Git Annex

Git‑annex extends the Git version‑control system to handle large files without storing their contents directly in the repository. It tracks files by checksums, allowing the actual data to reside on any number of locations—local disks, external drives, remote servers, or cloud storage—while keeping a single directory tree in Git. The tool can synchronize, back up, and archive data both offline and online, and it supports encryption to protect the contents.

The command‑line interface is aimed at users familiar with Git, but an optional assistant provides a graphical folder‑synchronization experience for those who prefer a simpler workflow. Git‑annex treats each storage location as a special remote, enabling automated copying, retrieval, and verification of files across heterogeneous devices. It also records where each file is stored, making it easy to locate and restore data from any configured remote.

Typical scenarios include archival workflows where many drives are kept offline yet remain searchable, and mobile use cases where a laptop, USB drive, and remote server must stay in sync without manual copying. The project is released under GPL‑3.0, is self‑hostable, and has a stable, mature codebase.