run `git pack-refs \--prune`. Tags are by |
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35 | definition stationary and are not expected to change. Branch |
36 | heads will be packed with the initial `pack-refs --all`, but | |
37 | only the currently active branch heads will become unpacked, | |
38b7ccbe | 38 | and the next `pack-refs` (without `--all`) will leave them |
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39 | unpacked. |
40 | ||
41 | ||
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42 | OPTIONS |
43 | ------- | |
44 | ||
3240240f | 45 | --all:: |
d28f7cb9 | 46 | |
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47 | The command by default packs all tags and refs that are already |
48 | packed, and leaves other refs | |
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49 | alone. This is because branches are expected to be actively |
50 | developed and packing their tips does not help performance. | |
51 | This option causes branch tips to be packed as well. Useful for | |
52 | a repository with many branches of historical interests. | |
53 | ||
3240240f | 54 | --no-prune:: |
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55 | |
56 | The command usually removes loose refs under `$GIT_DIR/refs` | |
57 | hierarchy after packing them. This option tells it not to. | |
d28f7cb9 | 58 | |
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59 | |
60 | Author | |
61 | ------ | |
62 | Written by Linus Torvalds <torvalds@osdl.org> | |
63 | ||
64 | GIT | |
65 | --- | |
9e1f0a85 | 66 | Part of the linkgit:git[1] suite |