Garbage Collection

Git garbage collection removes unreachable objects and optimizes the local repository. SmartGit usually runs these maintenance tasks automatically in the background. Use Run Garbage Collector if you want to trigger the cleanup manually.

Garbage Collector dialog

The dialog offers several options:

• Also prune recently created objects
• Optimize repository more aggressively (may take a while)
• Expire reflog now (will also delete stashes!)
• Delete old LFS files from local storage (lfs prune)

Use the aggressive option only when you explicitly want a slower but more thorough optimization run.

If Expire reflog now (will also delete stashes!) is enabled and the repository currently contains stashes, SmartGit shows an additional dangerous confirmation. This is important because expiring the reflog at once also removes those stashes!

The Delete old LFS files from local storage (lfs prune) option is only available for repositories with Git-LFS enabled.

Inspecting recyclable commits

You can inspect commits that are candidates for garbage collection in the Log Window. In the Branches view, select Recyclable Commits.