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Why repository grows after "git gc"? / Purpose of *.keep files?

From
TLTeemu Likonen <tlikonen@iki.fi>
Date
May 12, 2008, 12:29 UTC
Message-ID
<20080512122900.GA13050@mithlond.arda.local>

I have noticed that after cloning a repository (via git protocol) the repo is packed pretty tightly and takes relatively small amount of disk space. After using it a while and running "git gc" the repo sometimes grows 25% or something like that.

For testing purposes I deleted objects/pack/*.keep file(s) and ran "git gc" again. The repo resulted in small again, just like after the initial clone. I don't have disk space problems but a repo growing about 25% after manual "git gc" seems weird. What's the purpose of these *.keep files? They just contain text like "fetch-pack <number> on <my hostname>".

PS. I have merged Brandon Casey's new git-gc/repack patches. In case it
    has some effect. See the "pu" branch or "git log 9e7d5019".
Next: Teemu Likonen
Message 1 of 35 in “Why repository grows after "git gc"? / Purpose of *.keep files?”
  1. Teemu LikonenMay 12, 2008
  2. Teemu LikonenMay 12, 2008
  3. Johannes SchindelinMay 12, 2008
  4. Teemu LikonenMay 12, 2008
  5. Nicolas PitreMay 12, 2008
  6. Teemu LikonenMay 12, 2008
  7. Nicolas PitreMay 12, 2008
  8. Govind SalinasMay 12, 2008
  9. Nicolas PitreMay 12, 2008
  10. Govind SalinasMay 12, 2008
  11. Teemu LikonenMay 12, 2008
  12. Mike HommeyMay 12, 2008
  13. Mike HommeyMay 12, 2008
  14. Shawn O. PearceMay 13, 2008
  15. Mike HommeyMay 13, 2008
  16. Nicolas PitreMay 14, 2008
  17. Junio C HamanoMay 14, 2008
  18. Juergen RuehleMay 14, 2008
  19. Nicolas PitreMay 14, 2008
  20. Junio C HamanoMay 14, 2008
  21. Linus TorvaldsMay 14, 2008
  22. Linus TorvaldsMay 14, 2008
  23. Nicolas PitreMay 14, 2008
  24. Linus TorvaldsMay 14, 2008
  25. A Large Angry SCMMay 14, 2008
  26. Nicolas PitreMay 12, 2008
  27. David TweedMay 12, 2008
  28. Shawn O. PearceMay 12, 2008
  29. Junio C HamanoMay 12, 2008
  30. Shawn O. PearceMay 13, 2008
  31. Paolo BonziniMay 13, 2008
  32. Shawn O. PearceMay 13, 2008
  33. Teemu LikonenMay 13, 2008
  34. Stephen R. van den BergMay 13, 2008
  35. Teemu LikonenMay 14, 2008

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