What is Git made of? (2022)
The article delves into Git's internal structure, breaking down its fundamental building blocks. It describes Git's object model, which includes blobs (file contents), trees (directory listings), and commits (snapshots with metadata). These objects are stored in the .git/objects directory and identified by SHA-1 hashes. References, stored in .git/refs, are pointers to commits, with branches being mutable references and tags immutable ones. The index (or staging area) is a binary file that tracks the current state of the working directory and prepares the next commit. The article also explains how Git uses packfiles for compression and how commands like git add and git commit interact with these internals. Understanding these concepts helps developers debug Git issues and use advanced features like rebasing and cherry-picking more effectively.
Understanding Git internals helps developers debug issues and use advanced features effectively.