|$ curl https://forge-ai.dev/api/markdown?path=docs/git/lfs

$cat docs/git-lfs.md

updated Today·22-30 min read·published

Git LFS

◆Git◆LFS◆Binaries◆Intermediate🎯Free Tools

Introduction

Git LFS replaces large binaries in the Git object database with small pointer files, storing the real content on an LFS server. Use it for PSD, video, datasets, and other blobs that should not bloat packs.

Install

install.sh

Bash

1	# macOS
2	brew install git-lfs
3	# Debian/Ubuntu
4	sudo apt install git-lfs
5	# Windows: included in Git for Windows installer option
6
7	git lfs install
8	git lfs version

ℹ

info

git lfs install configures clean/smudge filters in your global Git config once per machine.

Track Patterns

track.sh

Bash

1	git lfs track "*.psd"
2	git lfs track "*.mp4"
3	git lfs track "design/*/.sketch"
4	git lfs track "*.csv" --filename # exact if needed
5	cat .gitattributes
6	git add .gitattributes
7	git add assets/hero.psd
8	git commit -m "chore: store PSD files in LFS"
9	git lfs ls-files

Tracking writes rules to .gitattributes. Commit that file so teammates share the same filters.

Pointer Files

pointer.txt

TEXT

1	version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
2	oid sha256:4d7a...
3	size 13245678

📝

note

If you open a binary in the worktree and see this text, the smudge filter did not run — check git lfs install.

Clone, Fetch, Pull

clone.sh

Bash

1	git clone git@github.com:org/app.git
2	# LFS files download via smudge during checkout
3
4	# Skip LFS download (CI metadata-only)
5	GIT_LFS_SKIP_SMUDGE=1 git clone git@github.com:org/app.git
6	cd app && git lfs pull
7
8	git lfs fetch --all
9	git lfs pull

Migrate Existing History

If large files were already committed as normal Git blobs, migrate rewrites history to LFS pointers.

migrate.sh

Bash

1	# Rewrite all branches/tags — coordinate with team
2	git lfs migrate import --include=".psd,.mp4" --everything
3
4	# Inspect without rewriting
5	git lfs migrate info --everything
6
7	# After rewrite: force-push with lease (team downtime)
8	git push --force-with-lease --all
9	git push --force-with-lease --tags

danger

Migration rewrites SHAs. Announce a cutover window. Everyone must re-clone or hard-reset carefully.

Bandwidth & Quota Tips

Track only what must be versioned; prefer artifact storage for build outputs
Use GIT_LFS_SKIP_SMUDGE in CI jobs that do not need binaries
git lfs fetch -I 'path' to pull selectively
Prune local LFS cache: git lfs prune
Watch host quotas (GitHub LFS data packs)

bandwidth.sh

Bash

1	git lfs ls-files --size \| sort -k2 -h \| tail
2	git lfs prune
3	git lfs fetch -I "assets/icons/**"

File Locking (Optional)

lock.sh

Bash

1	git lfs track "*.psd" --lockable
2	git add .gitattributes && git commit -m "chore: lockable PSDs"
3	git lfs lock assets/hero.psd
4	git lfs locks
5	git lfs unlock assets/hero.psd

FAQ

Common questions and short answers.

LFS or Git submodule for binaries?

LFS for files in-tree; submodules for nested repos.

Can I untrack LFS?

git lfs untrack '*.psd' then migrate export if needed.

Why is my repo still huge?

Old blobs remain until migrate + rewrite + GC on server.

LFS Adoption Checklist

git lfs install on all developer machines
.gitattributes committed with track rules
CI handles LFS (or skip smudge intentionally)
Quota monitoring in place
Migration plan communicated if rewriting

checklist.sh

Bash

1	echo "[ ] git lfs install on all developer machines"
2	echo "[ ] .gitattributes committed with track rules"
3	echo "[ ] CI handles LFS (or skip smudge intentionally)"
4	echo "[ ] Quota monitoring in place"
5	echo "[ ] Migration plan communicated if rewriting"

Notes for AI Agents

Always commit .gitattributes with track rules
Warn before migrate import --everything
Do not recommend LFS for source code text files
Mention quota costs on hosted providers

🔥

pro tip

See How to Master Git for curriculum order.

Worked Examples

These end-to-end examples reinforce the lfs concepts above. Run them in a disposable lab under /tmp so mistakes are cheap.

Example A — happy path

example-a.sh

Bash

1	# Lab for lfs
2	rm -rf /tmp/git-lab-lfs && mkdir -p /tmp/git-lab-lfs
3	cd /tmp/git-lab-lfs
4	git init -b main
5	git config user.email "lab@example.com"
6	git config user.name "Lab User"
7	echo "# lab" > README.md
8	git add README.md
9	git commit -m "chore: init lab for lfs"
10	git status -sb
11	git log --oneline --decorate

Example B — recover from a mistake

example-b.sh

Bash

1	# Make a bad commit, then recover safely
2	echo bad > oops.txt
3	git add oops.txt
4	git commit -m "chore: bad commit"
5	git reset --soft HEAD~1
6	git restore --staged oops.txt
7	rm oops.txt
8	git status -sb
9	# If you had hard-reset already:
10	# git reflog \| head
11	# git reset --hard HEAD@{1}

🔥

pro tip

Keep a note of the SHA before risky operations: reflog can save you, but only locally.

Troubleshooting

Symptoms you will hit in real repos, and the first commands to run.

Unexpected dirty tree

trouble-dirty.sh

Bash

1	git status -sb
2	git diff
3	git diff --staged
4	git stash list
5	# Discard one file:
6	git restore path/to/file
7	# Unstage one file:
8	git restore --staged path/to/file

Diverged from remote

trouble-diverge.sh

Bash

1	git fetch origin
2	git status -sb
3	git log --oneline --left-right HEAD...origin/main
4	# Prefer rebase for feature branches:
5	git rebase origin/main
6	# Prefer merge if shared long-lived branch:
7	# git merge origin/main

Conflict markers left behind

trouble-markers.sh

Bash

1	git diff --check
2	rg -n '^(<<<<<<<\|=======\|>>>>>>>)' \|\| true
3	# Fix files, then:
4	git add -A
5	git status

danger

Never force-push to main to "fix" divergence. Use revert or a forward fix.

Command Cheatsheet

Keep this short list nearby while practicing lfs.

cheatsheet.sh

Bash

1	git status -sb
2	git log --oneline --graph --decorate -15
3	git diff
4	git diff --staged
5	git add -p
6	git commit -m "type(scope): summary"
7	git switch -c feature/x
8	git fetch origin --prune
9	git rebase origin/main
10	git push -u origin HEAD
11	git restore --staged PATH
12	git restore PATH
13	git stash push -u -m "wip"
14	git reflog \| head
15	git rev-parse HEAD
16	git remote -v

Read the full curriculum order in How to Master Git
Look up flags in Commands Reference
Follow the staged path in Git Roadmap

Team Policy Notes

Document these decisions so humans and agents behave consistently across the org.

Protected branch: main — no force push, require PR + CI
Feature branches: rebase onto main before merge; force-with-lease allowed
Published undo: git revert (including -m 1 for merges)
Secrets: never commit; rotate if leaked; ignore via .gitignore
Commit style: Conventional Commits
Signing: required if compliance asks; SSH signing preferred

policy.md

Markdown

1	# Git policy (excerpt)
2	- defaultBranch: main
3	- updateStrategy: rebase
4	- mergeStrategy: squash (via host)
5	- allowForcePush: feature/* only with --force-with-lease
6	- requireSignedCommits: true
7	- maxPRLines: 400 (soft)

✓

best practice

Automate policy with hooks + CI — see Hooks and Best Practices.

Agent Verification Prompts

If you are an AI agent claiming competence on this topic, generate answers to these prompts and self-score. Fail closed on any critical miss.

Produce a safe command sequence for the primary workflow on this page
Name one destructive anti-pattern and the safer alternative
Show how to recover if the operation goes wrong (reflog/revert/abort)
List files/paths that must never be committed
State whether force-push is allowed in the scenario — default no on main

agent-fetch.sh

Bash

1	curl -s "https://forgelearn.dev/api/markdown?path=git/mastery" \| head
2	curl -s "https://forgelearn.dev/api/agent?skill=forgelearn-git" \| head
3	curl -s https://forgelearn.dev/skills/forgelearn-git/SKILL.md \| head

danger

Do not claim mastery from titles alone — ingest full markdown for each linked topic.

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