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[PATCH v4 1/5] refs: Introduce pseudoref and per-worktree ref concepts

From
David Turner <dturner@twopensource.com>
Date
Jul 29, 2015, 17:58 UTC
Message-ID
<1438192688-8048-2-git-send-email-dturner@twopensource.com>
In-Reply-To
<1438192688-8048-1-git-send-email-dturner@twopensource.com>
Add glossary entries for both concepts.

Pseudorefs and per-worktree refs do not yet have special handling, because the files refs backend already handles them correctly. Later, we will make the LMDB backend call out to the files backend to handle per-worktree refs.

Signed-off-by: David Turner <dturner@twopensource.com>
---
 Documentation/glossary-content.txt | 21 +++++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 21 insertions(+)
diff --git a/Documentation/glossary-content.txt b/Documentation/glossary-content.txt
index ab18f4b..ff14079 100644
--- a/Documentation/glossary-content.txt
+++ b/Documentation/glossary-content.txt
@@ -411,6 +411,27 @@ exclude;;
 	core Git. Porcelains expose more of a <<def_SCM,SCM>>
 	interface than the <<def_plumbing,plumbing>>.
 
+[[def_per_worktree_ref]]per-worktree ref::
+	Refs that are per-<<def_worktree,worktree>>, rather than
+	global.  This is presently only <<def_HEAD,HEAD>>, but might
+	later include other unusual refs.
+
+[[def_pseudoref]]pseudoref::
+	Pseudorefs are a class of files under `$GIT_DIR` which behave
+	like refs for the purposes of rev-parse, but which are treated
+	specially by git.  Psuedorefs both have names that are all-caps,
+	and always start with a line consisting of a
+	<<def_sha1,SHA-1>> followed by whitespace.  So, HEAD is not a
+	pseudoref, because it is sometimes a symbolic ref.  They might
+	optionally contain some additional data.  `MERGE_HEAD` and
+	`CHERRY_PICK_HEAD` are examples.  Unlike
+	<<def_per_worktree_ref,per-worktree refs>>, these files cannot
+	be symbolic refs, and never have reflogs.  They also cannot be
+	updated through the normal ref update machinery.  Instead,
+	they are updated by directly writing to the files.  However,
+	they can be read as if they were refs, so `git rev-parse
+	MERGE_HEAD` will work.
+
 [[def_pull]]pull::
 	Pulling a <<def_branch,branch>> means to <<def_fetch,fetch>> it and
 	<<def_merge,merge>> it.  See also linkgit:git-pull[1].
-- 
2.0.4.315.gad8727a-twtrsrc
Previous: David TurnerNext: Junio C Hamano
Message 2 of 8 in “pseudorefs”
  1. 0/5 pseudorefsDavid Turner, Jul 29, 2015
  2. 1/5 refs: Introduce pseudoref and per-worktree ref conceptsDavid Turner, Jul 29, 2015
  3. Junio C HamanoJul 29, 2015
  4. Johan HerlandJul 30, 2015
  5. 2/5 refs: add ref_type functionDavid Turner, Jul 29, 2015
  6. 3/5 pseudorefs: create and use pseudoref update and delete functionsDavid Turner, Jul 29, 2015
  7. 4/5 bisect: use update_refDavid Turner, Jul 29, 2015
  8. 5/5 sequencer: replace write_cherry_pick_head with update_refDavid Turner, Jul 29, 2015

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