Git's configuration system works by reading multiple configuration
files in order, from general to specific:
- first, the system configuration /etc/gitconfig
- then the user's configuration (~/.gitconfig or ~/.config/git/config)
- then the repository configuration (.git/config)
For single-valued configuration items, the latest value wins. For
multi-valued configuration items, values accumulate in that order.
For example, this allows setting a credential helper globally in
~/.gitconfig that git will try to use in all repositories, regardless
of whether they additionally provide another helper. This is usually
a nice thing --- e.g. I can install helpers to use my OS keychain and
to cache credentials for a short period of time globally.
Sometimes people want to be able to override an inherited setting.
For the credential.helper setting, this is done by setting the
configuration item to empty before giving it a new value. This is
already documented but the documentation is hard to find ---
git-config(1) says to look at gitcredentials(7) and the config
reference in gitcredentials(7) doesn't mention this issue.
Move the documentation to the config reference to make it easier to
find.
Signed-off-by: Jonathan Nieder <jrnieder@gmail.com>
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 http://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 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
