# I still heavily use git whatchanged after more than 10 years

2 messages from 2026-04-16 to 2026-04-16. Participants: Chester, Junio C Hamano.
Thread: https://gitlist.dev/t/65499

## Chester, 2026-04-16 17:06

Subject: I still heavily use git whatchanged after more than 10 years
Message-ID: <CAHvvhRS9VJgyAdivR6J1Hz14jSuBJOj8Bpdu+g4fV45LRSeS8A@mail.gmail.com>

```
Dear Git developers,

I saw the message that git whatchanged is now nominated for removal
and requires the --i-still-use-this flag.

I want to let you know that I have been using git whatchanged for more
than ten years, and I still use it very frequently in my daily
workflow.

It has become a muscle-memory command for me, and I find the
combination of showing the log with raw diffs (while skipping merges
by default) very convenient.

I understand that it can be replaced with git log --raw --no-merges,
but after so many years, git whatchanged just feels more natural and
quicker to type for my use case.

Thank you for maintaining Git and for reaching out to users before
removing long-standing commands.

Best regards,
Chester

```

## Junio C Hamano, 2026-04-16 17:18

Subject: Re: I still heavily use git whatchanged after more than 10 years
Message-ID: <xmqqtsta259z.fsf@gitster.g>
In-Reply-To: <CAHvvhRS9VJgyAdivR6J1Hz14jSuBJOj8Bpdu+g4fV45LRSeS8A@mail.gmail.com>

```
Chester <just13.0818@gmail.com> writes:

> Dear Git developers,
>
> I saw the message that git whatchanged is now nominated for removal
> and requires the --i-still-use-this flag.

You should have seen:

    $ git whatchanged
    'git whatchanged' is nominated for removal.

    hint: You can replace 'git whatchanged <opts>' with:
    hint:	git log <opts> --raw --no-merges
    hint: Or make an alias:
    hint:	git config set --global alias.whatchanged 'log --raw --no-merges'

    If you still use this command, here's what you can do:

    - read https://git-scm.com/docs/BreakingChanges.html
    - check if anyone has discussed this on the mailing
      list and if they came up with something that can
      help you: https://lore.kernel.org/git/?q=git%20whatchanged
    - send an email to <git@vger.kernel.org> to let us
      know that you still use this command and were unable
      to determine a suitable replacement

    fatal: refusing to run without --i-still-use-this

> I understand that it can be replaced with git log --raw --no-merges,
> but after so many years, git whatchanged just feels more natural and
> quicker to type for my use case.

You are asked to send a message to this list whene you were unable
to determine a suitable replacement, but it is hard to believe that
is the case with your use case.

The "alias" hint above seems to give exactly the suitable
replacement to help folks who cannot adjust due to the muscle
memory.


```
