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[PATCH v5 3/3] rerere: go on at a conflict when the lock stays busy

From
Thomas Bachem via GitGitGadget <gitgitgadget@gmail.com>
Date
Sep 28, 2026, 11:58 UTC
Message-ID
<3984c7666bc3ee1e7670f4e092f1d59c0935c2bc.1790596702.git.gitgitgadget@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To
<pull.2214.v5.git.1790596702.gitgitgadget@gmail.com>
From: Thomas Bachem <mail@thomasbachem.com>

When a merge, rebase, cherry-pick, revert, am, stash or apply stops at a conflict, it runs rerere right before it returns to the user. If MERGE_RR.lock is still held when rerere.lockTimeout runs out, the command dies there. A rebase loses more than a recording that way. The sequencer has not yet written the state that "git rebase --continue" needs, so the rebase cannot go on, and the "git commit --amend" it suggests instead folds the conflicted pick into the previous commit.

So warn and go on. The conflict is still in place, and the warning tells the user to run "git rerere" before resolving it, which records the preimage or replays a known resolution as the command would have. The hint is under advice.mergeConflict like the other hints printed at a conflict stop.

Callers that run rerere after a resolution, like "git commit" and "git am --continue", still fail when the wait is up. They move on right away, and a leftover MERGE_RR entry would make the next rerere run record whatever the file holds by then. The user's own rerere commands and the "rerere clear" of --skip and --abort fail as well.

Assisted-by: Claude Fable 5.1
Signed-off-by: Thomas Bachem <mail@thomasbachem.com>
---
 Documentation/config/rerere.adoc |  10 ++-
 apply.c                          |   2 +-
 builtin/am.c                     |   3 +-
 builtin/merge.c                  |   2 +-
 builtin/stash.c                  |   2 +-
 rerere.c                         |  30 +++++++--
 rerere.h                         |   2 +
 sequencer.c                      |   4 +-
 t/t4200-rerere.sh                | 105 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-
 9 files changed, 143 insertions(+), 17 deletions(-)
diff --git a/Documentation/config/rerere.adoc b/Documentation/config/rerere.adoc
index a58c2ff684..d9ea56f5b2 100644
--- a/Documentation/config/rerere.adoc
+++ b/Documentation/config/rerere.adoc
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@ rerere.lockTimeout::
 	lock when another process holds it, typically a background
 	`git rerere gc`.  Value 0 means not to wait at all; -1 means
 	to wait indefinitely.  Default is 1000 (i.e., wait for 1
-	second).  When the time is up, the command fails as it does
-	for any other lock it cannot take.  `git rerere gc --auto`
-	does not wait and does nothing while the lock is held.
+	second).  When the time is up, a command that stops at a
+	conflict, such as `git merge` or `git rebase`, prints a
+	warning and goes on without rerere; run `git rerere` before
+	resolving the conflict to record it after all.  Any other
+	command fails, as it does for any other lock it cannot take.
+	`git rerere gc --auto` does not wait and does nothing while
+	the lock is held.
diff --git a/apply.c b/apply.c
index f00b7ba4d3..3b8502535b 100644
--- a/apply.c
+++ b/apply.c
@@ -4865,7 +4865,7 @@ static int write_out_results(struct apply_state *state, struct patch *list)
 		 * tree with conflict markers, but that isn't written with --cached.
 		 */
 		if (!state->cached)
-			repo_rerere(state->repo, 0);
+			repo_rerere(state->repo, RERERE_SKIP_LOCKED);
 	}
 
 	return errs;
diff --git a/builtin/am.c b/builtin/am.c
index e9623b8307..bcb93db515 100644
--- a/builtin/am.c
+++ b/builtin/am.c
@@ -1649,7 +1649,8 @@ static int fall_back_threeway(const struct am_state *state, const char *index_pa
 		o.verbosity = 0;
 
 	if (merge_ort_generic(&o, &our_tree, &their_tree, 1, bases, &result)) {
-		repo_rerere(the_repository, state->allow_rerere_autoupdate);
+		repo_rerere(the_repository, state->allow_rerere_autoupdate |
+			    RERERE_SKIP_LOCKED);
 		free(their_tree_name);
 		return error(_("Failed to merge in the changes."));
 	}
diff --git a/builtin/merge.c b/builtin/merge.c
index 5b4eb23a83..1ed5959bfd 100644
--- a/builtin/merge.c
+++ b/builtin/merge.c
@@ -1061,7 +1061,7 @@ static int suggest_conflicts(void)
 	fputs(msgbuf.buf, fp);
 	strbuf_release(&msgbuf);
 	fclose(fp);
-	repo_rerere(the_repository, allow_rerere_auto);
+	repo_rerere(the_repository, allow_rerere_auto | RERERE_SKIP_LOCKED);
 	printf(_("Automatic merge failed; "
 			"fix conflicts and then commit the result.\n"));
 	return 1;
diff --git a/builtin/stash.c b/builtin/stash.c
index 7a9843413b..3f9fd20569 100644
--- a/builtin/stash.c
+++ b/builtin/stash.c
@@ -732,7 +732,7 @@ static enum stash_apply_result do_apply_stash(const char *prefix,
 		ret = error(_("could not write index"));
 
 	if (ret) {
-		repo_rerere(the_repository, 0);
+		repo_rerere(the_repository, RERERE_SKIP_LOCKED);
 
 		if (index)
 			fprintf_ln(stderr, _("Index was not unstashed."));
diff --git a/rerere.c b/rerere.c
index 43c8eb04db..5a036fe456 100644
--- a/rerere.c
+++ b/rerere.c
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 #include "git-compat-util.h"
 #include "abspath.h"
+#include "advice.h"
 #include "config.h"
 #include "copy.h"
 #include "environment.h"
@@ -887,11 +888,13 @@ int setup_rerere(struct repository *r, struct string_list *merge_rr, int flags)
 
 	if (flags & (RERERE_AUTOUPDATE|RERERE_NOAUTOUPDATE))
 		rerere_autoupdate = !!(flags & RERERE_AUTOUPDATE);
-	if ((flags & RERERE_READONLY) && (flags & RERERE_NOWAIT))
-		BUG("RERERE_NOWAIT does not apply with RERERE_READONLY");
+	if ((flags & RERERE_READONLY) &&
+	    (flags & (RERERE_NOWAIT | RERERE_SKIP_LOCKED)))
+		BUG("RERERE_READONLY takes no lock, so no lock flag applies");
 	if (flags & RERERE_READONLY) {
 		fd = 0;
 	} else {
+		const char *path = git_path_merge_rr(r);
 		int lock_flags = LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR;
 		int timeout_ms = rerere_lock_timeout_ms;
 
@@ -900,17 +903,32 @@ int setup_rerere(struct repository *r, struct string_list *merge_rr, int flags)
 		 * "git rerere gc" while it prunes rr-cache, so wait for
 		 * it instead of dying right away.  The gc of an automatic
 		 * maintenance run does not wait, since skipping one of
-		 * its runs costs nothing.
+		 * its runs costs nothing.  A command that stops at a
+		 * conflict must not die here either, so it warns and
+		 * goes on without rerere.
 		 */
 		if (flags & RERERE_NOWAIT) {
 			lock_flags = 0;
 			timeout_ms = 0;
 		}
+		if (flags & RERERE_SKIP_LOCKED)
+			lock_flags = 0;
 		fd = repo_hold_lock_file_for_update_timeout(r, &write_lock,
-							    git_path_merge_rr(r),
-							    lock_flags, timeout_ms);
-		if (fd < 0)
+							    path, lock_flags,
+							    timeout_ms);
+		if (fd < 0) {
+			if (flags & RERERE_SKIP_LOCKED) {
+				warning_errno(_("skipping rerere, "
+						"unable to create '%s.lock'"),
+					      path);
+				advise_if_enabled(ADVICE_MERGE_CONFLICT,
+						  _("run \"git rerere\" before "
+						    "resolving the conflict to "
+						    "record or replay its "
+						    "resolution"));
+			}
 			return -1;
+		}
 	}
 	read_rr(r, merge_rr);
 	return fd;
diff --git a/rerere.h b/rerere.h
index d54c53d0d4..ed8a878f8f 100644
--- a/rerere.h
+++ b/rerere.h
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ struct repository;
 #define RERERE_READONLY     04
 /* Take MERGE_RR.lock only if it is free, and return quietly otherwise */
 #define RERERE_NOWAIT       010
+/* Warn and go on without rerere if MERGE_RR.lock cannot be taken in time */
+#define RERERE_SKIP_LOCKED  020
 
 /*
  * Marks paths that have been hand-resolved and added to the
diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index 6dae43e4db..dabba729c7 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -2520,7 +2520,7 @@ static enum pick_result do_pick_commit(struct repository *r,
 		      : _("could not apply %s... %s"),
 		      short_commit_name(r, commit), msg.subject);
 		print_advice(r, res == 1, opts);
-		repo_rerere(r, opts->allow_rerere_auto);
+		repo_rerere(r, opts->allow_rerere_auto | RERERE_SKIP_LOCKED);
 		goto leave;
 	}
 
@@ -4449,7 +4449,7 @@ static int do_merge(struct repository *r,
 
 	rollback_lock_file(&lock);
 	if (ret)
-		repo_rerere(r, opts->allow_rerere_auto);
+		repo_rerere(r, opts->allow_rerere_auto | RERERE_SKIP_LOCKED);
 	else
 		/*
 		 * In case of problems, we now want to return a positive
diff --git a/t/t4200-rerere.sh b/t/t4200-rerere.sh
index 9435b0ed58..b5209d8c04 100755
--- a/t/t4200-rerere.sh
+++ b/t/t4200-rerere.sh
@@ -277,17 +277,118 @@ test_expect_success 'a held lock is waited out within rerere.lockTimeout' '
 	test_grep "^=======\$" $rr/preimage
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'merge fails once rerere.lockTimeout is up' '
+test_expect_success 'merge goes on without rerere once rerere.lockTimeout is up' '
 	git reset --hard &&
 	rm -rf $rr &&
 	test_when_finished "rm -f .git/MERGE_RR.lock" &&
 	>.git/MERGE_RR.lock &&
 	test_must_fail git -c rerere.lockTimeout=0 merge first 2>err &&
-	test_grep "Unable to create" err &&
+	test_grep "skipping rerere" err &&
+	test_grep "hint: .*git rerere" err &&
 	test_grep "^=======\$" a1 &&
 	test_path_is_missing $rr/preimage
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'rerere run at the stop records what was skipped' '
+	git reset --hard &&
+	rm -rf $rr &&
+	git checkout -b lock-held-catch-up third &&
+	test_when_finished "git checkout third && git branch -D lock-held-catch-up" &&
+	test_when_finished "rm -f .git/MERGE_RR.lock" &&
+	>.git/MERGE_RR.lock &&
+	test_must_fail git -c rerere.lockTimeout=0 merge first &&
+	test_path_is_missing $rr/preimage &&
+	rm .git/MERGE_RR.lock &&
+	git rerere &&
+	test_grep "^=======\$" $rr/preimage &&
+	echo resolved >a1 &&
+	git add a1 &&
+	git commit -qm resolved &&
+	test_path_is_file $rr/postimage
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'rebase goes on without rerere once rerere.lockTimeout is up' '
+	git reset --hard &&
+	rm -rf $rr &&
+	git checkout -b lock-held third &&
+	test_when_finished "git checkout third && git branch -D lock-held" &&
+	test_when_finished "rm -f .git/MERGE_RR.lock" &&
+	>.git/MERGE_RR.lock &&
+	test_must_fail git -c rerere.lockTimeout=0 rebase first 2>err &&
+	test_grep "skipping rerere" err &&
+	test_path_is_file .git/rebase-merge/stopped-sha &&
+	rm .git/MERGE_RR.lock &&
+	echo resolved >a1 &&
+	git add a1 &&
+	git rebase --continue &&
+	test_path_is_missing .git/rebase-merge &&
+	test_path_is_missing $rr/preimage
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'commit fails on a lock it cannot take' '
+	git reset --hard &&
+	rm -rf $rr &&
+	git checkout -b lock-held-commit third &&
+	test_when_finished "git checkout third && git branch -D lock-held-commit" &&
+	test_must_fail git merge first &&
+	test_path_is_file $rr/preimage &&
+	echo resolved >a1 &&
+	git add a1 &&
+	test_when_finished "rm -f .git/MERGE_RR.lock" &&
+	>.git/MERGE_RR.lock &&
+	test_must_fail git -c rerere.lockTimeout=0 commit -qm resolved 2>err &&
+	test_grep "Unable to create" err &&
+	test_path_is_missing $rr/postimage
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'am goes on without rerere once rerere.lockTimeout is up' '
+	git reset --hard &&
+	rm -rf $rr &&
+	git checkout -b lock-held-am third &&
+	test_when_finished "test_might_fail git am --abort &&
+		git checkout third && git branch -D lock-held-am" &&
+	git format-patch -1 --stdout first >first.patch &&
+	test_when_finished "rm -f .git/MERGE_RR.lock" &&
+	>.git/MERGE_RR.lock &&
+	test_must_fail git -c rerere.lockTimeout=0 am --3way first.patch 2>err &&
+	test_grep "skipping rerere" err &&
+	test_path_is_dir .git/rebase-apply &&
+	rm .git/MERGE_RR.lock &&
+	git am --abort &&
+	test_path_is_missing .git/rebase-apply
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'stash pop goes on without rerere once rerere.lockTimeout is up' '
+	git reset --hard &&
+	rm -rf $rr &&
+	git checkout -b lock-held-stash third &&
+	test_when_finished "git reset --hard && git stash drop &&
+		git checkout third && git branch -D lock-held-stash" &&
+	echo stashed >>a1 &&
+	git stash &&
+	echo committed >>a1 &&
+	git commit -qam committed &&
+	test_when_finished "rm -f .git/MERGE_RR.lock" &&
+	>.git/MERGE_RR.lock &&
+	test_must_fail git -c rerere.lockTimeout=0 stash pop 2>err &&
+	test_grep "skipping rerere" err &&
+	test_grep "^=======\$" a1
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'apply --3way goes on without rerere once rerere.lockTimeout is up' '
+	git reset --hard &&
+	rm -rf $rr &&
+	git checkout -b lock-held-apply third &&
+	test_when_finished "git reset --hard &&
+		git checkout third && git branch -D lock-held-apply" &&
+	git format-patch -1 --stdout first >first.patch &&
+	test_when_finished "rm -f .git/MERGE_RR.lock" &&
+	>.git/MERGE_RR.lock &&
+	test_must_fail git -c rerere.lockTimeout=0 apply --3way first.patch 2>err &&
+	test_grep "skipping rerere" err &&
+	test_grep "^=======\$" a1
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'rerere, forget, clear and gc fail on a lock they cannot take' '
 	test_when_finished "rm -f .git/MERGE_RR.lock" &&
 	>.git/MERGE_RR.lock &&

-- 
gitgitgadget
Previous: Patrick SteinhardtNext: Thomas Bachem via GitGitGadget
Message 33 of 39 in “rerere: keep a background gc from killing a rebase”
  1. rerere: keep a background gc from killing a rebaseThomas Bachem via GitGitGadget, Sep 2, 2026
  2. Phillip WoodSep 2, 2026
  3. Thomas BachemSep 2, 2026
  4. Phillip WoodSep 3, 2026
  5. Patrick SteinhardtSep 3, 2026
  6. Thomas BachemSep 3, 2026
  7. Patrick SteinhardtSep 3, 2026
  8. Thomas BachemSep 3, 2026
  9. Phillip WoodSep 3, 2026
  10. rerere: keep a background gc from killing a rebaseThomas Bachem via GitGitGadget, Sep 4, 2026
  11. Phillip WoodSep 4, 2026
  12. Thomas BachemSep 4, 2026
  13. Phillip WoodSep 7, 2026
  14. Junio C HamanoSep 4, 2026
  15. Thomas BachemSep 4, 2026
  16. rerere: keep a background gc from killing a rebaseThomas Bachem via GitGitGadget, Sep 4, 2026
  17. Junio C HamanoSep 4, 2026
  18. Thomas BachemSep 5, 2026
  19. Junio C HamanoSep 5, 2026
  20. Thomas BachemSep 6, 2026
  21. Patrick SteinhardtSep 7, 2026
  22. 0/2 rerere: wait for MERGE_RR.lock, and go on at a conflictThomas Bachem via GitGitGadget, Sep 14, 2026
  23. 1/2 rerere: wait for MERGE_RR.lock, and let the gc skip itThomas Bachem via GitGitGadget, Sep 14, 2026
  24. Patrick SteinhardtSep 28, 2026
  25. 2/2 rerere: go on at a conflict when the lock stays busyThomas Bachem via GitGitGadget, Sep 14, 2026
  26. Patrick SteinhardtSep 28, 2026
  27. 0/3 rerere: wait for MERGE_RR.lock, and go on at a conflictThomas Bachem via GitGitGadget, Sep 28, 2026
  28. 1/3 rerere: wait for MERGE_RR.lock before giving upThomas Bachem via GitGitGadget, Sep 28, 2026
  29. 2/3 rerere: add "gc --auto" that skips a held lockThomas Bachem via GitGitGadget, Sep 28, 2026
  30. Patrick SteinhardtSep 30, 2026
  31. Thomas BachemOct 1, 2026
  32. Patrick SteinhardtOct 1, 2026
  33. 3/3 rerere: go on at a conflict when the lock stays busyThomas Bachem via GitGitGadget, Sep 28, 2026
  34. 0/3 rerere: wait for MERGE_RR.lock, and go on at a conflictThomas Bachem via GitGitGadget, Oct 2, 2026
  35. 1/3 rerere: wait for MERGE_RR.lock before giving upThomas Bachem via GitGitGadget, Oct 2, 2026
  36. 2/3 rerere: add "gc --skip-locked" for auto maintenanceThomas Bachem via GitGitGadget, Oct 2, 2026
  37. Patrick SteinhardtOct 9, 2026
  38. 3/3 rerere: go on at a conflict when the lock stays busyThomas Bachem via GitGitGadget, Oct 2, 2026
  39. Patrick SteinhardtOct 9, 2026

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