From: Junio C Hamano Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2006 20:39:56 GMT Subject: Re: [PATCH 0/2] Making "git commit" to mean "git commit -a". Message-ID: <7vlkluoulf.fsf@assigned-by-dhcp.cox.net> In-Reply-To: Johannes Schindelin writes: > On Wed, 29 Nov 2006, Steven Grimm wrote: > >> More likely they will start wondering the instant you tell them to use >> it the first time. Or at least they'll ask, "If '-a' means commit all >> files, what's the default?" And then you either have to blow off the >> question or start telling them about the index. > > So what? Tell them that there is a staging area, which makes many > operations of git very powerful and fast. And this staging area is called > "the index" in git. And to put some files into it, specify those > files. If you want _all_ modified files there, use "-a". That's it. Well said. I think I have stated my preference and reasoning clearly enough on this topic, so I won't waste my time repeating them. My time is better spent on _listening_ to people who might want to make convincing arguments to influence what I will end up deciding (the final decision will be mine anyway). By the way, I've been having fun with the xdl_merge() stuff; thanks for a job well done. I will push some of it out in 'pu' shortly.