# DESCRIPTION
-`bup index` prints and/or updates the bup filesystem index,
-which is a cache of the absolute paths, attributes, and sha-1
-hashes of each file and directory in the filesystem. The
-bup index is similar in function to the `git`(1) index, and
-can be found in `$BUP_DIR/bupindex`.
+`bup index` manipulates the filesystem index, which is a cache of
+absolute paths and their metadata (atttributes, SHA-1 hashes, etc.).
+The bup index is similar in function to the `git`(1) index, and the
+default index can be found in `$BUP_DIR/bupindex`.
Creating a backup in bup consists of two steps: updating
the index with `bup index`, then actually backing up the
-s, \--status
: prepend a status code (A, M, D, or space) before each
- filename. Implies `-p`. The codes mean, respectively,
+ path. Implies `-p`. The codes mean, respectively,
that a file is marked in the index as added, modified,
deleted, or unchanged since the last backup.