Why does the Git installer recommends to use core.autocrlf = true?

[chkpnt]

Is core.autocrlf = true still appropriate in 2026? Using core.autocrlf = false in combination with a suitable .gitattributes file seems to me to be the more sensible approach: No magic, explicit line-ending rules, same hash sums on all systems and every tooling under Windows should handle \n as well.

So why does the Git installer still recommends core.autocrlf = true by its preselection?

[dscho]

Even in this day and age, you might be surprised to find how many projects do not set, let alone know about git attributes...

[PhilipOakley]

The crlf problem is like vampire movies.
As you grow older you start wondering why the teenagers still keep going into the basement. Surely they'd have learnt by now.
'Safety' in software systems is tricky. Still gotta save the youth 😉

[chkpnt]

Yeah, but I do not think we should encourage teenagers to go into the basement. IMHO core.autocrlf = false + .gitattributes is much safer.