Re: [PATCH] Add git-rev-list --invert-match

* Johannes Schindelin <Johannes.Schindelin@gmx.de> [070920 06:34]:

I have noticed that unique negation flags are getting scarce... we already have --reverse, --inverse, and --not mean something elsewhere. --but-not maybe be good.

I also agree that git-grep could use this extension.

Anyways, I can see four solutions for adding "show me this but not that" functionality to git-rev-list:

 1) adding a --but-not flag, as you suggested.  It separates positive
    matches that precede it with negative matches that follow.

  Example:
    git log --grep=this --but-not --grep=that --committer="${MY_EMAIL}"

 2) Adding --not-grep, --not-author, --not-committer which add negative
    matches.  Maybe even --grep!=PATTERN, --author!=PATTERN, ...

  Example:
    git log --grep=this --not-grep=that --committer!="${MY_EMAIL}"

 3) Extending the PATTERN we accept in --grep, --author, and --committer,
    such that a prefix in the pattern tells us how to use the match:
    --grep=!PATTERN

  Example:
    git log --grep=this --grep='!that' --committer="!${MY_EMAIL}"

 4) (going on a limb here) Can this kind of match be done with perl
    regular expressions?  Maybe we could use --perl-regexp

  Example:
    I've got nothing :)

Personally I am currently in favour of 2. It seems intuitive, and unlike option 3, the '!' cannot clash with the pattern. Although 3 has the bonus of allowing other flags like extended regexp, perl regexp, case insensitive, negation, etc.

Comments?

-Bart