-This simply creates an empty git repository - basically a `.git` directory
-and `.git/object/??/`, `.git/refs/heads` and `.git/refs/tags` directories,
-and links `.git/HEAD` symbolically to `.git/refs/heads/master`.
+This command creates an empty git repository - basically a `.git` directory
+with subdirectories for `objects`, `refs/heads`, `refs/tags`, and
+templated files.
+An initial `HEAD` file that references the HEAD of the master branch
+is also created.
+
+If `--template=<template_directory>` is specified, `<template_directory>`
+is used as the source of the template files rather than the default.
+The template files include some directory structure, some suggested
+"exclude patterns", and copies of non-executing "hook" files. The
+suggested patterns and hook files are all modifiable and extensible.