BitKeeper originally offered free licences to Linux developers, with one of the conditions being that they don't reverse engineer it.
One of them did, and BitKeeper revoked that licence. That's what prompted Linus to write Git, and also why it is named "Git" (an mild insult aimed at the person who reverse engineered it).
I believe Linus has said that "git" was referring to himself rather than the guy who reverse engineered BitKeeper, but I don't believe him.
Actually, I could much rather believe that 'git' referred to Larry McVoy, Mr. Bitkeeper himself. I've never met the man, but the fact that the license was onerous and he basically took his ball and went home speaks volumes. Also, and again hearsay, but I've heard stories about him.
That being said, I'll take BitKeeper over Perforce any day of the week.
BitKeeper originally offered free licences to Linux developers, with one of the conditions being that they don't reverse engineer it.
One of them did, and BitKeeper revoked that licence. That's what prompted Linus to write Git, and also why it is named "Git" (an mild insult aimed at the person who reverse engineered it).
I believe Linus has said that "git" was referring to himself rather than the guy who reverse engineered BitKeeper, but I don't believe him.