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Ted Nyman 1be6ebe264 stash: avoid sparse-index expansion for in-cone paths `git stash push -- <pathspec>` expands a sparse index before checking whether the pathspec matches any tracked paths. This is unnecessary when the pathspec is wholly inside the sparse-checkout cone and makes a path-limited stash proportional to the size of the full index. Use `pathspec_needs_expanded_index()` to expand only when a pathspec can match part of a sparse-directory entry, as `git rm` and `git reset` already do. Keep the full-index behavior for pathspecs that need it. Add compatibility coverage for literal, prefixed, wildcard, file, multiple, staged, and missing pathspecs. Add the corresponding path-limited stash case to p2000. On a cone-mode repository with 349,525 tracked paths and 49 sparse index entries, the best of three runs changed from 18.87s to 0.06s. Trace2 reported four index expansions before this change and none after it. Signed-off-by: Ted Nyman <tnyman@openai.com> Reviewed-by: Taylor Blau <ttaylorr@openai.com> Signed-off-by: Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>		2026-07-21 10:33:25 -07:00
.github	ci: unify Linux images across GitLab and GitHub	2026-06-05 21:49:00 +09:00
Documentation	Git 2.55	2026-06-29 07:58:39 -07:00
bin-wrappers	…
block-sha1	…
builtin	stash: avoid sparse-index expansion for in-cone paths	2026-07-21 10:33:25 -07:00
ci	Merge branch 'ps/gitlab-ci-windows'	2026-06-22 20:05:03 -07:00
compat	win32: ensure that `localtime_r()` is declared even in i686 builds	2026-06-22 06:00:30 -07:00
compiler-tricks	…
contrib	Merge branch 'wy/docs-typofixes'	2026-06-16 09:01:03 -07:00
ewah	…
git-gui	Merge branch 'master' of https://github.com/j6t/git-gui	2026-06-12 05:41:50 -07:00
gitk-git	Merge branch 'master' of https://github.com/j6t/gitk	2026-06-12 05:41:00 -07:00
gitweb	…
mergetools	…
negotiator	…
odb	Merge branch 'js/objects-larger-than-4gb-on-windows-more'	2026-06-21 16:41:38 -07:00
oss-fuzz	…
perl	…
po	Merge branch '2.55-uk-pr' of github.com:arkid15r/git-ukrainian-l10n	2026-06-28 19:25:08 +08:00
refs	…
reftable	doc: fix typos via codespell	2026-06-08 00:21:35 +09:00
sha1	…
sha1collisiondetection@855827c583	…
sha1dc	…
sha256	…
src	…
subprojects	…
t	stash: avoid sparse-index expansion for in-cone paths	2026-07-21 10:33:25 -07:00
templates	…
tools	Merge branch 'rs/strbuf-add-oid-hex'	2026-06-09 10:04:50 +09:00
trace2	…
xdiff	…
.cirrus.yml	…
.clang-format	…
.editorconfig	…
.gitattributes	Merge branch 'kw/gitattributes-typofix'	2026-06-21 16:41:37 -07:00
.gitignore	…
.gitlab-ci.yml	Merge branch 'ps/gitlab-ci-windows'	2026-06-22 20:05:03 -07:00
.gitmodules	…
.mailmap	…
.tsan-suppressions	transport-helper: fix TSAN race in transfer_debug()	2026-06-09 14:05:42 -07:00
CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md	…
COPYING	…
Cargo.toml	…
GIT-BUILD-OPTIONS.in	…
GIT-VERSION-FILE.in	…
GIT-VERSION-GEN	Git 2.55	2026-06-29 07:58:39 -07:00
INSTALL	…
LGPL-2.1	…
Makefile	Merge branch 'js/osxkeychain-build-wo-rust'	2026-06-17 05:39:13 -07:00
README.md	…
RelNotes	…
SECURITY.md	…
abspath.c	…
abspath.h	…
aclocal.m4	…
add-interactive.c	…
add-interactive.h	…
add-patch.c	…
add-patch.h	…
advice.c	…
advice.h	…
alias.c	…
alias.h	…
alloc.c	…
alloc.h	…
apply.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
apply.h	…
archive-tar.c	…
archive-zip.c	…
archive.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
archive.h	…
attr.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
attr.h	…
banned.h	…
base85.c	…
base85.h	…
bisect.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
bisect.h	…
blame.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
blame.h	…
blob.c	…
blob.h	…
bloom.c	…
bloom.h	…
branch.c	…
branch.h	…
build.rs	…
builtin.h	…
bundle-uri.c	…
bundle-uri.h	…
bundle.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
bundle.h	…
cache-tree.c	…
cache-tree.h	…
cbtree.c	…
cbtree.h	…
chdir-notify.c	…
chdir-notify.h	…
checkout.c	…
checkout.h	…
chunk-format.c	…
chunk-format.h	…
color.c	…
color.h	…
column.c	…
column.h	…
combine-diff.c	Merge branch 'js/objects-larger-than-4gb-on-windows-more'	2026-06-21 16:41:38 -07:00
command-list.txt	…
commit-graph.c	Merge branch 'en/commit-graph-timestamp-fix'	2026-06-17 11:10:12 -07:00
commit-graph.h	doc: fix typos via codespell	2026-06-08 00:21:35 +09:00
commit-reach.c	Merge branch 'kk/commit-reach-optim'	2026-06-07 23:58:25 +09:00
commit-reach.h	…
commit-slab-decl.h	…
commit-slab-impl.h	…
commit-slab.h	…
commit.c	Merge branch 'js/objects-larger-than-4gb-on-windows-more'	2026-06-21 16:41:38 -07:00
commit.h	Merge branch 'kk/streaming-walk-pqueue'	2026-06-16 09:01:02 -07:00
common-exit.c	…
common-init.c	…
common-init.h	…
common-main.c	…
config.c	Merge branch 'js/objects-larger-than-4gb-on-windows-more'	2026-06-21 16:41:38 -07:00
config.h	Merge branch 'hn/config-typo-advice'	2026-06-15 07:41:59 -07:00
config.mak.dev	…
config.mak.in	…
config.mak.uname	Merge branch 'hn/macos-linker-warning'	2026-06-22 20:05:04 -07:00
configure.ac	…
connect.c	…
connect.h	…
connected.c	…
connected.h	…
convert.c	…
convert.h	…
copy.c	…
copy.h	…
credential.c	…
credential.h	…
csum-file.c	…
csum-file.h	…
ctype.c	…
daemon.c	Merge branch 'st/daemon-sockaddr-fixes'	2026-06-11 04:31:17 -07:00
date.c	docs: fix typos	2026-06-05 22:27:24 +09:00
date.h	…
decorate.c	…
decorate.h	…
delta-islands.c	…
delta-islands.h	…
delta.h	packfile,delta: drop the `cast_size_t_to_ulong()` wrappers	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
diagnose.c	…
diagnose.h	…
diff-delta.c	…
diff-lib.c	…
diff-merges.c	…
diff-merges.h	…
diff-no-index.c	…
diff.c	Merge branch 'js/objects-larger-than-4gb-on-windows-more'	2026-06-21 16:41:38 -07:00
diff.h	…
diffcore-break.c	…
diffcore-delta.c	…
diffcore-order.c	…
diffcore-pickaxe.c	…
diffcore-rename.c	…
diffcore-rotate.c	…
diffcore.h	…
dir-iterator.c	…
dir-iterator.h	…
dir.c	Merge branch 'js/objects-larger-than-4gb-on-windows-more'	2026-06-21 16:41:38 -07:00
dir.h	…
editor.c	…
editor.h	…
entry.c	Merge branch 'js/objects-larger-than-4gb-on-windows-more'	2026-06-21 16:41:38 -07:00
entry.h	…
environment.c	environment: move "warn_on_object_refname_ambiguity" into `struct repo_config_values`	2026-06-03 08:36:48 +09:00
environment.h	Merge branch 'ob/more-repo-config-values'	2026-06-15 07:42:00 -07:00
exec-cmd.c	…
exec-cmd.h	…
fetch-negotiator.c	…
fetch-negotiator.h	…
fetch-pack.c	…
fetch-pack.h	…
fmt-merge-msg.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
fmt-merge-msg.h	…
for-each-ref.h	…
fsck.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
fsck.h	…
fsmonitor--daemon.h	…
fsmonitor-ipc.c	…
fsmonitor-ipc.h	…
fsmonitor-ll.h	…
fsmonitor-path-utils.h	…
fsmonitor-settings.c	…
fsmonitor-settings.h	…
fsmonitor.c	…
fsmonitor.h	…
gettext.c	…
gettext.h	…
git-archimport.perl	…
git-compat-util.h	…
git-curl-compat.h	…
git-cvsexportcommit.perl	…
git-cvsimport.perl	…
git-cvsserver.perl	…
git-difftool--helper.sh	…
git-filter-branch.sh	…
git-instaweb.sh	…
git-merge-octopus.sh	…
git-merge-one-file.sh	…
git-merge-resolve.sh	…
git-mergetool--lib.sh	…
git-mergetool.sh	…
git-p4.py	…
git-quiltimport.sh	…
git-request-pull.sh	…
git-send-email.perl	…
git-sh-i18n.sh	…
git-sh-setup.sh	…
git-submodule.sh	…
git-svn.perl	…
git-web--browse.sh	…
git-zlib.c	zlib: properly clamp to uLong	2026-06-18 09:46:56 -07:00
git-zlib.h	…
git.c	…
git.rc.in	…
gpg-interface.c	…
gpg-interface.h	…
graph.c	…
graph.h	…
grep.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
grep.h	…
hash-lookup.c	…
hash-lookup.h	…
hash.c	…
hash.h	…
hashmap.c	…
hashmap.h	…
help.c	…
help.h	…
hex-ll.c	…
hex-ll.h	…
hex.c	…
hex.h	…
hook.c	…
hook.h	Merge branch 'ak/typofixes'	2026-06-15 07:42:00 -07:00
http-backend.c	…
http-fetch.c	…
http-push.c	Merge branch 'js/objects-larger-than-4gb-on-windows-more'	2026-06-21 16:41:38 -07:00
http-walker.c	Merge branch 'ps/odb-source-loose'	2026-06-11 04:31:18 -07:00
http.c	Merge branch 'js/http-https-proxy-fix'	2026-06-28 15:18:24 -07:00
http.h	…
ident.c	…
ident.h	…
imap-send.c	…
iterator.h	…
json-writer.c	…
json-writer.h	…
khash.h	…
kwset.c	…
kwset.h	…
levenshtein.c	…
levenshtein.h	…
line-log.c	Merge branch 'mm/line-log-cleanup'	2026-06-11 04:31:17 -07:00
line-log.h	…
line-range.c	…
line-range.h	…
linear-assignment.c	…
linear-assignment.h	…
list-objects-filter-options.c	…
list-objects-filter-options.h	…
list-objects-filter.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
list-objects-filter.h	…
list-objects.c	…
list-objects.h	…
list.h	…
lockfile.c	…
lockfile.h	…
log-tree.c	…
log-tree.h	…
loose.c	…
loose.h	…
ls-refs.c	…
ls-refs.h	…
mailinfo.c	…
mailinfo.h	…
mailmap.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
mailmap.h	…
match-trees.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
match-trees.h	…
mem-pool.c	…
mem-pool.h	…
merge-blobs.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
merge-blobs.h	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
merge-ll.c	…
merge-ll.h	…
merge-ort-wrappers.c	…
merge-ort-wrappers.h	…
merge-ort.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
merge-ort.h	…
merge.c	…
merge.h	…
mergesort.h	…
meson.build	Merge branch 'ps/odb-source-loose'	2026-06-11 04:31:18 -07:00
meson_options.txt	Merge branch 'ak/typofixes'	2026-06-15 07:42:00 -07:00
midx-write.c	Merge branch 'ak/typofixes'	2026-06-15 07:42:00 -07:00
midx.c	…
midx.h	…
name-hash.c	…
name-hash.h	…
notes-cache.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
notes-cache.h	…
notes-merge.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
notes-merge.h	…
notes-utils.c	…
notes-utils.h	…
notes.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
notes.h	…
object-file-convert.c	…
object-file-convert.h	…
object-file.c	Merge branch 'js/objects-larger-than-4gb-on-windows-more'	2026-06-21 16:41:38 -07:00
object-file.h	…
object-name.c	Merge branch 'ob/more-repo-config-values'	2026-06-15 07:42:00 -07:00
object-name.h	…
object.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
object.h	…
odb.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
odb.h	Merge branch 'js/objects-larger-than-4gb-on-windows-more'	2026-06-21 16:41:38 -07:00
oid-array.c	…
oid-array.h	…
oidmap.c	…
oidmap.h	…
oidset.c	…
oidset.h	…
oidtree.c	…
oidtree.h	…
pack-bitmap-write.c	…
pack-bitmap.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
pack-bitmap.h	…
pack-check.c	packfile: widen unpack_entry()'s size out-parameter to size_t	2026-06-15 07:45:40 -07:00
pack-mtimes.c	…
pack-mtimes.h	…
pack-objects.c	…
pack-objects.h	pack-objects: use size_t for in-core object sizes	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
pack-refs.c	…
pack-refs.h	…
pack-revindex.c	…
pack-revindex.h	…
pack-write.c	…
pack.h	…
packfile.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
packfile.h	Merge branch 'js/objects-larger-than-4gb-on-windows-more'	2026-06-21 16:41:38 -07:00
pager.c	…
pager.h	…
parallel-checkout.c	…
parallel-checkout.h	…
parse-options-cb.c	…
parse-options.c	…
parse-options.h	…
parse.c	…
parse.h	…
patch-delta.c	packfile,delta: drop the `cast_size_t_to_ulong()` wrappers	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
patch-ids.c	…
patch-ids.h	…
path-walk.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
path-walk.h	…
path.c	…
path.h	doc: fix typos via codespell	2026-06-08 00:21:35 +09:00
pathspec.c	pathspec: use match for sparse-index expansion checks	2026-07-21 10:33:14 -07:00
pathspec.h	…
pkt-line.c	…
pkt-line.h	…
preload-index.c	…
preload-index.h	…
pretty.c	Merge branch 'rs/strbuf-add-oid-hex'	2026-06-09 10:04:50 +09:00
pretty.h	…
prio-queue.c	…
prio-queue.h	…
progress.c	…
progress.h	…
promisor-remote.c	Merge branch 'th/promisor-quiet-per-repo'	2026-06-09 10:04:50 +09:00
promisor-remote.h	…
prompt.c	…
prompt.h	…
protocol-caps.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
protocol-caps.h	…
protocol.c	…
protocol.h	…
prune-packed.c	…
prune-packed.h	…
pseudo-merge.c	…
pseudo-merge.h	…
quote.c	…
quote.h	…
range-diff.c	…
range-diff.h	…
reachable.c	…
reachable.h	…
read-cache-ll.h	…
read-cache.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
read-cache.h	…
rebase-interactive.c	…
rebase-interactive.h	…
rebase.c	…
rebase.h	…
ref-filter.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
ref-filter.h	…
reflog-walk.c	…
reflog-walk.h	…
reflog.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
reflog.h	…
refs.c	Merge branch 'ps/setup-centralize-odb-creation'	2026-06-15 07:42:00 -07:00
refs.h	…
refspec.c	…
refspec.h	…
remote-curl.c	…
remote.c	Merge branch 'ua/push-remote-group'	2026-06-09 10:04:50 +09:00
remote.h	Merge branch 'ua/push-remote-group'	2026-06-09 10:04:50 +09:00
repack-cruft.c	…
repack-filtered.c	…
repack-geometry.c	…
repack-midx.c	…
repack-promisor.c	…
repack.c	…
repack.h	…
replace-object.c	…
replace-object.h	…
replay.c	Merge branch 'kh/free-commit-list'	2026-06-07 23:58:24 +09:00
replay.h	docs: fix typos	2026-06-05 22:27:24 +09:00
repo-settings.c	…
repo-settings.h	…
repository.c	setup: construct object database in `apply_repository_format()`	2026-06-05 21:49:39 +09:00
repository.h	repository: stop initializing the object database in `repo_set_gitdir()`	2026-06-05 21:49:38 +09:00
rerere.c	Merge branch 'js/objects-larger-than-4gb-on-windows-more'	2026-06-21 16:41:38 -07:00
rerere.h	…
reset.c	…
reset.h	…
resolve-undo.c	…
resolve-undo.h	…
revision.c	Merge branch 'kk/streaming-walk-pqueue'	2026-06-16 09:01:02 -07:00
revision.h	Merge branch 'kk/streaming-walk-pqueue'	2026-06-16 09:01:02 -07:00
run-command.c	…
run-command.h	…
sane-ctype.h	…
scalar.c	…
send-pack.c	…
send-pack.h	…
sequencer.c	Merge branch 'rs/strbuf-add-oid-hex'	2026-06-09 10:04:50 +09:00
sequencer.h	…
serve.c	…
serve.h	…
server-info.c	…
server-info.h	…
setup.c	Merge branch 'ps/setup-centralize-odb-creation'	2026-06-15 07:42:00 -07:00
setup.h	Merge branch 'ps/setup-centralize-odb-creation'	2026-06-15 07:42:00 -07:00
sh-i18n--envsubst.c	…
sha1dc_git.c	…
sha1dc_git.h	…
shallow.c	Merge branch 'rs/strbuf-add-oid-hex'	2026-06-09 10:04:50 +09:00
shallow.h	…
shared.mak	…
shell.c	…
shortlog.h	…
sideband.c	…
sideband.h	…
sigchain.c	…
sigchain.h	…
simple-ipc.h	…
sparse-index.c	…
sparse-index.h	…
split-index.c	…
split-index.h	…
stable-qsort.c	…
statinfo.c	…
statinfo.h	…
strbuf.c	Merge branch 'rs/strbuf-add-uint'	2026-06-09 10:04:50 +09:00
strbuf.h	…
string-list.c	…
string-list.h	…
strmap.c	…
strmap.h	…
strvec.c	…
strvec.h	…
sub-process.c	…
sub-process.h	…
submodule-config.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
submodule-config.h	…
submodule.c	Merge branch 'ob/more-repo-config-values'	2026-06-15 07:42:00 -07:00
submodule.h	…
symlinks.c	…
symlinks.h	…
tag.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
tag.h	…
tar.h	…
tempfile.c	…
tempfile.h	…
thread-utils.c	…
thread-utils.h	…
tmp-objdir.c	…
tmp-objdir.h	…
trace.c	…
trace.h	…
trace2.c	…
trace2.h	…
trailer.c	…
trailer.h	…
transport-helper.c	Merge branch 'ps/transport-helper-tsan-fix'	2026-06-17 11:10:11 -07:00
transport-internal.h	…
transport.c	…
transport.h	…
tree-diff.c	…
tree-walk.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
tree-walk.h	…
tree.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
tree.h	…
unicode-width.h	…
unimplemented.sh	…
unix-socket.c	…
unix-socket.h	…
unix-stream-server.c	…
unix-stream-server.h	…
unpack-trees.c	unpack-trees: use repository from index instead of global	2026-06-09 14:25:03 -07:00
unpack-trees.h	…
upload-pack.c	Merge branch 'ob/more-repo-config-values'	2026-06-15 07:42:00 -07:00
upload-pack.h	…
url.c	…
url.h	…
urlmatch.c	…
urlmatch.h	…
usage.c	…
userdiff.c	…
userdiff.h	…
utf8.c	…
utf8.h	…
varint.c	…
varint.h	…
version-def.h.in	…
version.c	…
version.h	…
versioncmp.c	…
versioncmp.h	…
walker.c	…
walker.h	…
wildmatch.c	…
wildmatch.h	…
worktree.c	…
worktree.h	…
wrapper.c	…
wrapper.h	…
write-or-die.c	…
write-or-die.h	…
ws.c	…
ws.h	…
wt-status.c	…
wt-status.h	…
xdiff-interface.c	odb: use size_t for object_info.sizep and the size APIs	2026-06-15 07:45:41 -07:00
xdiff-interface.h	…

README.md

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