Git Large File Storage (LFS) is an extension for Git that allows you to efficiently manage large files without bloating your Git repository. It replaces large files, such as audio, videos, datasets, and graphics, with text pointers inside Git, while storing the file contents on a remote server.
Table of Contents
Installation
To install Git LFS, follow these steps:
- Download the Git LFS software from its official website or use a package manager to install it.
For Homebrew: brew install git-lfs For MacPorts: port install git-lfs
- Open your terminal or command prompt and run the installation command:
git lfs install
Once installed, you are ready to set up Git LFS for your repository.
Configuration
Configure Git LFS by specifying the file types you want to track using the git lfs track command:
git lfs track "*.pdf"
After tracking the desired file types, ensure the .gitattributes file is committed:
git add .gitattributes
Committing Files
Committing files in Git LFS is similar to a standard Git workflow:
git add file.pdf git commit -m "Add large file"
The tracked large files are now handled by Git LFS.
Pushing Files
Pushing to a remote repository is done with the standard Git push command:
git push origin main
Git LFS will take care of uploading the large files to the LFS storage.
Troubleshooting Tips
- If you encounter
"This repository is over its data quota", purchase more data packs or clean up unused large files. - In case of
"Error downloading object"messages, check your network connection and LFS storage limits. - If Git LFS files are not properly syncing, re-run
git lfs installto ensure hooks are properly set.
Summary
This git lfs tutorial covered the essential aspects of using Git LFS, from installation and configuration to committing and pushing large files. By following the step-by-step instructions, you can easily incorporate large file management into your Git workflow.
