# What is the difference between git-gc, git-repack and git-prune? 2 messages from 2008-05-07 to 2008-05-07. Participants: DigitalPig, Avery Pennarun. Thread: https://gitlist.dev/t/13405 ## DigitalPig, 2008-05-07 02:44 Subject: What is the difference between git-gc, git-repack and git-prune? Message-ID: <873aoux284.fsf@gmail.com> URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/873aoux284.fsf%40gmail.com ``` Hi! For git-prune, according to the manual, it will delete all the dangling objects. So it is easy to understand. However, in the git-gc manpage, there is another option named "--prune". Does that make git-gc do the same thing as git-prune? And manpage of git-gc says it cleans unnecessary files and compresses the objects, and git-repack also compresses the objects too. Are there any difference between these two operations? Or do I need to invoke git-repack after running git-gc? Thanks! Zhenqing -- DigitalPig E-mail: digitalpiglee AT gmail DOT com ALL WE SEEN IS ILLUSION. *Fudan University Macromoleculer Science Forum* http://fudanmacro.com ``` ## Avery Pennarun, 2008-05-07 02:53 Subject: Re: What is the difference between git-gc, git-repack and git-prune? Message-ID: <32541b130805061953s7ef38990r44d9966af0c8d9ea@mail.gmail.com> URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/32541b130805061953s7ef38990r44d9966af0c8d9ea%40mail.gmail.com In-Reply-To: <873aoux284.fsf@gmail.com> ``` On 5/6/08, DigitalPig wrote: > For git-prune, according to the manual, it will delete all the dangling > objects. So it is easy to understand. However, in the git-gc manpage, > there is another option named "--prune". Does that make git-gc do the > same thing as git-prune? > > And manpage of git-gc says it cleans unnecessary files and compresses > the objects, and git-repack also compresses the objects too. Are there > any difference between these two operations? Or do I need to invoke > git-repack after running git-gc? Thanks! git-gc is a fancy wrapper that automatically calls git-repack and git-prune for you with the most commonly used options, so you usually don't need to run the others yourself. Avery ```