Git Archive Tutorial
Overview
The git archive
command is used to create an archive of files from a Git repository. This can be useful for exporting the contents of a repository, creating snapshots of specific commits, or preparing releases. The archive is typically created in formats like .tar
, .zip
, or .tar.gz
.
What is git archive
git archive
is a Git command that creates an archive of files from a Git repository. It allows you to export the contents of the repository as a compressed file (e.g., .zip
, .tar.gz
) at a specific commit, branch, or tag.
Basic Syntax
<commit>
: The commit, branch, or tag to archive.--output=<archive-file>
: The name of the output archive file.
Creating Archives
Archive Format
You can specify the format of the archive using the --format
option. Common formats include tar
, zip
, and tar.gz
.
Archive Specific Commit
To create an archive of a specific commit:
Archive a Branch
To create an archive of the latest commit on a branch:
Archive a Tag
To create an archive of a specific tag:
Examples of Using git archive
Example 1: Creating a ZIP Archive of the Latest Commit
To create a ZIP archive of the latest commit on the main
branch:
Example 2: Creating a TAR Archive of a Specific Tag
To create a TAR archive of a tag named v1.0.0
:
Example 3: Creating a GZipped TAR Archive of a Branch
To create a gzipped TAR archive of the develop
branch:
Example 4: Creating an Archive and Compressing it with Gzip
To create a TAR archive and compress it with Gzip:
Common Use Cases
- Releasing Software: Create a snapshot of your repository at a specific commit, tag, or branch for distribution.
- Backup: Archive the current state of a repository for backup purposes.
- Exporting Code: Export a portion of the repository's code without including the entire Git history.
Summary
The git archive
command is a versatile tool for creating archives of Git repository contents. It allows you to export files at specific commits, branches, or tags in various formats, such as .zip
, .tar
, and .tar.gz
. This can be useful for software releases, backups, or exporting code.