Which git.exe should I reference?

Question

Git for Windows has installed four git.exe files.

They seem slightly different (comparing bytes).

Which should I use for other applications that want a reference to git.exe?

• \Program Files\Git\bin\git.exe
• \Program Files\Git\cmd\git.exe
• \Program Files\Git\mingw64\bin\git.exe
• \Program Files\Git\mingw64\libexec\git-core\git.exe

Answer 1

The different version are each one for a different purpose.

• \Program Files\Git\bin\git.exe
  This is the actual git binary which is added to your path if you run it form any script etc.

  This entry found here in the git source script for windows:
  https://github.com/git-for-windows/build-extra/blob/69c134c3c2c46bce1083d5bd4596d26543ca5f0f/portable/release.sh

• \Program Files\Git\cmd\git.exe
  This is the git which is run when you add installed and choose to add git to your cmd (windows path)

  This entry can be found here in the source : <File Id="GitExe" Source="cmd\\git.exe" /> https://github.com/git-for-windows/build-extra/blob/69c134c3c2c46bce1083d5bd4596d26543ca5f0f/msi/release.sh

• \Program Files\Git\mingw64\bin\git.exe
  This is the git-bash version which is used by the git-bash cygwin emulator

  It defined here in the wxs (installer file)
  https://github.com/git-for-windows/build-extra/blob/69c134c3c2c46bce1083d5bd4596d26543ca5f0f/msi/GitProduct.wxs

  <?if $(var.SixtyFourBit)=64 ?>
      <Directory Id='MingwFolder' Name='mingw64' />
  <?else?>  
  

• \Program Files\Git\mingw64\libexec\git-core\git.exe
  Thisone is also for the emulator and is being defined here:
  https://github.com/git-for-windows/build-extra/blob/69c134c3c2c46bce1083d5bd4596d26543ca5f0f/git-extra/git-prompt.sh

  if test -z "$WINELOADERNOEXEC" then GIT_EXEC_PATH="$(git --exec-path 2>/dev/null)" COMPLETION_PATH="${GIT_EXEC_PATH%/libexec/git-core}" ...

Answer 2

When you are using from your windows command prompt you should be referring to the, \Program Files\Git\bin\git.exe

The ones under mingw64 are used with the Git bash interface.