Git Configuration Variables and Pathname Expansion

complicated and layered coloring, and the negated forms may be useful there. pathname:: A variable that takes a pathname value can be given a string that begins with "`~/`" or "`~user/`", and the usual tilde expansion happens to such a string: `~/` is expanded to the value of `$HOME`, and `~user/` to the specified user's home directory. + If a path starts with `%(prefix)/`, the remainder is interpreted as a path relative to Git's "runtime prefix", i.e. relative to the location where Git itself was installed. For example, `%(prefix)/bin/` refers to the directory in which the Git executable itself lives. If Git was compiled without runtime prefix support, the compiled-in prefix will be substituted instead. In the unlikely event that a literal path needs to be specified that should _not_ be expanded, it needs to be prefixed by `./`, like so: `./%(prefix)/bin`. Variables ~~~~~~~~~ Note that this list is non-comprehensive and not necessarily complete. For command-specific variables, you will find a more detailed description in the appropriate manual page. Other git-related tools may and do use their own variables. When inventing new variables for use in your own tool, make sure their names do not conflict with those that are used by Git itself and other popular tools, and describe them in your documentation. include::config/add.adoc[] include::config/advice.adoc[] include::config/alias.adoc[] include::config/am.adoc[] include::config/apply.adoc[] include::config/attr.adoc[] include::config/bitmap-pseudo-merge.adoc[] include::config/blame.adoc[] include::config/branch.adoc[] include::config/browser.adoc[] include::config/bundle.adoc[] include::config/checkout.adoc[] include::config/clean.adoc[] include::config/clone.adoc[] include::config/color.adoc[] include::config/column.adoc[] include::config/commit.adoc[] include::config/commitgraph.adoc[] include::config/completion.adoc[] include::config/core.adoc[] include::config/credential.adoc[] include::config/diff.adoc[] include::config/difftool.adoc[] include::config/extensions.adoc[] include::config/fastimport.adoc[]

Git allows for pathname expansion using tilde and prefix notation, and variables can be used to customize Git's behavior, with notes on avoiding naming conflicts and documenting custom variables, followed by a list of included configuration topics for various Git commands and features.