From: Jonathan Nieder <jrnieder@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:48:36 GMT
Subject: Re: [Improvement?] How do you switch branches in a bare repo?
Message-ID: <20100312164835.GA2303@progeny.tock>
In-Reply-To: <b4087cc51003120009o7bd99609w996de02b732fbbd9@mail.gmail.com>

Michael Witten wrote:

> Commands like "git checkout" and "git reset" essentially operate on 2
> aspects of a repository:
> 
>     (1) The repository's state.
>     (2) The repository's working tree.
> 
> Is there any reason why these commands can't just operate on (1) in a
> bare repository, thereby allowing users to use familiar commands to
> get their work done?

Not that I can think of.  I’d say go for it.  (I’ll be glad to help in
any way I can.  Not sure I’ll have much time soon, but I can answer
questions, look over patches, and so on.)

> The "git checkout" command in a bare repository should serve to select
> on which branch other commands (like "git reset") operate, etc.

My only worry would be low-level scripts that want to be able to use a
separate index or work tree with a bare repository.  Maybe the index
file could be in a special "bare" state to request the semantics
you’re describing.

Jonathan