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Git Init Commands

Overview

The git init command is used to create a new Git repository. It initializes a new repository in the current directory, making it ready to track changes. This document covers the basic and advanced usage of git init.

Basic Initialization

git init

Initializes a new Git repository in the current directory.

git init

Example

mkdir my-new-project
cd my-new-project
git init

This command creates a new Git repository in the my-new-project directory.

Initialization with a Specific Directory

git init <directory>

Initializes a new Git repository in the specified directory. If the directory does not exist, it will be created.

git init <directory>

Example

git init my-new-project

This command creates a new Git repository in the my-new-project directory.

Initialization with a Bare Repository

git init --bare

Initializes a new bare Git repository. Bare repositories are used as remote repositories and do not contain a working directory.

git init --bare <directory>

Example

git init --bare /path/to/bare-repo.git

This command creates a new bare Git repository in the specified path.

Initialization with a Specific Template

git init --template=<template_directory>

Initializes a new Git repository with the specified template directory. This allows you to include custom configuration files or hooks.

git init --template=<template_directory>

Example

git init --template=/path/to/my-template

This command initializes a new Git repository using the custom template located at /path/to/my-template.

Initialization with Configuration Options

git init -b <branch>

Initializes a new Git repository with the specified initial branch name. This is useful for setting a default branch other than main or master.

git init -b <branch>

Example

git init -b main

This command initializes a new Git repository with the initial branch named main.

Summary

The git init command is the starting point for creating a new Git repository. It sets up the necessary files and directories for version control. You can customize the initialization process with options such as creating a bare repository, specifying a template, or setting an initial branch name. For more detailed information on each command, refer to the official Git documentation.