git-annex

A command-line tool that manages and syncs large files with git without storing their contents in git.

FreeOpen sourceLinuxCommand line
Official websitegit-annex.branchable.comDownload pagegit-annex.branchable.com

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About git-annex

git-annex lets you track large files in a git repository while their contents live on drives, servers or other special remotes. It can sync, back up and archive data, and it always knows which drive or remote holds each file, even when those drives are kept offline.

Checksums and encryption protect the data. It is designed for git users comfortable on the command line, and the git-annex assistant turns it into a simpler folder synchroniser for everyone else. Development is active, with a recent major release.

Strengths

  • Tracks where every file's content lives, including offline drives
  • Checksums and encryption for stored data
  • Many special remotes for storage targets
  • Assistant mode for simple folder syncing

Limitations

  • Steep learning curve for people new to git
  • Main interface is the command line

Details

Pricing
FreeFree to use.
License
Open source, license not stated
Developer
The git-annex contributors
Platforms
Linux, Command line
How it runs
Downloadable app
Account
Not required
Works offline
Yes
Best suited for
Archivists and git users managing large collections across many drives
Last verified
Added
Provenance
Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.

Alternatives to git-annex

Compare all

Software that can replace git-annex for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.

  • Syncthing

    Keeps folders identical across your own machines, directly between them, with no cloud account in the middle.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxCommand lineSelf-hosted

    Syncthing is open source and keeps folders in sync across your machines with a simpler setup, but does not track where content lives on offline drives.

  • Unison

    Synchronize two file collections while preserving changes from both sides.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    Unison is GPL-3.0 open source and syncs two file collections both ways with a far gentler learning curve, but does not track content across many drives.

  • Rclone

    A command line tool that syncs, copies and mounts files across more than seventy cloud storage services.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxCommand line

    Rclone is MIT open source and syncs files to over seventy cloud services with checksums and encryption, but has no git integration or location tracking.

git-annex as an alternative

Listings that name git-annex as an alternative.

  • Resilio Sync

    Peer-to-peer file sync with no cloud server in the middle.

    FreeProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOS

    git-annex tracks where large files live across drives and remotes with checksums and encryption, but it is command-line focused with a steep learning curve for non-git users.

  • Tahoe-LAFS

    A decentralized storage system that spreads encrypted files across multiple servers you control.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxSelf-hostedCommand line

    git-annex tracks file content across many drives and special remotes with checksums and encryption, using git rather than a dedicated storage node network.

Similar software

Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.

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