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Microsoft's fork of Git is not quite Git for Windows, therefore we want
to tell the keen reader all about it. :-)

Signed-off-by: Derrick Stolee <dstolee@microsoft.com>
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Lessley Dennington authored and dscho committed Aug 16, 2023
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Git for Windows
===============

[![Open in Visual Studio Code](https://img.shields.io/static/v1?logo=visualstudiocode&label=&message=Open%20in%20Visual%20Studio%20Code&labelColor=2c2c32&color=007acc&logoColor=007acc)](https://open.vscode.dev/git-for-windows/git)
[![Build status](https://github.com/git-for-windows/git/workflows/CI/badge.svg)](https://github.com/git-for-windows/git/actions?query=branch%3Amain+event%3Apush)
[![Join the chat at https://gitter.im/git-for-windows/git](https://badges.gitter.im/Join%20Chat.svg)](https://gitter.im/git-for-windows/git?utm_source=badge&utm_medium=badge&utm_campaign=pr-badge&utm_content=badge)

This is [Git for Windows](http://git-for-windows.github.io/), the Windows port
of [Git](http://git-scm.com/).

The Git for Windows project is run using a [governance
model](http://git-for-windows.github.io/governance-model.html). If you
encounter problems, you can report them as [GitHub
issues](https://github.com/git-for-windows/git/issues), discuss them on Git
for Windows' [Google Group](http://groups.google.com/group/git-for-windows),
and [contribute bug
fixes](https://github.com/git-for-windows/git/wiki/How-to-participate).

To build Git for Windows, please either install [Git for Windows'
SDK](https://gitforwindows.org/#download-sdk), start its `git-bash.exe`, `cd`
to your Git worktree and run `make`, or open the Git worktree as a folder in
Visual Studio.

To verify that your build works, use one of the following methods:

- If you want to test the built executables within Git for Windows' SDK,
prepend `<worktree>/bin-wrappers` to the `PATH`.
- Alternatively, run `make install` in the Git worktree.
- If you need to test this in a full installer, run `sdk build
git-and-installer`.
- You can also "install" Git into an existing portable Git via `make install
DESTDIR=<dir>` where `<dir>` refers to the top-level directory of the
portable Git. In this instance, you will want to prepend that portable Git's
`/cmd` directory to the `PATH`, or test by running that portable Git's
`git-bash.exe` or `git-cmd.exe`.
- If you built using a recent Visual Studio, you can use the menu item
`Build>Install git` (you will want to click on `Project>CMake Settings for
Git` first, then click on `Edit JSON` and then point `installRoot` to the
`mingw64` directory of an already-unpacked portable Git).

As in the previous bullet point, you will then prepend `/cmd` to the `PATH`
or run using the portable Git's `git-bash.exe` or `git-cmd.exe`.
- If you want to run the built executables in-place, but in a CMD instead of
inside a Bash, you can run a snippet like this in the `git-bash.exe` window
where Git was built (ensure that the `EOF` line has no leading spaces), and
then paste into the CMD window what was put in the clipboard:

```sh
clip.exe <<EOF
set GIT_EXEC_PATH=$(cygpath -aw .)
set PATH=$(cygpath -awp ".:contrib/scalar:/mingw64/bin:/usr/bin:$PATH")
set GIT_TEMPLATE_DIR=$(cygpath -aw templates/blt)
set GITPERLLIB=$(cygpath -aw perl/build/lib)
EOF
```
- If you want to run the built executables in-place, but outside of Git for
Windows' SDK, and without an option to set/override any environment
variables (e.g. in Visual Studio's debugger), you can call the Git executable
by its absolute path and use the `--exec-path` option, like so:
```cmd
C:\git-sdk-64\usr\src\git\git.exe --exec-path=C:\git-sdk-64\usr\src\git help
```
Note: for this to work, you have to hard-link (or copy) the `.dll` files from
the `/mingw64/bin` directory to the Git worktree, or add the `/mingw64/bin`
directory to the `PATH` somehow or other.
To make sure that you are testing the correct binary, call `./git.exe version`
in the Git worktree, and then call `git version` in a directory/window where
you want to test Git, and verify that they refer to the same version (you may
even want to pass the command-line option `--build-options` to look at the
exact commit from which the Git version was built).
Git - fast, scalable, distributed revision control system
`microsoft/git` and the Scalar CLI
==================================

[![Open in Visual Studio Code](https://open.vscode.dev/badges/open-in-vscode.svg)](https://open.vscode.dev/microsoft/git)
[![Build status](https://github.com/microsoft/git/workflows/CI/badge.svg)](https://github.com/microsoft/git/actions/workflows/main.yml)

This is `microsoft/git`, a special Git distribution to support monorepo scenarios. If you are _not_
working in a monorepo, you are likely searching for
[Git for Windows](https://git-for-windows.github.io/) instead of this codebase.

In addition to the Git command-line interface (CLI), `microsoft/git` includes the Scalar CLI to
further enable working with extremely large repositories. Scalar is a tool to apply the latest
recommendations and use the most advanced Git features. You can read
[the Scalar CLI documentation](Documentation/scalar.txt) or read our
[Scalar user guide](contrib/scalar/docs/index.md) including
[the philosophy of Scalar](contrib/scalar/docs/philosophy.md).

If you encounter problems with `microsoft/git`, please report them as
[GitHub issues](https://github.com/microsoft/git/issues).

Why is this fork needed?
=========================================================

Git is awesome - it's a fast, scalable, distributed version control system with an unusually rich
command set that provides both high-level operations and full access to internals. What more could
you ask for?

Well, because Git is a distributed version control system, each Git repository has a copy of all
files in the entire history. As large repositories, aka _monorepos_ grow, Git can struggle to
manage all that data. As Git commands like `status` and `fetch` get slower, developers stop waiting
and start switching context. And context switches harm developer productivity.

`microsoft/git` is focused on addressing these performance woes and making the monorepo developer
experience first-class. The Scalar CLI packages all of these recommendations into a simple set of
commands.

One major feature that Scalar recommends is [partial clone](https://github.blog/2020-12-21-get-up-to-speed-with-partial-clone-and-shallow-clone/),
which reduces the amount of data transferred in order to work with a Git repository. While several
services such as GitHub support partial clone, Azure Repos instead has an older version of this
functionality called
[the GVFS protocol](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/learn/git/gvfs-architecture#gvfs-protocol).
The integration with the GVFS protocol present in `microsoft/git` is not appropriate to include in
the core Git client because partial clone is the official version of that functionality.

Downloading and Installing
=========================================================

If you're working in a monorepo and want to take advantage of the performance boosts in
`microsoft/git`, then you can download the latest version installer for your OS from the
[Releases page](https://github.com/microsoft/git/releases). Alternatively, you can opt to install
via the command line, using the below instructions for supported OSes:

## Windows

__Note:__ Winget is still in public preview, meaning you currently
[need to take special installation steps](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/package-manager/winget/#install-winget):
Either manually install the `.appxbundle` available at the
[preview version of App Installer](https://www.microsoft.com/p/app-installer/9nblggh4nns1?ocid=9nblggh4nns1_ORSEARCH_Bing&rtc=1&activetab=pivot:overviewtab),
or participate in the
[Windows Insider flight ring](https://insider.windows.com/https://insider.windows.com/)
since `winget` is available by default on preview versions of Windows.

To install with Winget, run

```shell
winget install --id microsoft.git
```

Double-check that you have the right version by running these commands,
which should have the same output:

```shell
git version
scalar version
```

To upgrade `microsoft/git`, use the following Git command, which will download and install the latest
release.

```shell
git update-microsoft-git
```

You may also be alerted with a notification to upgrade, which presents a single-click process for
running `git update-microsoft-git`.

## macOS

To install `microsoft/git` on macOS, first [be sure that Homebrew is installed](https://brew.sh/) then
install the `microsoft-git` cask with these steps:

```shell
brew tap microsoft/git
brew install --cask microsoft-git
```

Double-check that you have the right version by running these commands,
which should have the same output:

```shell
git version
scalar version
```

To upgrade microsoft/git, you can run the necessary `brew` commands:

```shell
brew update
brew upgrade --cask microsoft-git
```

Or you can run the `git update-microsoft-git` command, which will run those brew commands for you.

## Linux
### Ubuntu/Debian distributions

On newer distributions*, you can download the most recent Debian package from
the [releases page](https://github.com/microsoft/git/releases/latest) (or
using a tool such as `wget`) then run:

```shell
sudo dpkg -i <path to package>
```

Double-check that you have the right version by running these commands,
which should have the same output:

```shell
git version
scalar version
```

To upgrade, you will need to repeat these steps to reinstall.

*Older distributions are missing some required dependencies. Even
though the package may appear to install successfully, `microsoft/
git` will not function as expected. If you are running Ubuntu 18.04 or
older, please follow the install from source instructions below
instead of installing the debian package.

### Other distributions

You will need to compile and install `microsoft/git` from source:

```shell
git clone https://github.com/microsoft/git microsoft-git
cd microsoft-git
make -j12 prefix=/usr/local
sudo make -j12 prefix=/usr/local install
```

For more assistance building Git from source, see
[the INSTALL file in the core Git project](https://github.com/git/git/blob/master/INSTALL).

Contributing
=========================================================

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.txt][] to get started, then see
[Documentation/giteveryday.txt][] for a useful minimum set of commands, and
`Documentation/git-<commandname>.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 user discussion and development of core 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 with just "subscribe git" in
the body to majordomo@vger.kernel.org (not the Git list). The mailing
list archives are available at <https://lore.kernel.org/git/>,
<http://marc.info/?l=git> and other archival sites.
The core git mailing list is plain text (no HTML!).
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
[INSTALL]: INSTALL
[Documentation/gittutorial.txt]: Documentation/gittutorial.txt
[Documentation/giteveryday.txt]: Documentation/giteveryday.txt
[Documentation/gitcvs-migration.txt]: Documentation/gitcvs-migration.txt
[Documentation/SubmittingPatches]: Documentation/SubmittingPatches
[Documentation/CodingGuidelines]: Documentation/CodingGuidelines
[po/README.md]: po/README.md
This project welcomes contributions and suggestions. Most contributions require you to agree to a
Contributor License Agreement (CLA) declaring that you have the right to, and actually do, grant us
the rights to use your contribution. For details, visit <https://cla.microsoft.com>.

When you submit a pull request, a CLA-bot will automatically determine whether you need to provide
a CLA and decorate the PR appropriately (e.g., label, comment). Simply follow the instructions
provided by the bot. You will only need to do this once across all repos using our CLA.

This project has adopted the [Microsoft Open Source Code of Conduct](https://opensource.microsoft.com/codeofconduct/).
For more information see the [Code of Conduct FAQ](https://opensource.microsoft.com/codeofconduct/faq/) or
contact [opencode@microsoft.com](mailto:opencode@microsoft.com) with any additional questions or comments.

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