git repack with a --reference

git repack with a --reference

[Jonathan Harker]

Hi - hope this isn't too noobish but I'm trying to get an existing git
checkout to repack/prune/gc itself such that it would be like I had
cloned it with --reference /path/to/local/repo (i.e. I've added
/path/to/local/repo to .git/objects/info/alternatives, and I'd like it
to reduce its objects from 200 MB to 5 MB). Is this

a. possible,

b. desirable, and

c. not insane?

Cheers,
Jonathan Harker
http://catalyst.net.nz/

Re: git repack with a --reference

[Miles Bader]

Jonathan Harker <jonathan@catalyst.net.nz> writes:
> Hi - hope this isn't too noobish but I'm trying to get an existing git
> checkout to repack/prune/gc itself such that it would be like I had
> cloned it with --reference /path/to/local/repo (i.e. I've added
> /path/to/local/repo to .git/objects/info/alternatives, and I'd like it
> to reduce its objects from 200 MB to 5 MB). Is this
>
> a. possible,
> b. desirable, and
> c. not insane?

I've done this in the past (using "git gc", but same difference I
guess), and it worked as you'd hope, reducing .git to something very
small.

I don't recall any real problems, but you might need to manually
remove any pack ".keep" files first though (I seem to recall something
like that, anyway).

-Miles

-- 
Friendship, n. A ship big enough to carry two in fair weather, but only one
in foul.

Re: git repack with a --reference

[Brandon Casey]

Jonathan Harker wrote:
> Hi - hope this isn't too noobish but I'm trying to get an existing git
> checkout to repack/prune/gc itself such that it would be like I had
> cloned it with --reference /path/to/local/repo (i.e. I've added
> /path/to/local/repo to .git/objects/info/alternatives, and I'd like it
> to reduce its objects from 200 MB to 5 MB). Is this
> 
> a. possible,
> 
> b. desirable, and
> 
> c. not insane?

yes,yes,yes.

The path written to .git/objects/info/alternates (also notice spelling of
"alternates") should be the path to the objects directory, not to the
toplevel repository.

i.e.

   /path/to/local/repo.git/objects

It should work properly since git v1.6.2.3.

-brandon