Re: [PATCH/RFC] stash: introduce 'stash save --keep-index' option

From: Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>
Date: Jun 27, 2008, 18:26 UTC
Message-ID: <7vlk0qrayk.fsf@gitster.siamese.dyndns.org>
In-Reply-To: <20080627143715.GD6747@neumann>

SZEDER Gábor <szeder@ira.uka.de> writes:

Show 7 quoted lines

> 'git stash save' saves local modifications to a new stash, and runs 'git
> reset --hard' to revert them to a clean index and work tree.  When the
> '--keep-index' option is specified, after that 'git reset --hard' the
> previous contents of the index is restored and the work tree is updated
> to match the index.  This option is useful if the user wants to commit
> only parts of his local modifications, but wants to test those parts
> before committing.

Please do not describe how it does, before what it does and what it is good for. Here is an example:

	When preparing for a partial commit (iow, committing only part of
	the changes you made in your work tree), you would use various
	forms of "git add" to prepare the index to a shape you think is
	appropriate for committing, and finally run "git commit".

	This workflow however has a flaw in that you are committing
	something that you could never have tested as a whole (and without
	any other modification) in your work tree.

	With the new "--keep-index" option, "git stash" takes a snapshot
	of your index and the work tree state, and updates the work tree
	to match your index, i.e. what you are about to commit.  This way,
	you can commit with confidence, knowing that you are committing
	what you saw (and hopefully tested) as a whole in your work tree.

	After making that initial commit, "git stash pop" will bring the
	work tree state back without touching the index, so you can start
	the next cycle of "git add" to prepare the second batch.

I do not know if your --keep-index implementation would actually allow the above workflow; I haven't read the patch.