git-config(1): clarify precedence of multiple values
In order to clarify which value is used when there are multiple values
defined for a key, re-order the list of file locations so that it runs
from least specific to most specific. Then add a paragraph which simply
says that the last value will be used.
Signed-off-by: John Keeping <john@keeping.me.uk>
Signed-off-by: Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>
diff --git a/Documentation/git-config.txt b/Documentation/git-config.txt
index d88a6fc..e60b7b6 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-config.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-config.txt
@@ -197,12 +197,8 @@
If not set explicitly with '--file', there are four files where
'git config' will search for configuration options:
-$GIT_DIR/config::
- Repository specific configuration file.
-
-~/.gitconfig::
- User-specific configuration file. Also called "global"
- configuration file.
+$(prefix)/etc/gitconfig::
+ System-wide configuration file.
$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/git/config::
Second user-specific configuration file. If $XDG_CONFIG_HOME is not set
@@ -212,8 +208,12 @@
you sometimes use older versions of Git, as support for this
file was added fairly recently.
-$(prefix)/etc/gitconfig::
- System-wide configuration file.
+~/.gitconfig::
+ User-specific configuration file. Also called "global"
+ configuration file.
+
+$GIT_DIR/config::
+ Repository specific configuration file.
If no further options are given, all reading options will read all of these
files that are available. If the global or the system-wide configuration
@@ -221,6 +221,10 @@
file is not available or readable, 'git config' will exit with a non-zero
error code. However, in neither case will an error message be issued.
+The files are read in the order given above, with last value found taking
+precedence over values read earlier. When multiple values are taken then all
+values of a key from all files will be used.
+
All writing options will per default write to the repository specific
configuration file. Note that this also affects options like '--replace-all'
and '--unset'. *'git config' will only ever change one file at a time*.
