update mac download details #2099
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content/downloads/mac.html
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| <h3>Binary installer</h3> | ||
| <p>Tim Harper provided an installer for Git until version 2.33.0 / 2021. This | ||
| project was archived in favor of Xcode Command Line Tools.</p> |
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This project was archived in favor of Xcode Command Line Tools.
I don't think that was quite the consensus of #1774, so I am loathe to accept that explanation as-is.
The conversation in that ticket concluded with no definitive decision as to which binary package to recommend, but XCode was suggested as a replacement only by @timcharper.
However, it is frustratingly hard (and apparently impossible) to say for sure which Git version XCode's Command Line Tools include. The release notes certainly keep everyone in the dark!
Therefore, I do not want to merge this as-is. I want a more nuanced description here. It should at least mention that most developers opt to use Homebrew. It looks as if even GitHub Actions' hosted macOS runners ship a different Git version than XCode's (this update down-grades Git while leaving the XCode Command Line Tools unchanged, suggesting that the former is not included in the latter).
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The issue #1774 covers why no alternative was chosen, not why the binary installer project was archived. I understand that this sounds like a recommendation for the Xcode Command Line Tools, and they are problematic since it's unclear which version of git it provides. But then I would rather add that to the downloads page.
I have pushed an update, what do you think?
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I really don't like promoting or demoting XCode Command Line Tools.
Your update makes it sound as if they are always outdated (which you could have said about @timcharper's semi-official binary packages, too). But then, since there is no official word on their update policy, it's equally unfair to say that it is outdated as to say that it is recommended.
I don't know why it is necessary to say anything about XCode Command Line Tools.
Iff you want to recommend something, it should be Homebrew, as that is clearly the most popular way to install Git on macOS.
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Since I dislike this slow, timid nudging away from what I consider misleading information, I now offer a big step toward what I could live with here.
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I really don't like promoting or demoting XCode Command Line Tools.
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I don't know why it is necessary to say anything about XCode Command Line Tools.
Iff you want to recommend something, it should be Homebrew, as that is clearly the most popular way to install Git on macOS.
Homebrew as well as MacPorts depend on Xcode Command Line Tools, anyone using either will already have Xcode Command Line Tools installed including Git. If you want to recommend Homebrew you have to address the question of what's wrong with Xcode Command Line Tools. To be honest, I did not want to address this topic in my pull request, it evolved out of your first comment. I'm fine with your suggestion.
content/downloads/mac.html
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| Tools</a>. This is not a recommended way to install Git. There is no public | ||
| record of which version it provides, and it is usually outdated.<br> | ||
| <code>$ xcode-select --install</code></p> | ||
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| <h3>Binary installer</h3> | ||
| <p>Tim Harper provided an installer for Git until version 2.33.0 / 2021. This | ||
| project was archived in favor of Xcode Command Line Tools.</p> |
There was a problem hiding this comment.
| Tools</a>. This is not a recommended way to install Git. There is no public | |
| record of which version it provides, and it is usually outdated.<br> | |
| <code>$ xcode-select --install</code></p> | |
| <h3>Binary installer</h3> | |
| <p>Tim Harper provided an installer for Git until version 2.33.0 / 2021. This | |
| project was archived in favor of Xcode Command Line Tools.</p> | |
| Tools</a>. You can install this via: <code>$ xcode-select --install</code></p> | |
| <h3>Binary installer</h3> | |
| <p>Tim Harper provided an installer for Git until version 2.33.0 / 2021. These installers are no longer linked from here because there are no updates since that version, nor are there plans to provide any.</p> |
Apples Xcode Command Line Tools provides git without the full Xcode IDE. It can also easily be installed via `xcode-select --install`.
In commit 54175ad the binary installer was removed since it's no longer maintained. Now there are still a lot of references to that page mentioning the binary installer, for example Pro Git book[0] or Stack Overflow[1]. To reduce confusion this re adds the binary installer indicating that it is no longer maintained. [0]: https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2/Getting-Started-Installing-Git [1]: https://stackoverflow.com/a/70764034
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This will update the mac downloads page replacing Xcode with Xcode Command Line Tools which is smaller in installation size compared to full Xcode and can be installed via command line. It also re adds mentioning the binary installer to reduce confusion, a lot of locations on the internet and print are point to this page indicating there is a binary installer.