gitannex

gitannex is a file synchronization tool that uses Git for version control. It is designed to manage large files or datasets that are not suitable for direct storage in a Git repository. Instead of storing file content directly in Git, gitannex stores symbolic links to the actual files. This allows users to version control metadata about the files, such as their names, directories, and commit history, without bloating the Git repository itself.

The core concept of gitannex is to separate the file content from the Git repository. When you add a file with gitannex, it stores the file in a separate annex directory. Git then tracks a small symbolic link pointing to that file. This keeps the Git repository small and fast, even when dealing with terabytes of data.

gitannex provides various commands for managing files, including adding, removing, and retrieving them. It also supports distributed workflows, allowing multiple users to collaborate on datasets. Files can be synced between repositories, and gitannex helps track where each version of a file is located. It can also be used to manage storage devices, ensuring that data is available on specific locations.

The tool is particularly useful for scientific research, media production, and any project involving large datasets where version control is essential. It aims to provide the benefits of Git's history tracking and branching for large files without the performance drawbacks.