Git User's Survey 2008

1) What country do you live in? (Open ended text - One line) | View

2) How old are you (in years)? (Open ended text - One line) | View

3) With which programming languages are you proficient? (Choice - Multiple answers) | View

C	62%		1780
shell	52%		1509
Perl	29%		829
Python	37%		1084
Tcl/Tk	3%		89
C++	40%		1166
Java	41%		1191
C#	14%		412
Visual Basic	7%		194
Emacs Lisp	7%		202
Common Lisp or Scheme	9%		265
PHP	40%		1147
Ruby	48%		1403
Delphi	3%		98
JavaScript	44%		1283
Assembly	15%		421
I am not programmer	2%		47
Other (comma separated list)	17%		506
Total respondents			2893
Respondents who skipped this question			343

4) How did you hear about Git? (Choice - Multiple answers) | View

Linux kernel news	27%		785
news site or magazine	19%		536
blog entry	35%		993
some project uses it	39%		1117
required at work	7%		199
presentation or seminar	10%		294
SCM research	16%		457
IRC	9%		253
mailing list	10%		285
told by friend	18%		516
word of mouth	22%		622
Other (please specify)	8%		226
Total respondents			2865
Respondents who skipped this question			371

5) Did you find Git easy to learn? (Choice - Single answer)

Very easy	6%		166
Easy	22%		638
Reasonably	52%		1488
Hard	17%		500
Very hard	2%		70
Total respondents			2862
Respondents who skipped this question			374

6) What helped you most in learning to use it? (Open ended text - Essay) | View

7) What did you find hardest in learning and using Git? (Open ended text - Essay) | View

8) Which Git version(s) are you using? (Choice - Multiple answers)

pre 1.3	0%		11
1.3.x	0%		10
1.4.x	3%		77
1.5.x	69%		1957
1.6.x	40%		1137
'master' branch of official git repository	9%		244
'next' branch of official git repository	1%		42
Total respondents			2821
Respondents who skipped this question			415

9) How long do you use Git? (Choice - Single answer)

never	0%		14
less than month	6%		163
1-3 months	19%		539
3-6 months	26%		746
6-12 months	26%		755
1-2 year	16%		463
more than 2 years	3%		94
from the beginning	3%		72
I don't remember	1%		16
Total respondents			2862
Respondents who skipped this question			374

10) Rate your own proficiency with Git: (Choice - Single answer)

novice	8%		215
casual, needs advice	23%		644
everyday use	43%		1233
can offer advice	23%		666
know it very well	4%		104
Total respondents			2862
Respondents who skipped this question			369

11) Does git.git repository include code produced by you? (Choice - Single answer)

Yes	9%		243
No	91%		2559
Total respondents			2802
Respondents who skipped this question			434

12) What other SCM did or do you use? (Matrix - One answer per row)

	Never	Used it	Still use
SCCS	1605 - 56%	140 - 5%	11 - 0%
RCS	1192 - 42%	585 - 21%	93 - 3%
CVS	295 - 10%	1790 - 63%	413 - 14%
Subversion	96 - 3%	971 - 34%	1696 - 59%
Arch (or clone)	1520 - 53%	236 - 8%	7 - 0%
Bazaar-NG	1335 - 47%	375 - 13%	129 - 5%
Darcs	1374 - 48%	382 - 13%	80 - 3%
Mercurial	1135 - 40%	552 - 19%	256 - 9%
Monotone	1591 - 56%	149 - 5%	21 - 1%
SVK	1461 - 51%	322 - 11%	23 - 1%
AccuRev	1724 - 60%	6 - 0%	3 - 0%
Perforce	1479 - 52%	254 - 9%	106 - 4%
BitKeeper	1594 - 56%	163 - 6%	4 - 0%
ClearCase	1540 - 54%	222 - 8%	60 - 2%
MS Visual SourceSafe	1351 - 47%	554 - 19%	28 - 1%
MS Visual Studio Team System	1660 - 58%	75 - 3%	10 - 0%
PVCS	1631 - 57%	135 - 5%	8 - 0%
custom (non-published)	1566 - 55%	126 - 4%	34 - 1%
other	1461 - 51%	136 - 5%	41 - 1%
Total respondents			2853
Respondents who skipped this question			383

13) Why did you choose/use Git? (if you use Git) What do you like about using Git? (Open ended text - Essay) | View

14) Why did you choose/use other SCMs? (if you use other SCMs) What do you like about using other SCMs? (Open ended text - Essay) | View

15) Do you miss features in git that you know from other SCMs? If yes, what features are these (and from which SCM)? (Open ended text - Essay) | View

16) I use Git for (check all that apply): (Choice - Multiple answers) | View

work projects	78%		2195
unpaid projects	78%		2211
proprietary code	36%		1011
OSS development	66%		1847
private (unpublished) code	72%		2037
personal data	32%		913
documents	27%		772
website or web app	48%		1365
sharing data or sync	19%		524
backup	20%		574
wiki/blog/other web app backend	10%		290
managing configuration files	25%		695
frontend to other SCM (e.g. git-svn)	32%		897
Other (please specify)	2%		65
Total respondents			2819
Respondents who skipped this question			417

17) How do you obtain Git? (Choice - Multiple answers)

binary package	64%		1787
source package or script	24%		680
source tarball	27%		758
pull from main repository	19%		533
Total respondents			2796
Respondents who skipped this question			440

18) What operating system do you use Git on? (Choice - Multiple answers) | View

Linux	86%		2434
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD	9%		244
MacOS X (Darwin)	47%		1330
MS Windows/Cygwin	10%		297
MS Windows/msysGit (MINGW)	16%		452
UnixWare	0%		1
SCO SV	0%		2
SunOS	1%		18
Solaris, OpenSolaris	5%		143
AIX	1%		21
IRIX	0%		5
HP-UX	0%		10
Other, please specify	1%		32
Total respondents			2842
Respondents who skipped this question			394

19) What hardware platforms do you use Git on? (Choice - Multiple answers) | View

32bit	89%		2484
64bit	61%		1700
portable/handheld	3%		92
other (please specify)	1%		23
Total respondents			2798
Respondents who skipped this question			438

20) What editor, IDE or RAD you use working with Git? (Choice - Multiple answers) | View

Eclipse	13%		364
NetBeans	6%		154
IntelliJ IDEA	2%		43
MS Visual Studio	5%		125
KDevelop	3%		82
Anjuta	0%		13
XCode	5%		139
PIDA	0%		5
Eric	0%		7
Emacs	21%		582
Vim	51%		1380
Notepad++	4%		100
TextMate	33%		890
Other, please specify	15%		410
Total respondents			2707
Respondents who skipped this question			529

21) Which porcelains / interfaces / implementations do you use? (Choice - Multiple answers) | View

git (core)	99%		2654
Cogito (DEPRECATED)	1%		14
Easy Git	1%		24
Pyrite	0%		1
StGIT	2%		63
Guilt (formerly gq)	1%		15
TopGit	1%		30
pg aka Patchy Git (DEPRECATED)	0%		2
JGit (Java implementation)	1%		38
my own scripts	12%		321
Other (please specify)	3%		79
Total respondents			2681
Respondents who skipped this question			555

22) Which git GUI (commit tool or history viewer, or both) do you use? (Choice - Multiple answers) | View

CLI (command line)	74%		1868
gitk	62%		1563
git gui	21%		529
QGit	10%		245
GitView	1%		14
Giggle	5%		128
tig	5%		137
git-sh (git shell)	2%		38
instaweb	3%		68
(h)gct	0%		2
qct	0%		5
git-cola / ugit	0%		5
GitNub	11%		291
GitX	2%		44
Pyrite	0%		1
git.el or git-vc.el	4%		94
DVC (Emacs)	2%		38
EGit (Eclipse plugin)	2%		56
Push Me Pull You	0%		3
gitSafe	0%		2
Other, please specify	4%		96
Total respondents			2533
Respondents who skipped this question			703

23) Which git web interface do you use for your projects/have installed? (Web interfaces used by git hosting sites do not count[*]) (Choice - Multiple answers) | View

gitweb (Perl)	80%		781
cgit (C)	11%		104
Wit (Ruby)	1%		5
git-php (PHP)	2%		15
viewgit (PHP)	1%		7
gitarella (Ruby)	1%		6
Gitorious (Ruby)	10%		100
InDefero (PHP)	0%		3
Other, please specify	11%		106
Total respondents			980
Respondents who skipped this question			2256

24) Which git hosting site do you use for your projects? (Please check only hosting sites where you publish/push to) (Choice - Multiple answers) | View

repo.or.cz	10%		237
GitHub	59%		1404
Gitorious	7%		171
Savannah	2%		37
Assembla	2%		41
Unfuddle	3%		66
kernel.org	2%		37
freedesktop.org	2%		50
Alioth	3%		63
Fedora Hosted	1%		14
generic site without git support	4%		107
self hosted	46%		1095
Other (please specify)	4%		87
Total respondents			2385
Respondents who skipped this question			851

25) How do you publish/propagate your changes? (Choice - Multiple answers) | View

push	90%		2355
pull request	27%		709
format-patch + email	22%		584
git bundle	2%		48
git-svn	27%		704
other	2%		51
foreign SCM, not git-svn (please specify tool and SCM)	3%		82
Total respondents			2625
Respondents who skipped this question			611

26) If the way you publish your changes is not mentioned above, how do you publish your changes? Please explain. (Open ended text - Essay) | View

27) How often do you use the following forms of git commands or extra git tools? (Matrix - One answer per row)

	never	rarely	sometimes	often
git add -i / -p	919 - 38%	389 - 16%	402 - 17%	464 - 19%
git add -u / -A	1233 - 52%	320 - 13%	244 - 10%	274 - 11%
git am	1469 - 61%	298 - 12%	177 - 7%	105 - 4%
git am -i	1761 - 74%	177 - 7%	68 - 3%	13 - 1%
git apply	1287 - 54%	416 - 17%	262 - 11%	74 - 3%
git apply --whitespace=fix	1677 - 70%	212 - 9%	87 - 4%	30 - 1%
git archive	1469 - 61%	293 - 12%	186 - 8%	77 - 3%
git bisect	1217 - 51%	452 - 19%	330 - 14%	61 - 3%
git bisect run <cmd>	1665 - 70%	221 - 9%	103 - 4%	13 - 1%
git annotate	1416 - 59%	350 - 15%	215 - 9%	53 - 2%
git gui blame	1729 - 72%	168 - 7%	93 - 4%	17 - 1%
git blame	1030 - 43%	496 - 21%	396 - 17%	142 - 6%
git blame -L <start>,<end> etc.	1716 - 72%	171 - 7%	74 - 3%	15 - 1%
git bundle	1819 - 76%	128 - 5%	31 - 1%	10 - 0%
git cherry	1648 - 69%	222 - 9%	100 - 4%	31 - 1%
git cherry-pick	1051 - 44%	364 - 15%	447 - 19%	206 - 9%
git cherry-pick -n	1555 - 65%	223 - 9%	149 - 6%	52 - 2%
git citool	1837 - 77%	77 - 3%	25 - 1%	32 - 1%
git clean	1154 - 48%	404 - 17%	290 - 12%	161 - 7%
git add + git commit	212 - 9%	105 - 4%	285 - 12%	1559 - 65%
git commit -a	197 - 8%	199 - 8%	394 - 16%	1480 - 62%
git commit <file>...	494 - 21%	330 - 14%	442 - 18%	856 - 36%
git commit -i <file>...	1308 - 55%	330 - 14%	182 - 8%	158 - 7%
git commit --amend	783 - 33%	339 - 14%	460 - 19%	486 - 20%
git cvsexportcommit	1889 - 79%	43 - 2%	23 - 1%	24 - 1%
git cvsserver	1926 - 80%	44 - 2%	12 - 1%	5 - 0%
git daemon	1500 - 63%	242 - 10%	127 - 5%	130 - 5%
git daemon (pushing enabled)	1709 - 71%	147 - 6%	65 - 3%	58 - 2%
git ... --dirstat	1768 - 74%	135 - 6%	51 - 2%	11 - 0%
git fetch [<options>]	593 - 25%	469 - 20%	501 - 21%	502 - 21%
git filter-branch	1681 - 70%	231 - 10%	62 - 3%	10 - 0%
git format-patch	1165 - 49%	337 - 14%	315 - 13%	202 - 8%
git grep	1196 - 50%	357 - 15%	242 - 10%	242 - 10%
git imap-send	1912 - 80%	58 - 2%	9 - 0%	6 - 0%
git instaweb	1775 - 74%	141 - 6%	45 - 2%	12 - 1%
git log --grep/--author/...	934 - 39%	376 - 16%	441 - 18%	289 - 12%
git log -S<string> (pickaxe search)	1393 - 58%	290 - 12%	207 - 9%	95 - 4%
git log --graph	1481 - 62%	302 - 13%	155 - 6%	52 - 2%
git merge	302 - 13%	432 - 18%	713 - 30%	709 - 30%
git merge with strategy	1533 - 64%	300 - 13%	116 - 5%	32 - 1%
git merge --squash	1464 - 61%	312 - 13%	150 - 6%	66 - 3%
git mergetool	1486 - 62%	219 - 9%	160 - 7%	118 - 5%
git pull (no remote)	406 - 17%	307 - 13%	444 - 19%	1009 - 42%
git pull --rebase [<options>]	1105 - 46%	405 - 17%	272 - 11%	224 - 9%
git pull <remote>	308 - 13%	386 - 16%	623 - 26%	862 - 36%
git pull <URL> <ref>	805 - 34%	510 - 21%	395 - 17%	331 - 14%
git push	135 - 6%	140 - 6%	358 - 15%	1628 - 68%
Total respondents				2393
Respondents who skipped this question				843

28) How often do you use the following forms of git commands or extra git tools? (continued) (Matrix - One answer per row)

	never	rarely	sometimes	often
git relink	1889 - 84%	53 - 2%	9 - 0%	1 - 0%
git rebase	592 - 26%	432 - 19%	506 - 22%	586 - 26%
git rebase -i	1097 - 49%	257 - 11%	297 - 13%	346 - 15%
git remote	783 - 35%	423 - 19%	550 - 24%	269 - 12%
git remote update	1327 - 59%	293 - 13%	208 - 9%	138 - 6%
git request-pull	1750 - 78%	140 - 6%	47 - 2%	25 - 1%
git revert	689 - 31%	688 - 30%	536 - 24%	146 - 6%
git send-email	1642 - 73%	169 - 7%	97 - 4%	61 - 3%
git show-branch	1444 - 64%	266 - 12%	188 - 8%	79 - 4%
git shortlog	1414 - 63%	301 - 13%	207 - 9%	52 - 2%
git shortlog -s	1648 - 73%	188 - 8%	97 - 4%	25 - 1%
git stash	703 - 31%	302 - 13%	560 - 25%	498 - 22%
git stash --keep-index	1704 - 75%	133 - 6%	75 - 3%	37 - 2%
git submodule	1381 - 61%	292 - 13%	198 - 9%	122 - 5%
git svn	915 - 41%	306 - 14%	322 - 14%	522 - 23%
git whatchanged	1577 - 70%	206 - 9%	116 - 5%	64 - 3%
git gui	1330 - 59%	292 - 13%	171 - 8%	234 - 10%
gitk	601 - 27%	335 - 15%	479 - 21%	692 - 31%
Total respondents				2257
Respondents who skipped this question				979

29) Which of the following features do or did you use? (Choice - Multiple answers)

git-gui or other commit tool	31%		666
gitk or other history viewer	73%		1586
patch management interface (e.g. StGIT)	5%		119
git bundle (off-line transport)	5%		101
eol conversion (crlf)	8%		176
gitattributes	6%		135
submodules (subprojects)	26%		554
separate worktree	7%		141
multiple worktrees (git-new-worktree)	3%		72
alternates mechanism (sharing object database)	6%		122
reflog	16%		339
stash	54%		1180
shallow clone	8%		172
detaching HEAD	14%		309
mergetool	17%		376
interactive rebase	31%		670
add --interactive or other partial commit helper	34%		741
commit templates	2%		38
git-filter-branch or cg-admin-rewritehist	7%		143
bisect	30%		643
working with dirty tree	19%		405
integration with IDE/editor	19%		418
non-default hooks	11%		236
shell completion of commands	44%		951
git-aware shell prompt	22%		469
my own scripts	24%		523
Total respondents			2167
Respondents who skipped this question			1069

30) Which features do you find unique and/or useful ones, compared to other systems (other SCMs)? (Choice - Multiple answers)

git bundle (off-line transport)	10%		190
eol conversion (crlf)	7%		119
gitattributes	5%		84
submodules (subprojects)	22%		399
separate worktree	11%		207
alternates mechanism (sharing oject database)	7%		126
reflog	16%		295
stash	61%		1121
shallow clone	7%		126
detaching HEAD	10%		177
mergetool	14%		248
interactive rebase	39%		711
add --interactive or other partial commit helper	37%		674
the index	43%		789
commit templates	4%		65
git-filter-branch or cg-admin-rewritehist	7%		125
bisect	40%		735
working with dirty tree	14%		264
hooks system	18%		323
scriptability	27%		497
Total respondents			1824
Respondents who skipped this question			1412

31) If you use some important Git features not mentioned above, what are those? (Open ended text - Essay) | View

32) Overall, how happy are you with Git? (Choice - Single answer)

unhappy	1%		19
not so happy	3%		86
happy	26%		687
very happy	51%		1341
completly ecstatic	19%		498
Total respondents			2631
Respondents who skipped this question			605

33) How does Git compare to other SCM tools you have used? (Choice - Single answer)

worse	2%		52
equal (or comparable)	11%		293
better	87%		2244
Total respondents			2589
Respondents who skipped this question			647

34) What would you like to see improved about Git? (features, bugs, plug-ins, documentation, ...) (Open ended text - Essay) | View

35) What tools (or kind of tools) would you like to see Git support in? (e.g. IDE, RAD, editors, continuous integration, software hosting, bugtracker, merge tool...) (Open ended text - Essay) | View

36) Did you participate in previous Git User's Surveys? (Choice - Multiple answers)

in 2006	29%		77
in 2007	97%		256
Total respondents			265
Respondents who skipped this question			2971

37) How do you compare current version with version from year ago? (Choice - Single answer)

better	44%		855
no changes	4%		75
worse	0%		5
cannot say	51%		990
Total respondents			1925
Respondents who skipped this question			1311

38) Do you use the Git wiki? (Choice - Single answer)

Yes	46%		1151
No	54%		1348
Total respondents			2499
Respondents who skipped this question			737

39) Do you find Git wiki useful? (Choice - Single answer)

Yes	41%		672
No	15%		246
Somewhat	44%		708
Total respondents			1626
Respondents who skipped this question			1610

40) Do you contribute to Git wiki? (Choice - Single answer)

Yes	2%		50
No	96%		1916
only spam removal	2%		37
Total respondents			2003
Respondents who skipped this question			1233

41) Do you find Git's on-line help (homepages, documentation) useful? (Choice - Single answer)

Yes	61%		1392
No	5%		120
Somewhat	34%		775
Total respondents			2287
Respondents who skipped this question			949

42) Do you find help distributed with Git useful? (manpages, manual, tutorial, HOWTO, release notes) (Choice - Single answer)

Yes	66%		1544
No	6%		136
Somewhat	29%		672
Total respondents			2352
Respondents who skipped this question			884

43) What could be improved on the Git homepage(s)? (Open ended text - Essay) | View

44) What could be improved in Git documentation? (What can/will you do to help improve it?) (Open ended text - Essay) | View

45) What is the language you want computer communicate with you? (Open ended text - One line) | View

46) What do you need/want to have translated? (Choice - Multiple answers)

command messages	41%		132
manpages	63%		205
user's manual, tutorial, etc.	76%		246
technical documentation	39%		128
HOWTOs	69%		224
git homepage	29%		93
git wiki	24%		78
git-gui	29%		94
gitk	33%		106
subcommands and long option names	10%		33
Total respondents			325
Respondents who skipped this question			2911

47) Have you tried to get Git help from other people? (Choice - Single answer)

Yes	59%		1395
No	41%		950
Total respondents			2345
Respondents who skipped this question			891

48) What channel did you use to request help? (Choice - Multiple answers) | View

git mailing list	19%		276
git Google Group	5%		72
IRC (#git)	37%		545
IRC (#github)	10%		147
request in blog post or on wiki	8%		115
asking git guru/colleague	57%		843
other (please specify)	10%		148
Total respondents			1478
Respondents who skipped this question			1758

49) If yes, did you get these problems resolved quickly and to your liking? (Choice - Single answer)

Yes	67%		983
No	5%		76
Somewhat	28%		414
Total respondents			1473
Respondents who skipped this question			1763

50) Would commercial (paid) Git support from a support vendor be of interest to you/your organization? (Choice - Single answer)

Yes	9%		189
No	69%		1475
not applicable	22%		481
Total respondents			2145
Respondents who skipped this question			1091

51) Do you think it is easy to find out how to do a specific task with git? (Choice - Single answer)

Yes	28%		641
No	12%		272
not always	61%		1411
Total respondents			2324
Respondents who skipped this question			912

52) Do you read the mailing list? (Choice - Multiple answers)

git@vger.kernel.org (main)	85%		423
Git for Human Beings (Google Group)	16%		78
msysGit	12%		60
Total respondents			495
Respondents who skipped this question			2741

53) If yes, do you find mailing list useful? (Choice - Single answer)

Yes	49%		294
No	12%		71
Somewhat	39%		237
Total respondents			602
Respondents who skipped this question			2634

54) Do you find the mailing list traffic level to be: (Choice - Single answer)

too low	1%		14
OK, just right	14%		153
tolerable (a bit high)	23%		257
intolerable (absurdly high)	7%		73
I don't read it	56%		620
Total respondents			1117
Respondents who skipped this question			2119

55) Do you use the IRC channel (#git on irc.freenode.net)? (Choice - Single answer)

Yes	28%		539
No	72%		1354
Total respondents			1893
Respondents who skipped this question			1343

56) If yes, do you find IRC channel useful? (Choice - Single answer)

Yes	56%		355
No	14%		92
Somewhat	30%		192
Total respondents			639
Respondents who skipped this question			2597

57) Did you have problems getting GIT help on mailing list or on IRC channel? What were it? What could be improved? (Open ended text - Essay) | View

58) What other comments or suggestions do you have that are not covered by the questions above? (Open ended text - Essay) | View

59) Should Git User's Survey be repeated next year? (Choice - Single answer)

Yes	78%		1788
No	1%		29
no opinion	20%		464
Total respondents			2281
Respondents who skipped this question			955

60) Where have you read/find about this survey? (Open ended text - Essay) | View