It's not silly, it's the correct analogy. "We divide Git into high level ("porcelain") commands and low level ("plumbing") commands." (https://git-scm.com/docs/

It's not silly, it's the correct analogy. "We divide Git into high level ("porcelain") commands and low level ("plumbing") commands." (https://git-scm.com/docs/git#_git_commands https://git-scm.com/docs/git#_git_commands) The "porcelain" is the user-visible part, the "plumbing" (hidden within the walls) is the behind-the-scenes part. Originally, the "porcelain" commands were shell scripts wrapping the "plumbing" executables (written in C). (Possibly relevant: "[...] When asked why he called the new software, "git," British slang meaning "a rotten person," he said. "I'm an egotistical bastard, so I name all my projects after myself. First Linux, now git." -- https://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/129776/after_controversy_torvalds_begins_work_git_/ https://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/129776/after_controve...)