How to use the command 'git info' (with examples)

Git is a popular version control system that allows developers to keep track of changes in their code. The command ‘git info’ is part of the ‘git-extras’ package and is used to display Git repository information. It provides details such as remote locations, remote and local branches, the most recent commit data, and .git/config settings.

Use case 1: Display remote locations, remote and local branches, most recent commit data and .git/config settings

Code:

git info

Motivation:

Displaying the remote locations, remote and local branches, most recent commit data, and .git/config settings can be useful for developers to gain an overview of their Git repository. It can help them understand the current state of the repository, identify active branches, and review commit history.

Explanation:

• git info is the command used to display Git repository information.
• No additional arguments are provided in this use case.

Example output:

Remote locations:
 - origin: https://github.com/user/repo.git

Remote branches:
 - origin/main
 - origin/feature-branch

Local branches:
 - main
 - feature-branch

Most recent commit:
 - Hash: abcdefg
 - Author: John Doe
 - Date: 2022-01-01
 - Message: Update README

.git/config settings:
 - core.repositoryformatversion=0
 - core.filemode=true
 - core.bare=false
 - core.logallrefupdates=true

Use case 2: Display remote locations, remote and local branches, and most recent commit data

Code:

git info --no-config

Motivation:

Sometimes, developers might not be interested in viewing the .git/config settings and prefer to focus solely on the remote locations, remote and local branches, and the most recent commit data. Using the ‘–no-config’ argument allows them to exclude the .git/config settings from the output, providing a cleaner and more concise overview of the repository.

Explanation:

• git info is the command used to display Git repository information.
• ‘–no-config’ is an argument that excludes the .git/config settings from the output.

Example output:

Remote locations:
 - origin: https://github.com/user/repo.git

Remote branches:
 - origin/main
 - origin/feature-branch

Local branches:
 - main
 - feature-branch

Most recent commit:
 - Hash: abcdefg
 - Author: John Doe
 - Date: 2022-01-01
 - Message: Update README

Conclusion:

The ‘git info’ command is a useful tool for developers to gain insights into their Git repository. By using the command with various arguments, they can customize the output to suit their needs, whether it be displaying all repository information or excluding specific details like .git/config settings. This information enables developers to better understand the state of their repository, track branches, and review recent commit history, ultimately improving their efficiency and productivity when working with Git.