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Re: [PATCH] New git-seek command with documentation and test.

From
Llinux@horizon.com <linux@horizon.com>
Date
Feb 24, 2006, 00:29 UTC
Message-ID
<20060224002915.17331.qmail@science.horizon.com>
The annoying thing about temporary branch names like "bisect" and "seek"
is that:
a) They clutter up the nae space available to the repository user.
   Users have to know that those are reserved names.
b) If a repository is cloned while they're in use, they might get
   into a "remotes" file, with even more confusing results.

This is somewhat heretical, but how about making a truly unnamed branch by having .git/HEAD *not* be a symlink, but rather hold a commit ID directly? It's already well established that files in the .git directory directly are strictly local to this working directory, so it seems a much better home for such temporary state.

Admittedly, this requires more invasive edits (particularly adding a third legitimate case to validate_symref()), but it seems to make more sense. And be ultimately simpler than workarounds for the above problems.

Just loosen the rules from ".git/HEAD must be a symlink" to ".git/HEAD must be a symlink before you can check in".

Yes, I know it's radical. At least I'm not questioning the power and efficacy of indulgences. :-)

Next: Johannes Schindelin
Message 1 of 5 in “Re: [PATCH] New git-seek command with documentation and test.”
  1. linux@horizon.comFeb 24, 2006
  2. Johannes SchindelinFeb 24, 2006
  3. linux@horizon.comFeb 24, 2006
  4. H. Peter AnvinFeb 24, 2006
  5. Andreas EricssonFeb 24, 2006

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