From: Junio C Hamano <junkio@cox.net>
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2007 00:10:12 GMT
Subject: Re: [PATCH] Detached HEAD (experimental)
Message-ID: <7vd55nivx7.fsf@assigned-by-dhcp.cox.net>
In-Reply-To: <Pine.LNX.4.64.0701091539050.3594@woody.osdl.org>

Linus Torvalds <torvalds@osdl.org> writes:

> On Tue, 9 Jan 2007, Junio C Hamano wrote:
>> 
>> Being able to test merge or even make commits without being on a
>> branch is vastly useful.
>
> Yes. I think the detached head notion is really really important. I think 
> it was a mistake to not allow it initially, but hey, there were various 
> historical reasons, and the whole thing about how branches worked was a 
> bit up in the air.
>
> I would suggest a solution:
>
>  - git checkout will refuse to switch AWAY from a detached head unless the 
>    SHA1 of the detached head exactly matches some other branch.

... or an existing "ref^{commit}".

> I'd love to see the detached HEAD series move into "master", but I do 
> think we should make sure that people can't drop their work easily by 
> mistake, and I think the above suggestion is both simple and workable.
>
> Comments?

I agree with the "reachability is wrong -- you would lose the
point in the middle" reasoning.