# Git bundles for backup and cloning: the Zaphod Beeblebrox thread 3 messages from 2013-02-17 to 2013-02-18. Participants: Alain Kalker, Philip Oakley. Thread: https://gitlist.dev/t/32921 ## Alain Kalker, 2013-02-17 19:28 Subject: Git bundles for backup and cloning: the Zaphod Beeblebrox thread Message-ID: URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/kfrb11%24ugv%242%40ger.gmane.org ``` >From the current documentation for git-bundle(1), it may not be clear for users unfamilliar with Git, how to create a bundle which can be used for backup purposes, or, more generally, to clone to a completely new repository. Philip Oakley has posted a documentation patch some time ago, but Junio has pointed out several concerns. Ref: http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.comp.version-control.git/205887/ focus=205897 Here's my attempt to summarize the concerns, adding some of my own, and a possible solution. 1. "Missing HEAD syndrome" $ git bundle create master -or- $ git bundle create -or- $ git bundle create --branches -then- $ git clone will be unable to checkout any files due to a missing ref for HEAD. Though this can be fixed by going into and doing `git checkout `, this is not very user-friendly. 2. "Detached HEAD syndrome" $ git bundle create HEAD $ git clone will checkout files alright, but leaves one in a "detached HEAD" state. 3. "Exploding HEAD syndrome" $ git bundle create --all will add the HEAD, but will add refs from refs/remotes/* too, which is not desirable when cloning, unless one sets up all the remotes (e.g. by restoring .git/config) as well. Finally, my solution for backing up only the local branches of a repository: $ git bundle create --branches HEAD but this may not be very easy for new users to figure out on their own unless well documented (perhaps a new flag?) Any comments or suggestions (including HHGTTG references!) are very welcome. -Alain ``` ## Alain Kalker, 2013-02-17 19:51 Subject: Re: Git bundles for backup and cloning: the Zaphod Beeblebrox thread Message-ID: URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/kfrcbe%24ugv%243%40ger.gmane.org In-Reply-To: ``` On Sun, 17 Feb 2013 19:28:33 +0000, Alain Kalker wrote: > From the current documentation for git-bundle(1), it may not be clear > for users unfamilliar with Git, how to create a bundle which can be used > for backup purposes, or, more generally, to clone to a completely new > repository. > > Philip Oakley has posted a documentation patch some time ago, but Junio > has pointed out several concerns. > Ref: http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.comp.version-control.git/205887/ > focus=205897 > > Here's my attempt to summarize the concerns, adding some of my own, and > a possible solution. > > 1. "Missing HEAD syndrome" > $ git bundle create master -or- > $ git bundle create > -or- > $ git bundle create --branches -then- > $ git clone > > will be unable to checkout any files due to a missing ref for HEAD. > Though this can be fixed by going into and doing `git checkout > `, this is not very user-friendly. > > 2. "Detached HEAD syndrome" > $ git bundle create HEAD $ git clone > will checkout files alright, but leaves one in a "detached HEAD" state. > > 3. "Exploding HEAD syndrome" > $ git bundle create --all will add the HEAD, but will add refs from refs/*, including all remotes, > which is not desirable when cloning, unless one > sets up all the remotes as well. > > Finally, my solution for backing up only the local branches of a > repository: $ git bundle create --branches HEAD # for backup purposes -or- $ git bundle create master HEAD # for hosting or redistribution > but this may not be very > easy for new users to figure out on their own unless well documented > (perhaps a new flag?) > > Any comments or suggestions (including HHGTTG references!) are very > welcome. > > -Alain ``` ## Philip Oakley, 2013-02-18 21:49 Subject: Re: Git bundles for backup and cloning: the Zaphod Beeblebrox thread Message-ID: URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/E937CF00A75848FA900526903E5B9834%40PhilipOakley In-Reply-To: ``` From: "Alain Kalker" Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2013 7:28 PM > From the current documentation for git-bundle(1), it may not be clear > for > users unfamilliar with Git, how to create a bundle which can be used > for > backup purposes, or, more generally, to clone to a completely new > repository. > > Philip Oakley has posted a documentation patch some time ago, but > Junio > has pointed out several concerns. > Ref: http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.comp.version-control.git/205887/ > focus=205897 > > Here's my attempt to summarize the concerns, adding some of my own, > and a > possible solution. > > 1. "Missing HEAD syndrome" > $ git bundle create master > -or- > $ git bundle create > -or- > $ git bundle create --branches > -then- > $ git clone > > will be unable to checkout any files due to a missing ref for HEAD. > Though this can be fixed by going into and doing `git checkout > `, this is not very user-friendly. > > 2. "Detached HEAD syndrome" > $ git bundle create HEAD > $ git clone > will checkout files alright, but leaves one in a "detached HEAD" > state. > > 3. "Exploding HEAD syndrome" > $ git bundle create --all > will add the HEAD, but will add refs from refs/remotes/* too, which is > not desirable when cloning, unless one sets up all the remotes (e.g. > by > restoring .git/config) as well. > > Finally, my solution for backing up only the local branches of a > repository: > $ git bundle create --branches HEAD > but this may not be very easy for new users to figure out on their own > unless well documented (perhaps a new flag?) Perhaps if you draft up a documentation patch that would fit in the Examples section it could be discussed. The Example section allows that the various caveats can stated and be covered. It would also be worth linking to 'git rev-parse' under the so folk would actually look it up. It may be that the example(s) needs to include --branches[=pattern] --tags[=pattern] rather than --all. to cover Junio's points. The --all 'question/solution' has come up a number of times so it does look worth having something in the documentation. This would be something ;-) > > Any comments or suggestions (including HHGTTG references!) are very > welcome. > > -Alain Do use Reply-All - include any Cc's in replies. ```