git-repack:tldr:a224a

The git repack command is used in Git version control system to create a new, more efficient pack file.

When you perform operations like creating branches, committing changes, or merging branches in Git, it creates pack files to store the contents of the repository. Pack files are compressed files that contain multiple objects (such as commits, trees, and blobs) in a single file for efficient storage and transmission.

Over time, as you continue to work on a Git repository, the pack files may become fragmented or inefficient due to objects being added, modified, or removed. The git repack command helps to consolidate and optimize the pack files, improving the performance and efficiency of the repository.

When you run git repack, Git analyzes the existing pack files and creates a new pack file that contains all the required objects. It also discards any unnecessary objects and removes redundant data. The new pack file is then used for subsequent operations, improving the overall performance of the repository.

Here are some common options used with git repack:

• -a or --all: Repacks all pack files in the repository, including the back referenced ones.
• -d or --delta: Creates delta-based packs instead of pack files that are entirely self-contained.
• -f or --no-reuse-delta: Forces regeneration of delta information.
• -l or --local: Enables local packing of objects that are not yet part of a pack.
• -A or --unpack-unreachable: Unpacks unreachable objects (objects not reachable by any references).
• -F or --keep-unreachable=[mode]: Keeps unreachable objects in a given mode (default modes are loose, pack, everything).

Overall, by running git repack, you can enhance the storage efficiency and access performance of your Git repository.