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git-pack-refs.1 (5339B)

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.\"     Title: git-pack-refs
.\"    Author: [FIXME: author] [see http://www.docbook.org/tdg5/en/html/author]
.\" Generator: DocBook XSL Stylesheets v1.79.2 <http://docbook.sf.net/>
.\"      Date: 2025-03-14
.\"    Manual: Git Manual
.\"    Source: Git 2.49.0
.\"  Language: English
.\"
.TH "GIT\-PACK\-REFS" "1" "2025-03-14" "Git 2\&.49\&.0" "Git Manual"
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.SH "NAME"
git-pack-refs \- Pack heads and tags for efficient repository access
.SH "SYNOPSIS"
.sp
.nf
\fIgit pack\-refs\fR [\-\-all] [\-\-no\-prune] [\-\-auto] [\-\-include <pattern>] [\-\-exclude <pattern>]
.fi
.SH "DESCRIPTION"
.sp
Traditionally, tips of branches and tags (collectively known as \fIrefs\fR) were stored one file per ref in a (sub)directory under \fB$GIT_DIR/refs\fR directory\&. While many branch tips tend to be updated often, most tags and some branch tips are never updated\&. When a repository has hundreds or thousands of tags, this one\-file\-per\-ref format both wastes storage and hurts performance\&.
.sp
This command is used to solve the storage and performance problem by storing the refs in a single file, \fB$GIT_DIR/packed\-refs\fR\&. When a ref is missing from the traditional \fB$GIT_DIR/refs\fR directory hierarchy, it is looked up in this file and used if found\&.
.sp
Subsequent updates to branches always create new files under \fB$GIT_DIR/refs\fR directory hierarchy\&.
.sp
A recommended practice to deal with a repository with too many refs is to pack its refs with \fB\-\-all\fR once, and occasionally run \fBgit\fR \fBpack\-refs\fR\&. Tags are by definition stationary and are not expected to change\&. Branch heads will be packed with the initial \fBpack\-refs\fR \fB\-\-all\fR, but only the currently active branch heads will become unpacked, and the next \fBpack\-refs\fR (without \fB\-\-all\fR) will leave them unpacked\&.
.SH "OPTIONS"
.PP
\-\-all
.RS 4
The command by default packs all tags and refs that are already packed, and leaves other refs alone\&. This is because branches are expected to be actively developed and packing their tips does not help performance\&. This option causes all refs to be packed as well, with the exception of hidden refs, broken refs, and symbolic refs\&. Useful for a repository with many branches of historical interests\&.
.RE
.PP
\-\-no\-prune
.RS 4
The command usually removes loose refs under
\fB$GIT_DIR/refs\fR
hierarchy after packing them\&. This option tells it not to\&.
.RE
.PP
\-\-auto
.RS 4
Pack refs as needed depending on the current state of the ref database\&. The behavior depends on the ref format used by the repository and may change in the future\&.
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}
"files": No special handling for
\fB\-\-auto\fR
has been implemented\&.
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}
"reftable": Tables are compacted such that they form a geometric sequence\&. For two tables N and N+1, where N+1 is newer, this maintains the property that N is at least twice as big as N+1\&. Only tables that violate this property are compacted\&.
.RE
.RE
.PP
\-\-include <pattern>
.RS 4
Pack refs based on a
\fBglob\fR(\fB7\fR) pattern\&. Repetitions of this option accumulate inclusion patterns\&. If a ref is both included in
\fB\-\-include\fR
and
\fB\-\-exclude\fR,
\fB\-\-exclude\fR
takes precedence\&. Using
\fB\-\-include\fR
will preclude all tags from being included by default\&. Symbolic refs and broken refs will never be packed\&. When used with
\fB\-\-all\fR, it will be a noop\&. Use
\fB\-\-no\-include\fR
to clear and reset the list of patterns\&.
.RE
.PP
\-\-exclude <pattern>
.RS 4
Do not pack refs matching the given
\fBglob\fR(\fB7\fR) pattern\&. Repetitions of this option accumulate exclusion patterns\&. Use
\fB\-\-no\-exclude\fR
to clear and reset the list of patterns\&. If a ref is already packed, including it with
\fB\-\-exclude\fR
will not unpack it\&.
.RE
.sp
When used with \fB\-\-all\fR, pack only loose refs which do not match any of the provided \fB\-\-exclude\fR patterns\&.
.sp
When used with \fB\-\-include\fR, refs provided to \fB\-\-include\fR, minus refs that are provided to \fB\-\-exclude\fR will be packed\&.
.SH "BUGS"
.sp
Older documentation written before the packed\-refs mechanism was introduced may still say things like "\&.git/refs/heads/<branch> file exists" when it means "branch <branch> exists"\&.
.SH "GIT"
.sp
Part of the \fBgit\fR(1) suite