tech stack required to understand git source code

I'm interested in understanding the git source code and maybe someday contribute to it.

I understand git source code is build on

1) languages such as C, Shell, Perl, python, c++, tcl

2) technology such as http, https, ssh etc

I was just wondering, is there anything else that are pre-requisite to understanding the git source code?

Thanks in advance for any help!

2 Answers

Answers 1

git is written in almost entirely C and bash scripts. if you want to contribute, look in their extremely extensive documentation: Documentation/SubmittingPatches

Answers 2

Beside the patch submitting process, other sources can help understanding the Git code base.

• the protocols used: Git on the Server - The Protocols

• the documentations like:

  • Coding Guidelines
  • Diff formats
  • git thin packs
  • git binary diff format
  • ...

But another approach is to study how Git was re-implemented in other languages: those are often a subset of Git, less intimidating and quite educational.

• packfiles have been re-implemented in Go,
• Other Git functions have been written in Go as well,
• A Git http-backend is available in Go,
• the Git format and protocol have been code in OCaml
• Git.js proposes a Javascript implementation (also done with Gitlet)
• ...

So if the original git/git codebase seems complex, you can compare and contrast its implementation with some of those listed above, to gain a better understanding.

If You Enjoyed This, Take 5 Seconds To Share It

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Google+
• StumbleUpon
• Digg
• Delicious
• LinkedIn
• Reddit
• Technorati