# git docs on kernel.org too new?

5 messages from 2007-02-01 to 2007-02-01. Participants: Brandon Casey, Stefano Spinucci, Shawn O. Pearce.
Thread: https://gitlist.dev/t/6611

## Brandon Casey, 2007-02-01 17:26

Subject: git docs on kernel.org too new?
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.62.0702011051300.31498@torch.nrlssc.navy.mil>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/Pine.LNX.4.62.0702011051300.31498%40torch.nrlssc.navy.mil

```


The git documentation here:

   http://www.kernel.org/pub/software/scm/git/docs/

does not seem to describe the current stable release of
git: git-1.4.4.4 (there is a release candidate of 1.5.0 on kernel.org)

I just want to let you know that it has been making it difficult to
learn how to use git.

I think in some cases the documentation is out of date, but I suspect
that in other cases the documentation refers to the future 1.5.0 release?

For example:

-Step one of tutorial.html:

    $ git config --global user.name "Your Name Comes Here"

    But git-config does not exist.

-Step two of tutorial "Importing a new project"

    $ git init

    But git-init does not exist.

-git-remote does not exist.

-Later "$ git merge experimental" is suggested, but see below, this
  appears to be the wrong usage.

-The everyday.html and git-merge.html pages describe
   a different usage for git-merge than the git-1.4.4.4 docs and
   executables.

   everyday.html(kernel.org):
     $ git checkout master (9)
     $ git merge alsa-audio (10)

   git-merge(kernel.org):
     git-merge [-n] [--no-commit] [--squash] [-s <strategy>] -m=<msg> <remote> <remote>

   git-merge(1.4.4.4):
     Usage: git-merge [-n] [--no-commit] [--squash] [-s <strategy>]... <merge-message> <head> <remote>+


-brandon

```

## Stefano Spinucci, 2007-02-01 18:14

Subject: Re: git docs on kernel.org too new?
Message-ID: <906f26060702011014r254ffd5frd75296c8443078ab@mail.gmail.com>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/906f26060702011014r254ffd5frd75296c8443078ab%40mail.gmail.com
In-Reply-To: <Pine.LNX.4.62.0702011051300.31498@torch.nrlssc.navy.mil>

```
this isn't the first time someone is confused by git docs, and I guess
why we can't have a documentation page as
http://www.python.org/doc/versions/

---
Stefano Spinucci

```

## Shawn O. Pearce, 2007-02-01 19:17

Subject: Re: git docs on kernel.org too new?
Message-ID: <20070201191747.GB18608@spearce.org>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/20070201191747.GB18608%40spearce.org
In-Reply-To: <Pine.LNX.4.62.0702011051300.31498@torch.nrlssc.navy.mil>

```
Brandon Casey <casey@nrlssc.navy.mil> wrote:
> The git documentation here:
> 
>   http://www.kernel.org/pub/software/scm/git/docs/
> 
> does not seem to describe the current stable release of
> git: git-1.4.4.4 (there is a release candidate of 1.5.0 on kernel.org)

Yes.  The docs on kernel.org roughly track the `master` branch
of git.git, which is stablizing the 1.5.0 release.  Git 1.5.0-rc3
was posted last night, and with the exception of a couple of minor
cleanups for the detached HEAD warning messages, will be the 1.5.0
final release.

Despite being a release candidate I think we would all encourage
you to try working with 1.5.0-rc3 or later.  It is extremely stable,
the documentation has been significantly improved and updated since
1.4.4.4, and the learning curve should be easier for new users.

-- 
Shawn.

```

## Shawn O. Pearce, 2007-02-01 19:20

Subject: Re: git docs on kernel.org too new?
Message-ID: <20070201192057.GC18608@spearce.org>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/20070201192057.GC18608%40spearce.org
In-Reply-To: <906f26060702011014r254ffd5frd75296c8443078ab@mail.gmail.com>

```
Stefano Spinucci <virgo977virgo@gmail.com> wrote:
> this isn't the first time someone is confused by git docs, and I guess
> why we can't have a documentation page as
> http://www.python.org/doc/versions/

Indeed.  Or at least only post docs which correspond to a
downloadable tar file?

Perhaps we could embed in at least the HTML version of the docs the
output of `GIT-VERSION-GEN` ?  Then users at least have a chance
at knowing the docs are referring to 1.5.0-rc3 and not to 1.4.4.4?

-- 
Shawn.

```

## Brandon Casey, 2007-02-01 19:21

Subject: Re: git docs on kernel.org too new?
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.62.0702011319590.31498@torch.nrlssc.navy.mil>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/Pine.LNX.4.62.0702011319590.31498%40torch.nrlssc.navy.mil
In-Reply-To: <20070201191747.GB18608@spearce.org>

```
On Thu, 1 Feb 2007, Shawn O. Pearce wrote:

> Brandon Casey <casey@nrlssc.navy.mil> wrote:
>> The git documentation here:
>>
>>   http://www.kernel.org/pub/software/scm/git/docs/
>>
>> does not seem to describe the current stable release of
>> git: git-1.4.4.4 (there is a release candidate of 1.5.0 on kernel.org)
>
> Yes.  The docs on kernel.org roughly track the `master` branch
> of git.git, which is stablizing the 1.5.0 release.  Git 1.5.0-rc3
> was posted last night, and with the exception of a couple of minor
> cleanups for the detached HEAD warning messages, will be the 1.5.0
> final release.

Ah. I thought you might be doing something clever like that.

> Despite being a release candidate I think we would all encourage
> you to try working with 1.5.0-rc3 or later.  It is extremely stable,
> the documentation has been significantly improved and updated since
> 1.4.4.4, and the learning curve should be easier for new users.

will do, thanks.

-brandon

```