--template=<template_directory>

Provide the directory from which templates will be used. The default template directory is /usr/share/git-core/templates.

When specified, <template_directory> is used as the source of the template files rather than the default. The template files include some directory structure, some suggested "exclude patterns", and copies of non-executing "hook" files. The suggested patterns and hook files are all modifiable and extensible.

--shared[={false|true|umask|group|all|world|everybody}]

Specify that the git repository is to be shared amongst several users. This allows users belonging to the same group to push into that repository. When specified, the config variable "core.sharedRepository" is set so that files and directories under $GIT_DIR are created with the requested permissions. When not specified, git will use permissions reported by umask(2).

The option can have the following values, defaulting to group if no value is given:

*

umask (or false): Use permissions reported by umask(2). The default, when --shared is not specified.

*

group (or true): Make the repository group-writable, (and g+sx, since the git group may be not the primary group of all users).

*

all (or world or everybody): Same as group, but make the repository readable by all users.

By default, the configuration flag receive.denyNonFastforward is enabled in shared repositories, so that you cannot force a non fast-forwarding push into it.

If the $GIT_DIR environment variable is set then it specifies a path to use instead of ./.git for the base of the repository.

If the object storage directory is specified via the $GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY environment variable then the sha1 directories are created underneath - otherwise the default $GIT_DIR/objects directory is used.

Running git-init-db in an existing repository is safe. It will not overwrite things that are already there. The primary reason for rerunning git-init-db is to pick up newly added templates.

Start a new git repository for an existing code base

$ cd /path/to/my/codebase
$ git-init-db   (1)
$ git-add .     (2)

1. prepare /path/to/my/codebase/.git directory 2. add all existing file to the index