{{Short description|Distributed file synchronization system}} {{lowercase title}} {{Infobox software | name = git-annex | author = Joey Hess | released = {{Start date and age|2010|10|19|df=yes}} | programming language = Haskell | latest release version = 10.20251114 | latest release date = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2025|11|14}} | operating system = Linux, FreeBSD, Android, OS X, Windows | size = 44.2 MB | genre = File synchronization | license = GPL3+, AGPL3+ <ref name="license">{{cite web |url=https://git-annex.branchable.com/license/ |title=license|date=18 January 2014 |website=git-annex.branchable.com |accessdate=1 May 2015}}</ref> | website = {{URL|http://git-annex.branchable.com/}} }}
'''git-annex''' is a distributed file synchronization system written in Haskell. It aims to share and synchronize collections of large files independent from a commercial service and a central server.
== History == The development of git-annex began in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://git-annex.branchable.com/design/roadmap/ |title=git-annex roadmap }}</ref> In 2012-13 the development was funded through a Kickstarter campaign.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/joeyh/git-annex-assistant-like-dropbox-but-with-your-own |title=git-annex kickstarter campaign 2012 |date=14 July 2013 }}</ref> The main development of this campaign was the git-annex assistant, a component that runs in the background to automate the synchronization of repositories.
A following crowd funding campaign for 2013-14 was organized over a self-hosted platform.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://campaign.joeyh.name/ |title=git-annex campaign }}</ref>
== Design == git-annex uses Git to index files but does not store them in the Git history. Instead, a symbolic link representing and linking to the possibly large file is committed. git-annex manages a content-addressable storage for the files under its control. A separate Git branch logs the location of every file. Thus users can clone a git-annex repository and then decide for every file whether to make it locally available.
== Availability == git-annex packages are available for a variety of operating systems, including:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://git-annex.branchable.com/install/ |title=install options }}</ref> * Debian<ref>{{cite web |url=http://packages.debian.org/git-annex |title=Debian }}</ref> * Ubuntu<ref>{{cite web |url=http://packages.ubuntu.com/git-annex |title=Ubuntu }}</ref> * Fedora<ref>{{cite web |url=https://admin.fedoraproject.org/pkgdb/package/git-annex/ |title=Fedora }}{{Dead link|date=December 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> * FreeBSD<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.freebsd.org/cgi/ports.cgi?query=git-annex&stype=all |title=FreeBSD }}</ref> * Arch Linux<ref>{{Cite web|title = ArchLinux|url = https://git-annex.branchable.com/install/ArchLinux/|website = git-annex.branchable.com|accessdate = 2015-12-06}}</ref> * NixOS<ref>{{Cite web|title = NixOS|url = https://git-annex.branchable.com/install/NixOS/|website = git-annex.branchable.com|accessdate = 2019-09-11}}</ref> * Guix<ref>{{Cite web|title = Guix|url = https://git-annex.branchable.com/install/Guix/|website = git-annex.branchable.com|accessdate = 2019-09-11}}</ref> * Gentoo<ref>{{Cite web|title = GentooLinux|url = https://git-annex.branchable.com/install/Gentoo/|website = git-annex.branchable.com|accessdate = 2019-09-11}}</ref> * OpenBSD<ref>{{Cite web|title=OpenPorts.se {{!}} The OpenBSD package collection|url=https://openports.se/devel/git-annex|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203044734/https://openports.se/devel/git-annex|url-status=usurped|archive-date=December 3, 2021|access-date=2021-12-03|website=openports.se}}</ref> * Android<ref>{{Cite web|title=Android|url=https://git-annex.branchable.com/Android/|access-date=2021-12-03|website=git-annex.branchable.com}}</ref> * macOS (via Homebrew)<ref>{{Cite web|title=git-annex|url=https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/git-annex|access-date=2021-12-03|website=Homebrew Formulae}}</ref> * Windows<ref>{{Cite web|title = Windows|url = https://git-annex.branchable.com/install/Windows/|website = git-annex.branchable.com|accessdate = 2022-12-05}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
== External links == * {{Official website|git-annex.branchable.com}}
{{Haskell programming}}
{{Portal bar|Free and open-source software|Linux|Internet}}
Category:2010 software Category:Free version control software Category:Free software programmed in Haskell Category:Self-hosting software Category:Distributed version control systems Category:Git (software) Category:Software using the GNU Affero General Public License