git/list[1] front-page[2] threads[3] people[4] search[5] about
 

[PATCH 4/6] builtin/stash: provide a way to export stashes to a ref

From
brian m. carlson <sandals@crustytoothpaste.net>
Date
Mar 10, 2022, 17:32 UTC
Message-ID
<20220310173236.4165310-5-sandals@crustytoothpaste.net>
In-Reply-To
<20220310173236.4165310-1-sandals@crustytoothpaste.net>

A common user problem is how to sync in-progress work to another machine. Users currently must use some sort of transfer of the working tree, which poses security risks and also necessarily causes the index to become dirty. The experience is suboptimal and frustrating for users.

A reasonable idea is to use the stash for this purpose, but the stash is stored in the reflog, not in a ref, and as such it cannot be pushed or pulled. This also means that it cannot be saved into a bundle or preserved elsewhere, which is a problem when using throwaway development environments.

Let's solve this problem by allowing the user to export the stash to a ref (or, to just write it into the repository and print the hash, à la git commit-tree). Introduce git stash export, which writes a chain of commits identical to the ones used for reflog-based stashes, except that the first parent is always a chain to the previous stash, or to a single, empty commit (for the final item).

Iterate over each stash from topmost to bottomost, looking up the data for each one, and then create the chain from the single empty commit back up in reverse order. Preserve the author and committer information, as well as the commit message, so we produce an identical stash when importing later.

If the user has specified specific stashes they'd like to export instead, use those instead of iterating over all of the stashes.

As part of this, specifically request quiet behavior when looking up the OID for a revision because we will eventually hit a revision that doesn't exist and we don't want to die when that occurs.

Signed-off-by: brian m. carlson <sandals@crustytoothpaste.net>
---
 builtin/stash.c | 180 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-
 1 file changed, 179 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
diff --git a/builtin/stash.c b/builtin/stash.c
index 128f0a01ef..582a04dbab 100644
--- a/builtin/stash.c
+++ b/builtin/stash.c
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ static const char * const git_stash_usage[] = {
 	   "          [--] [<pathspec>...]]"),
 	N_("git stash save [-p|--patch] [-S|--staged] [-k|--[no-]keep-index] [-q|--quiet]\n"
 	   "          [-u|--include-untracked] [-a|--all] [<message>]"),
+	N_("git stash export (--print | --to-ref <ref>) [<stashes>]"),
 	NULL
 };
 
@@ -89,6 +90,12 @@ static const char * const git_stash_save_usage[] = {
 	NULL
 };
 
+static const char * const git_stash_export_usage[] = {
+	N_("git stash export (--print | --to-ref <ref>) [<stashes>]"),
+	NULL
+};
+
+
 static const char ref_stash[] = "refs/stash";
 static struct strbuf stash_index_path = STRBUF_INIT;
 
@@ -139,6 +146,7 @@ static int get_stash_info_1(struct stash_info *info, const char *commit, int qui
 	const char *revision;
 	struct object_id dummy;
 	struct strbuf symbolic = STRBUF_INIT;
+	struct object_context unused;
 
 	strbuf_init(&info->revision, 0);
 	if (!commit) {
@@ -158,7 +166,9 @@ static int get_stash_info_1(struct stash_info *info, const char *commit, int qui
 
 	revision = info->revision.buf;
 
-	if (get_oid(revision, &info->w_commit)) {
+	if (get_oid_with_context(the_repository, revision,
+				 GET_OID_QUIETLY | GET_OID_RETURN_FAILURE,
+				 &info->w_commit, &unused)) {
 		if (!quiet)
 			error(_("%s is not a valid reference"), revision);
 		free_stash_info(info);
@@ -1775,6 +1785,172 @@ static int save_stash(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	return ret;
 }
 
+static char *write_commit_with_parents(struct object_id *out, const struct stash_info *info, struct commit_list *parents)
+{
+	size_t author_len, committer_len;
+	struct commit *this = NULL;
+	const char *orig_author = NULL, *orig_committer = NULL;
+	char *author = NULL, *committer = NULL;
+	const char *buffer = NULL;
+	unsigned long bufsize;
+	const char *p;
+	char *msg = NULL;
+
+	this = lookup_commit_reference(the_repository, &info->w_commit);
+	buffer = get_commit_buffer(this, &bufsize);
+	orig_author = find_commit_header(buffer, "author", &author_len);
+	orig_committer = find_commit_header(buffer, "committer", &committer_len);
+	p = memmem(buffer, bufsize, "\n\n", 2);
+
+	if (!orig_author || !orig_committer || !p) {
+		error(_("cannot parse commit %s"), oid_to_hex(&info->w_commit));
+		goto out;
+	}
+	/* Jump to message. */
+	p += 2;
+
+	author = xmemdupz(orig_author, author_len);
+	committer = xmemdupz(orig_committer, committer_len);
+
+	if (commit_tree_extended(p, bufsize - (p - buffer),
+				 &info->w_tree, parents,
+				 out, author, committer,
+				 NULL, NULL)) {
+		error(_("could not write commit"));
+		goto out;
+	}
+	msg = xmemdupz(p, bufsize - (p - buffer));
+out:
+	unuse_commit_buffer(this, buffer);
+	free(author);
+	free(committer);
+	return msg;
+}
+
+static int do_export_stash(const char *ref, size_t argc, const char **argv)
+{
+	struct object_id base;
+	struct commit *prev;
+	struct stash_info *items = NULL;
+	size_t nitems = 0, nalloc = 0;
+	int res = 0;
+
+	prepare_fallback_ident("git stash", "git@stash");
+
+	/* First, we create a single empty commit. */
+	if (commit_tree(NULL, 0, the_hash_algo->empty_tree, NULL, &base, NULL, NULL))
+		return error(_("unable to write base commit"));
+
+	prev = lookup_commit_reference(the_repository, &base);
+
+
+	if (argc) {
+		/*
+		 * Find each specified stash, and load data into the array.
+		 */
+		for (size_t i = 0; i < argc; i++, nitems++) {
+			int ret;
+
+			if (nalloc <= i) {
+				size_t new = nalloc * 3 / 2 + 5;
+				items = xrealloc(items, new * sizeof(*items));
+				nalloc = new;
+			}
+			memset(&items[i], 0, sizeof(*items));
+			/* We want this to be quiet because it might not exist. */
+			ret = get_stash_info_1(&items[i], argv[i], 1);
+			if (ret)
+				return error(_("unable to find stash entry %s"), argv[i]);
+		}
+	} else {
+		/*
+		 * Walk the reflog, finding each stash entry, and load data into the
+		 * array.
+		 */
+		for (size_t i = 0;; i++, nitems++) {
+			char buf[32];
+			int ret;
+
+			if (nalloc <= i) {
+				size_t new = nalloc * 3 / 2 + 5;
+				items = xrealloc(items, new * sizeof(*items));
+				nalloc = new;
+			}
+			snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%zu", i);
+			memset(&items[i], 0, sizeof(*items));
+			/* We want this to be quiet because it might not exist. */
+			ret = get_stash_info_1(&items[i], buf, 1);
+			if (ret)
+				break;
+		}
+	}
+
+	/*
+	 * Now, create a set of commits identical to the regular stash commits,
+	 * but where their first parents form a chain to our original empty
+	 * base commit.
+	 */
+	for (ssize_t i = nitems - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
+		struct commit_list *parents = NULL;
+		struct commit_list **next = &parents;
+		struct object_id out;
+		char *msg;
+
+		next = commit_list_append(prev, next);
+		next = commit_list_append(lookup_commit_reference(the_repository, &items[i].b_commit), next);
+		next = commit_list_append(lookup_commit_reference(the_repository, &items[i].i_commit), next);
+		if (items[i].has_u)
+			next = commit_list_append(lookup_commit_reference(the_repository,
+									  &items[i].u_commit),
+						  next);
+
+		msg = write_commit_with_parents(&out, &items[i], parents);
+		if (!msg) {
+			res = -1;
+			goto out;
+		}
+		free(msg);
+		prev = lookup_commit_reference(the_repository, &out);
+	}
+	if (ref) {
+		update_ref(NULL, ref, &prev->object.oid, NULL, 0, UPDATE_REFS_DIE_ON_ERR);
+	} else {
+		puts(oid_to_hex(&prev->object.oid));
+	}
+out:
+	for (size_t i = 0; i < nitems; i++) {
+		free_stash_info(&items[i]);
+	}
+	free(items);
+
+	return res;
+}
+
+static int export_stash(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
+{
+	int ret = 0;
+	int print = 0;
+	const char *ref = NULL;
+	struct option options[] = {
+		OPT_BOOL(0, "print", &print,
+			 N_("print the object ID instead of writing it to a ref")),
+		OPT_STRING(0, "to-ref", &ref, "refname",
+			   N_("save the data to the given ref")),
+		OPT_END()
+	};
+
+	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, prefix, options,
+			     git_stash_export_usage,
+			     PARSE_OPT_KEEP_DASHDASH);
+
+	if (!(!!ref ^ print))
+		return error("exactly one of --print or --to-ref is required");
+
+
+	ret = do_export_stash(ref, argc, argv);
+	return ret;
+}
+
 int cmd_stash(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 {
 	pid_t pid = getpid();
@@ -1818,6 +1994,8 @@ int cmd_stash(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		return !!push_stash(argc, argv, prefix, 0);
 	else if (!strcmp(argv[0], "save"))
 		return !!save_stash(argc, argv, prefix);
+	else if (!strcmp(argv[0], "export"))
+		return !!export_stash(argc, argv, prefix);
 	else if (*argv[0] != '-')
 		usage_msg_optf(_("unknown subcommand: %s"),
 			       git_stash_usage, options, argv[0]);
Previous: brian m. carlsonNext: Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason
Message 9 of 76 in “Importing and exporting stashes to refs”
  1. 0/6 Importing and exporting stashes to refsbrian m. carlson, Mar 10, 2022
  2. 2/6 builtin/stash: fill in all commit databrian m. carlson, Mar 10, 2022
  3. Junio C HamanoMar 16, 2022
  4. 1/6 builtin/stash: factor out generic function to look up stash infobrian m. carlson, Mar 10, 2022
  5. 3/6 object-name: make get_oid quietly return an errorbrian m. carlson, Mar 10, 2022
  6. Junio C HamanoMar 16, 2022
  7. Drew StoleeMar 16, 2022
  8. brian m. carlsonMar 16, 2022
  9. 4/6 builtin/stash: provide a way to export stashes to a refbrian m. carlson, Mar 10, 2022
  10. Ævar Arnfjörð BjarmasonMar 11, 2022
  11. Phillip WoodMar 14, 2022
  12. Phillip WoodMar 15, 2022
  13. brian m. carlsonMar 16, 2022
  14. C99 %zu support (on MSVC) (was: [PATCH 4/6] builtin/stash: provide a way to export stashes to a ref)Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason, Mar 18, 2022
  15. Phillip WoodMar 18, 2022
  16. Johannes SchindelinMar 24, 2022
  17. ssize_t portability (was: [PATCH 4/6] builtin/stash: provide a way to export stashes to a ref)Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason, Mar 18, 2022
  18. Junio C HamanoMar 16, 2022
  19. 6/6 doc: add stash export and import to docsbrian m. carlson, Mar 10, 2022
  20. Junio C HamanoMar 16, 2022
  21. Junio C HamanoMar 16, 2022
  22. 5/6 builtin/stash: provide a way to import stashes from a refbrian m. carlson, Mar 10, 2022
  23. Junio C HamanoMar 16, 2022
  24. brian m. carlsonMar 16, 2022
  25. Junio C HamanoMar 10, 2022
  26. brian m. carlsonMar 10, 2022
  27. Junio C HamanoMar 10, 2022
  28. brian m. carlsonMar 10, 2022
  29. 0/4 Importing and exporting stashes to refsbrian m. carlson, Mar 29, 2022
  30. 2/4 builtin/stash: factor out revision parsing into a functionbrian m. carlson, Mar 29, 2022
  31. 1/4 object-name: make get_oid quietly return an errorbrian m. carlson, Mar 29, 2022
  32. 4/4 builtin/stash: provide a way to import stashes from a refbrian m. carlson, Mar 29, 2022
  33. 3/4 builtin/stash: provide a way to export stashes to a refbrian m. carlson, Mar 29, 2022
  34. Junio C HamanoMar 30, 2022
  35. brian m. carlsonMar 30, 2022
  36. Ævar Arnfjörð BjarmasonMar 31, 2022
  37. Junio C HamanoMar 31, 2022
  38. brian m. carlsonApr 5, 2022
  39. Ævar Arnfjörð BjarmasonApr 6, 2022
  40. Junio C HamanoApr 6, 2022
  41. Ævar Arnfjörð BjarmasonMar 31, 2022
  42. brian m. carlsonApr 5, 2022
  43. Junio C HamanoMar 31, 2022
  44. Ævar Arnfjörð BjarmasonMar 31, 2022
  45. 0/4 Importing and exporting stashes to refsbrian m. carlson, Apr 3, 2022
  46. 1/4 object-name: make get_oid quietly return an errorbrian m. carlson, Apr 3, 2022
  47. 2/4 builtin/stash: factor out revision parsing into a functionbrian m. carlson, Apr 3, 2022
  48. Phillip WoodApr 4, 2022
  49. 4/4 builtin/stash: provide a way to import stashes from a refbrian m. carlson, Apr 3, 2022
  50. Ævar Arnfjörð BjarmasonApr 4, 2022
  51. brian m. carlsonApr 5, 2022
  52. Ævar Arnfjörð BjarmasonApr 6, 2022
  53. 3/4 builtin/stash: provide a way to export stashes to a refbrian m. carlson, Apr 3, 2022
  54. Ævar Arnfjörð BjarmasonApr 4, 2022
  55. Junio C HamanoApr 4, 2022
  56. Junio C HamanoApr 4, 2022
  57. Ævar Arnfjörð BjarmasonApr 4, 2022
  58. brian m. carlsonApr 5, 2022
  59. 0/4 Importing and exporting stashes to refsbrian m. carlson, Apr 7, 2022
  60. 3/4 builtin/stash: provide a way to export stashes to a refbrian m. carlson, Apr 7, 2022
  61. Ævar Arnfjörð BjarmasonApr 13, 2022
  62. Ævar Arnfjörð BjarmasonApr 13, 2022
  63. Ævar Arnfjörð BjarmasonApr 13, 2022
  64. 2/4 builtin/stash: factor out revision parsing into a functionbrian m. carlson, Apr 7, 2022
  65. 1/4 object-name: make get_oid quietly return an errorbrian m. carlson, Apr 7, 2022
  66. 4/4 builtin/stash: provide a way to import stashes from a refbrian m. carlson, Apr 7, 2022
  67. Jonathan TanApr 12, 2022
  68. brian m. carlsonApr 13, 2022
  69. Jonathan TanApr 13, 2022
  70. Ævar Arnfjörð BjarmasonApr 13, 2022
  71. Jonathan TanApr 13, 2022
  72. Junio C HamanoApr 13, 2022
  73. brian m. carlsonApr 13, 2022
  74. Junio C HamanoApr 13, 2022
  75. Ævar Arnfjörð BjarmasonApr 13, 2022
  76. Ævar Arnfjörð BjarmasonApr 13, 2022

Read the whole thread, see it on lore, or plain text.

$ cat FOOTERMessages come from the public archive at lore.kernel.org/git, fetched every hour. The front page is chosen and written each morning by an AI editor and can be wrong; the threads themselves are the record. About and API. For agents: an MCP server at https://gitlist.dev/mcp, and any thread, story or person page as Markdown by adding .md to its URL (or sending Accept: text/markdown). Details in /llms.txt.