git-annex allows managing files with git, without checking the file contents into git. While that may seem paradoxical, it is useful when dealing with files larger than git can currently easily handle, whether due to limitations in memory, checksumming time, or disk space. Even without file content tracking, being able to manage files with git, move files around and delete files with versioned directory trees, and use branches and distributed clones, are all very handy reasons to use git. And annexed files can co-exist in the same git repository with regularly versioned files, which is convenient for maintaining documents, Makefiles, etc that are associated with annexed files but that benefit from full revision control. To get a feel for it, see the [[walkthrough]]. [[!sidebar content=""" * **[[download]]** * [[install]] * [[news]] * [[bugs]] * [[todo]] * [[contact]] """]] ## sample use cases
[[!inline feeds=no template=bare pages=use_case/bob]] [[!inline feeds=no template=bare pages=use_case/alice]]
If that describes you, or if you're some from column A and some from column B, then git-annex may be the tool you've been looking for to expand from keeping all your small important files in git, to managing your large files with git. ## documentation * [[git-annex man page|git-annex]] * [[key-value backends|backends]] for data storage * [[location_tracking]] reminds you where git-annex has seen files * git-annex prevents accidential data loss by [[tracking copies|copies]] of your files * [[what git annex is not|not]] * git-annex is Free Software, licensed under the [[GPL]]. ---- git-annex's wiki is powered by [Ikiwiki](http://ikiwiki.info/) and hosted by [Branchable](http://branchable.com/).