e6e76baaf4
As discussed in the thread for v1 of this patch [1] [2], this changes the rules for "git foo --help" when foo is an alias. (1) When invoked as "git help foo", we continue to print the "foo is aliased to bar" message and nothing else. (2) If foo is an alias for a shell command, print "foo is aliased to !bar" as usual. (3) Otherwise, print "foo is aliased to bar" to the standard error stream, and then break the alias string into words and pretend as if "git word[0] --help" were called. Getting the man page for git-cherry-pick directly with "git cp --help" is consistent with "--help" generally providing more comprehensive help than "-h". Printing the alias definition to stderr means that in certain cases (e.g. if help.format=web or if the pager uses an alternate screen and does not clear the terminal), one has 'cp' is aliased to 'cherry-pick -n' above the prompt when one returns to the terminal/quits the pager, which is a useful reminder that using 'cp' has some flag implicitly set. There are cases where this information vanishes or gets scrolled away, but being printed to stderr, it should never hurt. [1] https://public-inbox.org/git/20180926102636.30691-1-rv@rasmusvillemoes.dk/ [2] https://public-inbox.org/git/20180926184914.GC30680@sigill.intra.peff.net/ Signed-off-by: Rasmus Villemoes <rv@rasmusvillemoes.dk> 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 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-.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 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). To subscribe to the list, send an email with just "subscribe git" in the body to majordomo@vger.kernel.org. The mailing list archives are available at https://public-inbox.org/git/, http://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