running Git at sonic

[chaiken]

I'd like to use my sonic account to host a git-daemon that would allow me to store content, both source code via traditional git, and other types of media (like slidesets) via git-annex. My login shell now takes me to bolt.sonic.net, which is running far too old a version of Linux (2.4 kernel) to support git. Since I want to store my personal files and not run a giant server, the bandwidth and storage needs that this project would require are relatively modest.

Is there anyway to run Git this way at sonic? Are any other users doing so? Would I be better off with a hosted VM than with the normal shell access I have now? Obviously a VM could run a newer version of the system software.

Thanks,
Alison Chaiken
[email protected]

[joemuller]

Alison,

Based upon the experience of myself and others, either GitHub or Bitbucket are both excellent services that offer Git repository hosting. Each offers extra features that are not included with just the Git daemon.

-- Joe

[chaiken]

Joe, thanks: I already have a Github repository. However, Github does not allow rsync as a transport, and so it will not allow GitAnnex, the application that I desire to use. GitAnnex is suitable for binary files and other files in which merge-conflict markers would be a disaster. Creator Joey Hess is also the guy behind the wonderful etckeeper.

Best wishes,
Alison

[darrylo]

Does it have to be one site for both? I don't think git-annex requires git at the remote end, and so, if you insist on using rsync, I think you can still use sonic for git-annex. Just be aware of sonic's relatively low disk quotas.

(And, it is possible to build git local to one's account. Old/not-quite-working instructions are here. However, some of the regression tests "fail", but it's unclear if the failures are actual problems. I suspect that at least one is, though.)

[chaiken]

darrylo, I don't insist on rsync: GitAnnex does. GitAnnex is a rather well-known project developed by Joey Hess, which I invite you to investigate.

I spent half a day once trying to get git working on my 2.4-kernel shell account at bolt.sonic.net. That's enough.

[darrylo]

Is there more than one git-annex??? I know about this one: https://git-annex.branchable.com/

That version has multiple remote ends, rsync being only one of them: https://git-annex.branchable.com/special_remotes/

And, as far as I can tell, the git-annex rsync remote end does not require git at the remote end (at the local end, yes, but the local end would be your mac/pc/linux box, and not shell.sonic.net).

It's not trivial, but it is possible to compile the latest git on shell.sonic.net -- I just did it as an exercise, earlier today. However, it's not passing all of the regression tests. Most of the failures look like false positives, but a couple do look ominous. I can give you instructions, but you have to know how to use patch(1).

EDIT: I just tried out an old version of git-annex that I'd installed eons ago, and the remote rsync to shell.sonic.net works fine. There's no need for git. Example tested command:

Code: Select all

git annex move testfile.txt --to sonicrsync