git: a quick command to go to root of the working tree

Question

I wanted a simple git command to go up to the "root" of the repository.

I started with a script, but figured that I cannot change active directory of the shell, I had to do a function. Unfortunately, I cannot call it directly with the non-dash form "git root", for instance.

function git-root() {
 if [ -d .git ]; then
  return 0
 fi

 A=..
 while ! [ -d $A/.git ]; do 
  A="$A/.."
 done
 cd $A
}

Do you have a better solution? (the function has been written quickly, suggestions are welcome)

Answer 1

Unfortunately, changing your current directory can only be done by the shell, not by any subprocess. By the time git gets around to parsing your command, it's already too late -- git has already been spawned in a separate process.

Here's a really gross, untested shell function that just might do what you want:

function git() {
    if [ "$1" == "root" ]; then
        git-root
    else
        git "$@"
    fi
}

Answer 2

This has been asked before, here. Copying @docgnome's answer, he writes

cd $(git rev-parse --show-cdup)

Make an alias if you like:

alias git-root='cd $(git rev-parse --show-cdup)'