Why lowercase Git repository names are a good idea

I generally go with lowercase Git repository names. Here are a few reasons why that is a good idea.

Cross-platform consistency

File systems differ. Linux is case-sensitive (myrepo ≠ MyRepo), but macOS and Windows often aren’t. Keeping names lowercase avoids confusion or unexpected behavior when cloning or switching between machines.

Operating system breakdown with case-sensitivity:

  • Linux: Case-sensitive.
  • macOS: Case-insensitive, case-preserving.
  • Windows: Case-insensitive, case-preserving.

Name collisions

Some tools or services treat MyRepo and myrepo as different, while others do not—sticking to lowercase sidesteps this risk.

Simplicity & convention

It’s just easier to remember, type, and communicate. Plus, it’s the most common convention—most public repositories (on GitHub, GitLab, etc.) follow this pattern.

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