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

[PATCH v5 6/6] agent: advertise OS name via agent capability

From
Usman Akinyemi <usmanakinyemi202@gmail.com>
Date
Feb 14, 2025, 12:36 UTC
Message-ID
<20250214123734.1403120-7-usmanakinyemi202@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To
<20250214123734.1403120-1-usmanakinyemi202@gmail.com>

As some issues that can happen with a Git client can be operating system specific, it can be useful for a server to know which OS a client is using. In the same way it can be useful for a client to know which OS a server is using.

Our current agent capability is in the form of "package/version" (e.g., "git/1.8.3.1"). Let's extend it to include the operating system name (os) i.e in the form "package/version os" (e.g., "git/1.8.3.1 Linux").

Including OS details in the agent capability simplifies implementation, maintains backward compatibility, avoids introducing a new capability, encourages adoption across Git-compatible software, and enhances debugging by providing complete environment information without affecting functionality. The operating system name is retrieved using the 'sysname' field of the `uname(2)` system call or its equivalent.

However, there are differences between `uname(1)` (command-line utility)
and `uname(2)` (system call) outputs on Windows. These discrepancies
complicate testing on Windows platforms. For example:
  - `uname(1)` output: MINGW64_NT-10.0-20348.3.4.10-87d57229.x86_64\
  .2024-02-14.20:17.UTC.x86_64
  - `uname(2)` output: Windows.10.0.20348

On Windows, uname(2) is not actually system-supplied but is instead already faked up by Git itself. We could have overcome the test issue on Windows by implementing a new `uname` subcommand in `test-tool` using uname(2), but except uname(2), which would be tested against itself, there would be nothing platform specific, so it's just simpler to disable the tests on Windows.

Mentored-by: Christian Couder <chriscool@tuxfamily.org>
Signed-off-by: Usman Akinyemi <usmanakinyemi202@gmail.com>
---
 Documentation/gitprotocol-v2.txt | 13 ++++++++-----
 t/t5701-git-serve.sh             | 16 +++++++++++++++-
 t/test-lib-functions.sh          |  8 ++++++++
 version.c                        | 29 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-
 version.h                        |  3 +++
 5 files changed, 62 insertions(+), 7 deletions(-)
diff --git a/Documentation/gitprotocol-v2.txt b/Documentation/gitprotocol-v2.txt
index 1652fef3ae..f4831a8787 100644
--- a/Documentation/gitprotocol-v2.txt
+++ b/Documentation/gitprotocol-v2.txt
@@ -184,11 +184,14 @@ form `agent=X`) to notify the client that the server is running version
 the `agent` capability with a value `Y` (in the form `agent=Y`) in its
 request to the server (but it MUST NOT do so if the server did not
 advertise the agent capability). The `X` and `Y` strings may contain any
-printable ASCII characters except space (i.e., the byte range 32 < x <
-127), and are typically of the form "package/version" (e.g.,
-"git/1.8.3.1"). The agent strings are purely informative for statistics
-and debugging purposes, and MUST NOT be used to programmatically assume
-the presence or absence of particular features.
+printable ASCII characters (i.e., the byte range 31 < x < 127), and are
+typically of the form "package/version os" (e.g., "git/1.8.3.1 Linux")
+where `os` is the operating system name (e.g., "Linux"). `X` and `Y` can
+be configured using the GIT_USER_AGENT environment variable and it takes
+priority. The `os` is retrieved using the 'sysname' field of the `uname(2)`
+system call or its equivalent. The agent strings are purely informative for
+statistics and debugging purposes, and MUST NOT be used to programmatically
+assume the presence or absence of particular features.
 
 ls-refs
 ~~~~~~~
diff --git a/t/t5701-git-serve.sh b/t/t5701-git-serve.sh
index 4c24a188b9..4f0b053c4a 100755
--- a/t/t5701-git-serve.sh
+++ b/t/t5701-git-serve.sh
@@ -8,13 +8,19 @@ export GIT_TEST_DEFAULT_INITIAL_BRANCH_NAME
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
 test_expect_success 'setup to generate files with expected content' '
-	printf "agent=git/%s\n" "$(git version | cut -d" " -f3)" >agent_capability &&
+	printf "agent=git/%s" "$(git version | cut -d" " -f3)" >agent_capability &&
 
 	test_oid_cache <<-EOF &&
 	wrong_algo sha1:sha256
 	wrong_algo sha256:sha1
 	EOF
 
+	if test_have_prereq WINDOWS
+	then
+		printf "agent=FAKE\n" >agent_capability
+	else
+		printf " %s\n" $(uname -s | test_redact_non_printables) >>agent_capability
+	fi &&
 	cat >expect.base <<-EOF &&
 	version 2
 	$(cat agent_capability)
@@ -31,6 +37,10 @@ test_expect_success 'setup to generate files with expected content' '
 test_expect_success 'test capability advertisement' '
 	cat expect.base expect.trailer >expect &&
 
+	if test_have_prereq WINDOWS
+	then
+		GIT_USER_AGENT=FAKE && export GIT_USER_AGENT
+	fi &&
 	GIT_TEST_SIDEBAND_ALL=0 test-tool serve-v2 \
 		--advertise-capabilities >out &&
 	test-tool pkt-line unpack <out >actual &&
@@ -361,6 +371,10 @@ test_expect_success 'test capability advertisement with uploadpack.advertiseBund
 	    expect.extra \
 	    expect.trailer >expect &&
 
+	if test_have_prereq WINDOWS
+	then
+		GIT_USER_AGENT=FAKE && export GIT_USER_AGENT
+	fi &&
 	GIT_TEST_SIDEBAND_ALL=0 test-tool serve-v2 \
 		--advertise-capabilities >out &&
 	test-tool pkt-line unpack <out >actual &&
diff --git a/t/test-lib-functions.sh b/t/test-lib-functions.sh
index 78e054ab50..3465904323 100644
--- a/t/test-lib-functions.sh
+++ b/t/test-lib-functions.sh
@@ -2007,3 +2007,11 @@ test_trailing_hash () {
 		test-tool hexdump |
 		sed "s/ //g"
 }
+
+# Trim and replace each character with ascii code below 32 or above
+# 127 (included) using a dot '.' character.
+# Octal intervals \001-\040 and \177-\377
+# correspond to decimal intervals 1-32 and 127-255
+test_redact_non_printables () {
+    tr -d "\n\r" | tr "[\001-\040][\177-\377]" "."
+}
diff --git a/version.c b/version.c
index d95221a72a..027ebc82b4 100644
--- a/version.c
+++ b/version.c
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
+#define USE_THE_REPOSITORY_VARIABLE
+
 #include "git-compat-util.h"
 #include "version.h"
 #include "version-def.h"
 #include "strbuf.h"
-#include "sane-ctype.h"
 #include "gettext.h"
 
 const char git_version_string[] = GIT_VERSION;
@@ -34,6 +35,27 @@ const char *git_user_agent(void)
 	return agent;
 }
 
+/*
+  Retrieve, sanitize and cache operating system info for subsequent
+  calls. Return a pointer to the sanitized operating system info
+  string.
+*/
+static const char *os_info(void)
+{
+	static const char *os = NULL;
+
+	if (!os) {
+		struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
+
+		get_uname_info(&buf, 0);
+		/* Sanitize the os information immediately */
+		redact_non_printables(&buf);
+		os = strbuf_detach(&buf, NULL);
+	}
+
+	return os;
+}
+
 const char *git_user_agent_sanitized(void)
 {
 	static const char *agent = NULL;
@@ -43,6 +65,11 @@ const char *git_user_agent_sanitized(void)
 
 		strbuf_addstr(&buf, git_user_agent());
 		redact_non_printables(&buf);
+
+		if (!getenv("GIT_USER_AGENT")) {
+			strbuf_addch(&buf, ' ');
+			strbuf_addstr(&buf, os_info());
+		}
 		agent = strbuf_detach(&buf, NULL);
 	}
 
diff --git a/version.h b/version.h
index 5eb586c0bd..bbde6d371a 100644
--- a/version.h
+++ b/version.h
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 #ifndef VERSION_H
 #define VERSION_H
 
+struct repository;
+
 extern const char git_version_string[];
 extern const char git_built_from_commit_string[];
 
@@ -14,4 +16,5 @@ const char *git_user_agent_sanitized(void);
 */
 int get_uname_info(struct strbuf *buf, unsigned int full);
 
+
 #endif /* VERSION_H */
-- 
2.48.1
Previous: Junio C HamanoNext: Junio C Hamano
Message 87 of 107 in “[Outreachy] Introduce os-version Capability with Configurable Options”
  1. 0/4 [Outreachy] Introduce os-version Capability with Configurable OptionsUsman Akinyemi, Jan 6, 2025
  2. 1/4 version: refactor redact_non_printables()Usman Akinyemi, Jan 6, 2025
  3. Eric SunshineJan 6, 2025
  4. Usman AkinyemiJan 8, 2025
  5. 2/4 version: refactor get_uname_info()Usman Akinyemi, Jan 6, 2025
  6. Junio C HamanoJan 6, 2025
  7. Usman AkinyemiJan 8, 2025
  8. 3/4 connect: advertise OS versionUsman Akinyemi, Jan 6, 2025
  9. Junio C HamanoJan 6, 2025
  10. Usman AkinyemiJan 8, 2025
  11. Junio C HamanoJan 8, 2025
  12. Usman AkinyemiJan 9, 2025
  13. Junio C HamanoJan 9, 2025
  14. Usman AkinyemiJan 10, 2025
  15. Junio C HamanoJan 10, 2025
  16. Usman AkinyemiJan 11, 2025
  17. Junio C HamanoJan 13, 2025
  18. Usman AkinyemiJan 13, 2025
  19. Junio C HamanoJan 13, 2025
  20. rsbecker@nexbridge.comJan 13, 2025
  21. Eric SunshineJan 6, 2025
  22. Usman AkinyemiJan 8, 2025
  23. 4/4 version: introduce osversion.command config for os-version outputUsman Akinyemi, Jan 6, 2025
  24. 0/6 [Outreachy] Introduce os-version Capability with Configurable OptionsUsman Akinyemi, Jan 17, 2025
  25. 1/6 version: refactor redact_non_printables()Usman Akinyemi, Jan 17, 2025
  26. Junio C HamanoJan 17, 2025
  27. Junio C HamanoJan 17, 2025
  28. Usman AkinyemiJan 20, 2025
  29. Christian CouderJan 21, 2025
  30. Junio C HamanoJan 21, 2025
  31. 2/6 version: refactor get_uname_info()Usman Akinyemi, Jan 17, 2025
  32. 3/6 version: extend get_uname_info() to hide system detailsUsman Akinyemi, Jan 17, 2025
  33. Junio C HamanoJan 17, 2025
  34. 4/6 t5701: add setup test to remove side-effect dependencyUsman Akinyemi, Jan 17, 2025
  35. Junio C HamanoJan 17, 2025
  36. Usman AkinyemiJan 20, 2025
  37. Junio C HamanoJan 20, 2025
  38. Usman AkinyemiJan 21, 2025
  39. 5/6 connect: advertise OS versionUsman Akinyemi, Jan 17, 2025
  40. Junio C HamanoJan 17, 2025
  41. Junio C HamanoJan 17, 2025
  42. rsbecker@nexbridge.comJan 17, 2025
  43. Junio C HamanoJan 17, 2025
  44. Usman AkinyemiJan 20, 2025
  45. Junio C HamanoJan 21, 2025
  46. 6/6 version: introduce osversion.command config for os-version outputUsman Akinyemi, Jan 17, 2025
  47. Eric SunshineJan 17, 2025
  48. Usman AkinyemiJan 20, 2025
  49. Eric SunshineJan 20, 2025
  50. Usman AkinyemiJan 20, 2025
  51. Junio C HamanoJan 17, 2025
  52. rsbecker@nexbridge.comJan 17, 2025
  53. Junio C HamanoJan 17, 2025
  54. rsbecker@nexbridge.comJan 17, 2025
  55. Usman AkinyemiJan 20, 2025
  56. Junio C HamanoJan 21, 2025
  57. rsbecker@nexbridge.comJan 21, 2025
  58. 0/6 [Outreachy] Introduce os-version Capability with Configurable OptionsUsman Akinyemi, Jan 24, 2025
  59. 1/6 version: replace manual ASCII checks with isprint() for clarityUsman Akinyemi, Jan 24, 2025
  60. Junio C HamanoJan 24, 2025
  61. 2/6 version: refactor redact_non_printables()Usman Akinyemi, Jan 24, 2025
  62. 3/6 version: refactor get_uname_info()Usman Akinyemi, Jan 24, 2025
  63. 4/6 version: extend get_uname_info() to hide system detailsUsman Akinyemi, Jan 24, 2025
  64. 5/6 t5701: add setup test to remove side-effect dependencyUsman Akinyemi, Jan 24, 2025
  65. Junio C HamanoJan 24, 2025
  66. 6/6 connect: advertise OS versionUsman Akinyemi, Jan 24, 2025
  67. 0/6 [Outreachy] extend agent capability to include OS nameUsman Akinyemi, Feb 5, 2025
  68. 1/6 version: replace manual ASCII checks with isprint() for clarityUsman Akinyemi, Feb 5, 2025
  69. 2/6 version: refactor redact_non_printables()Usman Akinyemi, Feb 5, 2025
  70. 3/6 version: refactor get_uname_info()Usman Akinyemi, Feb 5, 2025
  71. 4/6 version: extend get_uname_info() to hide system detailsUsman Akinyemi, Feb 5, 2025
  72. 6/6 agent: advertise OS name via agent capabilityUsman Akinyemi, Feb 5, 2025
  73. Junio C HamanoFeb 5, 2025
  74. Usman AkinyemiFeb 6, 2025
  75. Junio C HamanoFeb 6, 2025
  76. Usman AkinyemiFeb 7, 2025
  77. Junio C HamanoFeb 7, 2025
  78. Usman AkinyemiFeb 7, 2025
  79. 5/6 t5701: add setup test to remove side-effect dependencyUsman Akinyemi, Feb 5, 2025
  80. 0/6 [Outreachy] extend agent capability to include OS nameUsman Akinyemi, Feb 14, 2025
  81. 1/6 version: replace manual ASCII checks with isprint() for clarityUsman Akinyemi, Feb 14, 2025
  82. 2/6 version: refactor redact_non_printables()Usman Akinyemi, Feb 14, 2025
  83. 3/6 version: refactor get_uname_info()Usman Akinyemi, Feb 14, 2025
  84. 4/6 version: extend get_uname_info() to hide system detailsUsman Akinyemi, Feb 14, 2025
  85. 5/6 t5701: add setup test to remove side-effect dependencyUsman Akinyemi, Feb 14, 2025
  86. Junio C HamanoFeb 14, 2025
  87. 6/6 agent: advertise OS name via agent capabilityUsman Akinyemi, Feb 14, 2025
  88. Junio C HamanoFeb 14, 2025
  89. Usman AkinyemiFeb 15, 2025
  90. 0/6 [Outreachy] extend agent capability to include OS nameUsman Akinyemi, Feb 15, 2025
  91. 1/6 version: replace manual ASCII checks with isprint() for clarityUsman Akinyemi, Feb 15, 2025
  92. 2/6 version: refactor redact_non_printables()Usman Akinyemi, Feb 15, 2025
  93. 3/6 version: refactor get_uname_info()Usman Akinyemi, Feb 15, 2025
  94. 4/6 version: extend get_uname_info() to hide system detailsUsman Akinyemi, Feb 15, 2025
  95. 5/6 t5701: add setup test to remove side-effect dependencyUsman Akinyemi, Feb 15, 2025
  96. 6/6 agent: advertise OS name via agent capabilityUsman Akinyemi, Feb 15, 2025
  97. Junio C HamanoFeb 18, 2025
  98. Junio C HamanoFeb 18, 2025
  99. Junio C HamanoJan 24, 2025
  100. Christian CouderJan 27, 2025
  101. Junio C HamanoJan 27, 2025
  102. Christian CouderJan 31, 2025
  103. Junio C HamanoJan 31, 2025
  104. Usman AkinyemiJan 31, 2025
  105. Junio C HamanoJan 31, 2025
  106. Usman AkinyemiJan 31, 2025
  107. Junio C HamanoJan 31, 2025

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.