1. Initialize `git-secret` repository by running `git secret init` command. `.gitsecret/` folder will be created, **note** that `.gitsecret/` folder [should **not** be ignored](https://github.com/sobolevn/git-secret/issues/39).
2. Add first user to the system by running `git secret tell your@gpg.email`.
3. Now it's time to add files you wish to encrypt inside the `git-secret` repository. It can be done by running `git secret add <filenames...>` command. Make sure these files are ignored, otherwise `git-secret` won't allow you to add them, as these files will be stored unencrypted.
4. When done, run `git secret hide` all files, which you have added by `git secret add` command will be encrypted with added public-keys by the `git secret tell` command. Now it is safe to commit your changes. **But**. It's recommended to add `git secret hide` command to your `pre-commit` hook, so you won't miss any changes.
Note, that it is possible to add yourself to the system without decrypting existing files. It will be possible to decrypt them after reencrypting them with the new keyring. So, if you don't want unexpected keys added, make sure to configure some server-side security policy with the `pre-receive` hook.
You can configure several things to suit your workflow better. To do so, just set the required variable to the value you need. This can be done in your shell environment file or with the each `git-secret` command.
* `$SECRETS_GPG_COMMAND` - sets the `gpg` alternatives, defaults to `gpg`. It can be changed to `gpg`, `gpg2`, `pgp`, `/usr/local/gpg` or any other value. After doing so rerun the tests to be sure that it won't break anything. Tested to be working with: `gpg`, `gpg2`.
This folder contains every piece of information about the project. It stores:
* public keys for the project
* path mappings. Or in other words: what files are tracked to be hidden and revealed
This folder should not be ignored. In case it is application would not work raising an error: `'.gitsecret/' is ignored. abort.'`. However, it is possible to ignore [individual files](https://github.com/sobolevn/git-secret/issues/93) inside it: `random_seed` would be the most popular example.