What's the difference between git -q pull and git pull?

Question

I've seen this on a question about a git cronjob where git -q pull origin master was being used. But I simply can't find anything on what the -qparameter does? What difference is there in using, for example: git pull origin master vs git -q pull origin master?

Also does this parameter have some effect on the git push command?

Answer 1

Note: git -q pull wouldn't work.

The git command itself has no -q parameters.

git pull does:

git pull -q origin master

Even though it isn't fully quiet:

It is actually only "quiet" if no problems are found

If unmerged error occurs, output is seen on BOTH stdout and stderr.

See also "Can git operate in “silent mode”?"

Answer 2

It's simply a flag for "quiet", as stated in the official documentation for git pull

-q
--quiet

This is passed to both underlying git fetch to squelch reporting of during transfer, and underlying git-merge to squelch output during merging.

You can also find this information in your terminal (assuming that you're using a *nix operating system) with man git-pull.

Push has this option too.