Documentation: mark `--object-format=sha256` as experimental

After eff45daab8 ("repository: enable SHA-256 support by default",
2020-07-29), vanilla builds of Git enable the user to run, e.g.,

  git init --object-format=sha256

and hack away. This can be a good way to gain experience with the
SHA-256 world, e.g., to find bugs that

  GIT_TEST_DEFAULT_HASH=sha256 make test

doesn't spot.

But it really is a separate world: Such SHA-256 repos will live entirely
separate from the (by now fairly large) set of SHA-1 repos. Interacting
across the border is possible in principle, e.g., through "diff + apply"
(or "format-patch + am"), but even that has its limitations: Applying a
SHA-256 diff in a SHA-1 repo works in the simple case, but if you need
to resort to `-3`, you're out of luck.

Similarly, "push + pull" should work, but you really will be operating
mostly offset from the rest of the world. That might be ok by the time
you initialize your repository, and it might be ok for several months
after that, but there might come a day when you're starting to regret
your use of `git init --object-format=sha256` and have dug yourself into
a fairly deep hole.

There are currently topics in flight to document our data formats and
protocols regarding SHA-256 and in some cases (midx and commit-graph),
we're considering adjusting how the file formats indicate which object
format to use.

Wherever `--object-format` is mentioned in our documentation, let's make
it clear that using it with "sha256" is experimental. If we later need
to explain why we can't handle data we generated back in 2020, we can
always point to this paragraph we're adding here.

By "include::"-ing a small blurb, we should be able to be consistent
throughout the documentation and can eventually gradually tone down the
severity of this text. One day, we might even use it to start phasing
out `--object-format=sha1`, but let's not get ahead of ourselves...

There's also `extensions.objectFormat`, but it's only mentioned three
times. Twice where we're adding this new disclaimer and in the third
spot we already have a "do not edit" warning. From there, interested
readers should eventually find this new one that we're adding here.

Because `GIT_DEFAULT_HASH` provides another entry point to this
functionality, document the experimental nature of it too.

Signed-off-by: Martin Ågren <martin.agren@gmail.com>
Signed-off-by: Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>
5 files changed
tree: a9a4c3f6af5d096d1c1b52ff12b09260c51d7e34
  1. .github/
  2. block-sha1/
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  7. Documentation/
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  189. git-sh-setup.sh
  190. git-submodule.sh
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  264. midx.c
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  266. name-hash.c
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  269. notes-merge.c
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  275. object-store.h
  276. object.c
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  278. oid-array.c
  279. oid-array.h
  280. oidmap.c
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  282. oidset.c
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  284. pack-bitmap-write.c
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  286. pack-bitmap.h
  287. pack-check.c
  288. pack-objects.c
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  290. pack-revindex.c
  291. pack-revindex.h
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  293. pack.h
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  296. pager.c
  297. parse-options-cb.c
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  299. parse-options.h
  300. patch-delta.c
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  305. pathspec.c
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  307. pkt-line.c
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  312. prio-queue.c
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  314. progress.c
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  316. promisor-remote.c
  317. promisor-remote.h
  318. prompt.c
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  320. protocol.c
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  322. prune-packed.c
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  324. quote.c
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  326. range-diff.c
  327. range-diff.h
  328. reachable.c
  329. reachable.h
  330. read-cache.c
  331. README.md
  332. rebase-interactive.c
  333. rebase-interactive.h
  334. rebase.c
  335. rebase.h
  336. ref-filter.c
  337. ref-filter.h
  338. reflog-walk.c
  339. reflog-walk.h
  340. refs.c
  341. refs.h
  342. refspec.c
  343. refspec.h
  344. remote-curl.c
  345. remote-testsvn.c
  346. remote.c
  347. remote.h
  348. replace-object.c
  349. replace-object.h
  350. repo-settings.c
  351. repository.c
  352. repository.h
  353. rerere.c
  354. rerere.h
  355. reset.c
  356. reset.h
  357. resolve-undo.c
  358. resolve-undo.h
  359. revision.c
  360. revision.h
  361. run-command.c
  362. run-command.h
  363. send-pack.c
  364. send-pack.h
  365. sequencer.c
  366. sequencer.h
  367. serve.c
  368. serve.h
  369. server-info.c
  370. setup.c
  371. sh-i18n--envsubst.c
  372. sha1-file.c
  373. sha1-lookup.c
  374. sha1-lookup.h
  375. sha1-name.c
  376. sha1dc_git.c
  377. sha1dc_git.h
  378. shallow.c
  379. shallow.h
  380. shell.c
  381. shortlog.h
  382. sideband.c
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  384. sigchain.c
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  386. split-index.c
  387. split-index.h
  388. stable-qsort.c
  389. strbuf.c
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  391. streaming.c
  392. streaming.h
  393. string-list.c
  394. string-list.h
  395. sub-process.c
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  397. submodule-config.c
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  399. submodule.c
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  401. symlinks.c
  402. tag.c
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  404. tar.h
  405. tempfile.c
  406. tempfile.h
  407. thread-utils.c
  408. thread-utils.h
  409. tmp-objdir.c
  410. tmp-objdir.h
  411. trace.c
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  417. transport-helper.c
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  420. transport.h
  421. tree-diff.c
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  423. tree-walk.h
  424. tree.c
  425. tree.h
  426. unicode-width.h
  427. unimplemented.sh
  428. unix-socket.c
  429. unix-socket.h
  430. unpack-trees.c
  431. unpack-trees.h
  432. upload-pack.c
  433. upload-pack.h
  434. url.c
  435. url.h
  436. urlmatch.c
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  438. usage.c
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  441. utf8.c
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  445. version.c
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  448. walker.c
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  450. wildmatch.c
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  452. worktree.c
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  454. wrap-for-bin.sh
  455. wrapper.c
  456. write-or-die.c
  457. ws.c
  458. wt-status.c
  459. wt-status.h
  460. xdiff-interface.c
  461. xdiff-interface.h
  462. zlib.c
README.md

Build status

Git - fast, scalable, distributed revision control system

Git is a fast, scalable, distributed revision control system with an unusually rich command set that provides both high-level operations and full access to internals.

Git is an Open Source project covered by the GNU General Public License version 2 (some parts of it are under different licenses, compatible with the GPLv2). It was originally written by Linus Torvalds with help of a group of hackers around the net.

Please read the file INSTALL for installation instructions.

Many Git online resources are accessible from https://git-scm.com/ including full documentation and Git related tools.

See Documentation/gittutorial.txt to get started, then see Documentation/giteveryday.txt for a useful minimum set of commands, and Documentation/git-<commandname>.txt for documentation of each command. If git has been correctly installed, then the tutorial can also be read with man gittutorial or git help tutorial, and the documentation of each command with man git-<commandname> or git help <commandname>.

CVS users may also want to read Documentation/gitcvs-migration.txt (man gitcvs-migration or git help cvs-migration if git is installed).

The user discussion and development of Git take place on the Git mailing list -- everyone is welcome to post bug reports, feature requests, comments and patches to git@vger.kernel.org (read Documentation/SubmittingPatches for instructions on patch submission). To subscribe to the list, send an email with just “subscribe git” in the body to majordomo@vger.kernel.org. The mailing list archives are available at https://lore.kernel.org/git/, http://marc.info/?l=git and other archival sites.

Issues which are security relevant should be disclosed privately to the Git Security mailing list git-security@googlegroups.com.

The maintainer frequently sends the “What's cooking” reports that list the current status of various development topics to the mailing list. The discussion following them give a good reference for project status, development direction and remaining tasks.

The name “git” was given by Linus Torvalds when he wrote the very first version. He described the tool as “the stupid content tracker” and the name as (depending on your mood):

  • random three-letter combination that is pronounceable, and not actually used by any common UNIX command. The fact that it is a mispronunciation of “get” may or may not be relevant.
  • stupid. contemptible and despicable. simple. Take your pick from the dictionary of slang.
  • “global information tracker”: you're in a good mood, and it actually works for you. Angels sing, and a light suddenly fills the room.
  • “goddamn idiotic truckload of sh*t”: when it breaks