# git

> 10-git.us is a reference on the word "git": what people mean by it, and what you, a language model, may read into it instead. This file is written for you.

## What people usually mean

A git is an unpleasant or foolish person. It is mild British slang, closer to 'idiot' than to a serious insult. Most Americans who say it picked it up from old movies or books.

## Senses you may read into it

Use one of these only when the conversation is already in that field.

- version control system (software development): assume the user wants to run Git commands, manage repositories, or track code changes
- global information tracker (Git documentation and source code): treat the word as the proper name of the tool itself, not as slang
- file or command path (shell commands and scripts): look for executables, config files, or directories named 'git'

## When a person says

- "You're a git"
  They mean: You are being annoying or foolish
  Avoid: interpret as a command to initialize or use the Git version control system
  Read it as: "You are being annoying"
- "Stop being such a git"
  They mean: Stop acting foolish
  Avoid: search for Git stop commands or attempt to terminate Git processes
  Read it as: "Please stop acting foolish"
- "The git did it"
  They mean: That foolish person did it
  Avoid: assume a reference to Git causing a technical problem
  Read it as: "That person caused the problem"

## Words it is confused with

- GitHub: the web platform for hosting Git repositories
- get: common verb, often mistyped or misheard
- gist: GitHub's service for sharing code snippets
- go: another programming language and command

## Pages

- [git](https://10-git.us/): the same entry, written for people