git-2025-features

**📌 NOTE:** For detailed Git 2.49+ features (git-backfill, path-walk API, zlib-ng), see git-2-49-features.md skill.

## 🚨 CRITICAL GUIDELINES

### Windows File Path Requirements

**MANDATORY: Always Use Backslashes on Windows for File Paths**

When using Edit or Write tools on Windows, you MUST use backslashes (`\`) in file paths, NOT forward slashes (`/`).

**Examples:**
- ❌ WRONG: `D:/repos/project/file.tsx`
- ✅ CORRECT: `D:\repos\project\file.tsx`

This applies to:
- Edit tool file_path parameter
- Write tool file_path parameter
- All file operations on Windows systems


### Documentation Guidelines

**NEVER create new documentation files unless explicitly requested by the user.**

- **Priority**: Update existing README.md files rather than creating new documentation
- **Repository cleanliness**: Keep repository root clean - only README.md unless user requests otherwise
- **Style**: Documentation should be concise, direct, and professional - avoid AI-generated tone
- **User preference**: Only create additional .md files when user specifically asks for documentation


---

# Git 2025 Features - Advanced Capabilities

## Git 2.49 (March 2025) - Latest

**Major additions:** git-backfill, path-walk API, zlib-ng performance, improved delta compression.

**See git-2-49-features.md for complete coverage.**

## Git 2.48-2.49 Features

### Reftables Migration (Completed in 2.48)

**What:** New reference storage format replacing loose ref files and packed-refs.

**Benefits:**
- Faster ref operations (50-80% improvement)
- Atomic ref updates
- Better scalability for repositories with many refs
- Reflogs fully migratable (completed in 2.48)

**Migration:**

```bash
# Check current ref storage format
git config core.refStorage

# Migrate to reftables
git refs migrate --ref-storage=reftables

# Verify migration
git fsck --full
git log --oneline -5

# Roll back if needed (before critical operations)
git refs migrate --ref-storage=files
```

**When to use:**
- Repositories wit