git-describe:tldr:7f565

git-describe: Create a unique name for the current commit (the name contains the most recent annotated tag, the number of additional commits, and the abbreviated commit hash).

$ git describe

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The git describe command is used to provide a human-readable name based on the current commit and the most recent annotated (tagged) commit in the Git repository. It gives a way to quickly understand where the current commit stands in relation to the tagged versions.

When you run git describe, Git searches for the most recent annotated tag that is reachable from the current commit (either directly or through its ancestors). It then provides a descriptive name based on this tag. The resulting name includes the tag name (if found) and the number of additional commits since the tag, followed by the abbreviated commit hash.

The naming convention for git describe is tag-name-number-of-commits-gcommit-hash, where:

tag-name is the name of the most recent annotated tag.
number-of-commits indicates the number of additional commits since the tagged commit.
commit-hash is the abbreviated hash of the current commit.

This command is beneficial in scenarios where you want to identify the state of the repository based on its relationship with the tagged versions. It provides a concise and informative identifier that can assist in tracking specific commits or versions.

This explanation was created by an AI. In most cases those are correct. But please always be careful and never run a command you are not sure if it is safe.

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