From: H. Peter Anvin <hpa@zytor.com>
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 04:58:05 GMT
Subject: Re: Git-aware HTTP transport
Message-ID: <48B6305D.1080004@zytor.com>
In-Reply-To: <20080828044205.GB10238@spearce.org>

Shawn O. Pearce wrote:
> 
>> Just an implementation detail for the server, however: for an *empty*  
>> repository (one which has no refs at all), the server needs to *not*  
>> transmit the redirect, or there will be a loop :)  It is unnecessary,  
>> anyway, since there is inherently nothing to do.
> 
> Actually that's not true.  A correct client won't loop.
> 
> An empty repository is required to send "refs" section header.
> So the client will see the "refs" header and know that the complete
> set of refs is following.  Only nothing follows, so it knows the
> complete set is the empty set.
> 
> A redirect with no ref data won't have the "refs" section header.
> So the client knows that it cannot conclude anything from that
> exchange and must follow the redirect.
> 

Ah, good point.

	-hpa