SYNOPSIS

git init [-q | --quiet] [--bare] [--template=<template_directory>] [--separate-git-dir <git dir>] [--shared[=<permissions>]] [directory]

DESCRIPTION

This command creates an empty git repository - basically a .git directory with subdirectories for objects, refs/heads, refs/tags, and template files. An initial HEAD file that references the HEAD of the master branch is also created.

If the $GIT_DIR environment variable is set then it specifies a path to use instead of ./.git for the base of the repository.

If the object storage directory is specified via the $GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY environment variable then the sha1 directories are created underneath - otherwise the default $GIT_DIR/objects directory is used.

Running git init in an existing repository is safe. It will not overwrite things that are already there. The primary reason for rerunning git init is to pick up newly added templates (or to move the repository to another place if --separate-git-dir is given).

OPTIONS

-q
--quiet

Only print error and warning messages, all other output will be suppressed.

--bare

Create a bare repository. If GIT_DIR environment is not set, it is set to the current working directory.

--template=<template_directory>

Specify the directory from which templates will be used. (See the "TEMPLATE DIRECTORY" section below.)

--separate-git-dir=<git dir>

Instead of initializing the repository where it is supposed to be, place a filesytem-agnostic git symbolic link there, pointing to the specified git path, and initialize a git repository at the path. The result is git repository can be separated from working tree. If this is reinitialization, the repository will be moved to the specified path.

--shared[=(false|true|umask|group|all|world|everybody|0xxx)]

Specify that the git repository is to be shared amongst several users. This allows users belonging to the same group to push into that repository. When specified, the config variable "core.sharedRepository" is set so that files and directories under $GIT_DIR are created with the requested permissions. When not specified, git will use permissions reported by umask(2).

The option can have the following values, defaulting to group if no value is given:

By default, the configuration flag receive.denyNonFastForwards is enabled in shared repositories, so that you cannot force a non fast-forwarding push into it.

If you name a (possibly non-existent) directory at the end of the command line, the command is run inside the directory (possibly after creating it).

TEMPLATE DIRECTORY

The template directory contains files and directories that will be copied to the $GIT_DIR after it is created.

The template directory used will (in order):

The default template directory includes some directory structure, some suggested "exclude patterns", and copies of sample "hook" files. The suggested patterns and hook files are all modifiable and extensible.

EXAMPLES

Start a new git repository for an existing code base
$ cd /path/to/my/codebase
$ git init      <1>
$ git add .     <2>
  1. prepare /path/to/my/codebase/.git directory

  2. add all existing file to the index

GIT

Part of the git(1) suite