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Re: [PATCH v2 04/11] git-gui: use rev-parse exclusively to find a repository

From
Johannes Sixt <j6t@kdbg.org>
Date
May 22, 2026, 08:46 UTC
Message-ID
<8d1488ec-c4de-4ddd-b3cd-e1e8b4a343bf@kdbg.org>
In-Reply-To
<20260520202411.108764-5-mlevedahl@gmail.com>
Am 20.05.26 um 22:24 schrieb Mark Levedahl:
Show 16 quoted lines
> git-gui attempts to use env(GIT_DIR) directly as the git repository,
> accepting GIT_DIR if it is a directory. Only if that fails is git
> rev-parse used to discover the repository.  But, this avoids all of
> git-core's validity checking on a repository, thus possibly deferring an
> error to a later step, possibly unexpected. Repository validation should
> be part of initial setup so that later processing does not need error
> trapping for configuration errors.
> 
> Let's just invoke rev-parse so all error checking is done.
> 
> While here, let's cleanup the error handling.
> 
> Stop if an error occurs and the user set GIT_DIR or GIT_WORK_TREE.
> Use of either or both of those variables is supported by git, but their
> use also means the user has taken responsibility that they are correct,
> so a failure is something the user must address.
Very much so!
Show 18 quoted lines
> 
> Otherwise on error, continue the existing behavior and show the
> repository picker. But, let's move the possible invocation of
> repository_chooser::pick to a separate code block. This permits adding
> separate conditions on using pick indepent of repository discovery, and
> will be exploited later in the series.  Note that the picker always
> returns with the current directory in the root of a worktree with the
> git repository is in the .git subdirectory.  The variable "picked" is
> used by git-gui to automatically execute the "Explore Working Copy" menu
> item after the repository picker is run.  This is controlled by config
> variable gui.autoexplore, and happens after all discovery is complete.
> 
> Remove a later check on whether _gitdir is a directory: that code
> cannot be reached without rev-parse already validating the repository.
> 
> _prefix should not be set before worktree discovery: the prefix is only
> known after the worktree is found, and at this point we have only
> discovered the repository.

Sorry, but I cannot agree with "prefix is only known after the worktree is found". The prefix is a property that can be known even if we haven't asked where the top-level of the working tree is. See more below.

Show 65 quoted lines
> This is true even when running the repository
> picker: that option provides a list of prior selections, and does no
> validation on the list beyond checking that the directories exist.  For
> now, just initialize _prefix along with other global variables.
> 
> Signed-off-by: Mark Levedahl <mlevedahl@gmail.com>
> ---
>  git-gui.sh | 48 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++---------------
>  1 file changed, 33 insertions(+), 15 deletions(-)
> 
> diff --git a/git-gui.sh b/git-gui.sh
> index 233c975786..c61a6cbd8f 100755
> --- a/git-gui.sh
> +++ b/git-gui.sh
> @@ -374,6 +374,7 @@ set _gitdir {}
>  set _gitworktree {}
>  set _isbare {}
>  set _githtmldir {}
> +set _prefix {}
>  set _reponame {}
>  set _shellpath {@@SHELL_PATH@@}
>  
> @@ -1122,6 +1123,24 @@ unset argv0dir
>  ##
>  ## repository setup
>  
> +proc is_gitvars_error {err} {
> +	set havevars 0
> +	set GIT_DIR {}
> +	set GIT_WORK_TREE {}
> +	catch {set GIT_DIR $::env(GIT_DIR); set havevars 1}
> +	catch {set GIT_WORK_TREE $::env(GIT_WORK_TREE) ; set havevars 1}
> +
> +	if {$havevars} {
> +		catch {wm withdraw .}
> +		error_popup [strcat [mc "Invalid configuration:"] \
> +		   "\n" "GIT_DIR: " $GIT_DIR \
> +		   "\n" "GIT_WORK_TREE: " $GIT_WORK_TREE \
> +			"\n\n$err"]
> +		return 1
> +	}
> +	return 0
> +}
> +
>  proc set_gitdir_vars {} {
>  	global _gitdir _gitworktree env
>  	if {$_gitdir ne {}} {
> @@ -1138,17 +1157,22 @@ proc unset_gitdir_vars {} {
>  	catch {unset env(GIT_WORK_TREE)}
>  }
>  
> -set picked 0
> -if {[catch {
> -		set _gitdir $env(GIT_DIR)
> -		set _prefix {}
> -		}]
> -	&& [catch {
> -		# beware that from the .git dir this sets _gitdir to .
> -		# and _prefix to the empty string
> +# find repository.
> +set _gitdir {}
> +if {$_gitdir eq {}} {
> +	if {[catch {
>  		set _gitdir [git rev-parse --absolute-git-dir]
> -		set _prefix [git rev-parse --show-prefix]

You cannot leave the _prefix empty, because it breaks `git gui browser master dir` when invoked from a subdirectory of the working tree.

This line must remain. I see that you add it back in later patch. There may be some motivation to move prefix discovery, but there is no motivation to remove it at this point.

Show 5 quoted lines
>  	} err]} {
> +		if {[is_gitvars_error $err]} {
> +			exit 1
> +		}
> +		set _gitdir {}
BTW, this line would only be needed if the 'set _prefix' line above stays.
Show 29 quoted lines
> +	}
> +}
> +
> +set picked 0
> +if {$_gitdir eq {}} {
> +	unset_gitdir_vars
>  	load_config 1
>  	apply_config
>  	if {![choose_repository::pick]} {
> @@ -1160,7 +1184,6 @@ if {[catch {
>  		catch {wm withdraw .}
>  		error_popup [strcat [mc "Unusable repo/worktree:"] " [pwd] "\n\n$err"]
>  	}
> -	set _prefix {}
>  	set picked 1
>  }
>  
> @@ -1175,11 +1198,6 @@ if {$hashalgorithm eq "sha1"} {
>  	exit 1
>  }
>  
> -if {![file isdirectory $_gitdir]} {
> -	catch {wm withdraw .}
> -	error_popup [strcat [mc "Git directory not found:"] "\n\n$_gitdir"]
> -	exit 1
> -}
>  # _gitdir exists, so try loading the config
>  load_config 0
>  apply_config
-- Hannes
Previous: Mark LevedahlNext: Mark Levedahl
Message 74 of 134 in “git-gui: handle bare repo or missing worktree”
  1. git-gui: handle bare repo or missing worktreeShroom Moo, Apr 21, 2026
  2. Johannes SixtApr 29, 2026
  3. 1/1 git-gui: protect rev-parse --show-toplevel callShroom Moo, Apr 29, 2026
  4. Mark LevedahlApr 29, 2026
  5. 1/1 git-gui: handle missing worktree and separated gitdirShroom Moo, Apr 30, 2026
  6. Mark LevedahlApr 30, 2026
  7. Shroom MooMay 1, 2026
  8. Johannes SixtMay 1, 2026
  9. Mark LevedahlMay 1, 2026
  10. Mark LevedahlMay 2, 2026
  11. Johannes SixtMay 3, 2026
  12. Mark LevedahlMay 4, 2026
  13. Mark LevedahlMay 5, 2026
  14. Johannes SixtMay 6, 2026
  15. Mark LevedahlMay 6, 2026
  16. Johannes SixtMay 6, 2026
  17. Mark LevedahlMay 6, 2026
  18. Mark LevedahlMay 7, 2026
  19. 1/1 git-gui: handle missing worktree and separated gitdirShroom Moo, May 1, 2026
  20. 1/1 git-gui: restructure repository startupShroom Moo, May 4, 2026
  21. Johannes SixtMay 6, 2026
  22. 0/3 git-gui: robustify startup and fix environment handlingShroom Moo, May 6, 2026
  23. 0/3 git-gui: robustify startup and fix environment handlingShroom Moo, May 9, 2026
  24. Mark LevedahlMay 14, 2026
  25. 00/11 Improve git gui operation without a worktreeMark Levedahl, May 14, 2026
  26. 01/11 git-gui: allow specifying path '.' to the browserMark Levedahl, May 14, 2026
  27. Johannes SixtMay 15, 2026
  28. Mark LevedahlMay 16, 2026
  29. 02/11 git-gui: refactor browser / blame argument parsingMark Levedahl, May 14, 2026
  30. Johannes SixtMay 15, 2026
  31. Mark LevedahlMay 16, 2026
  32. 04/11 git-gui: put choose_repository::pick in a procMark Levedahl, May 14, 2026
  33. Aina BootMay 15, 2026
  34. Mark LevedahlMay 15, 2026
  35. Johannes SixtMay 15, 2026
  36. Mark LevedahlMay 16, 2026
  37. 05/11 git-gui: use --absolute-git-dirMark Levedahl, May 14, 2026
  38. Johannes SixtMay 15, 2026
  39. Mark LevedahlMay 16, 2026
  40. 03/11 git-gui: guard set/unset of GIT_DIR and GIT_WORK_TREEMark Levedahl, May 14, 2026
  41. Johannes SixtMay 15, 2026
  42. Mark LevedahlMay 16, 2026
  43. 06/11 git gui: GIT_DIR / GIT_WORK_TREE make any discovery error fatalMark Levedahl, May 14, 2026
  44. 07/11 git-gui: use rev-parse exclusively to find a repositoryMark Levedahl, May 14, 2026
  45. Johannes SixtMay 15, 2026
  46. Mark LevedahlMay 16, 2026
  47. 08/11 git-gui: simplify [is_bare] to report if a worktree is knownMark Levedahl, May 14, 2026
  48. Johannes SixtMay 16, 2026
  49. 09/11 git-gui: support using repository parent dir as a worktreeMark Levedahl, May 14, 2026
  50. Johannes SixtMay 16, 2026
  51. Mark LevedahlMay 16, 2026
  52. 10/11 git-gui: improve worktree discoveryMark Levedahl, May 14, 2026
  53. Johannes SixtMay 16, 2026
  54. Mark LevedahlMay 16, 2026
  55. Johannes SixtMay 19, 2026
  56. Mark LevedahlMay 19, 2026
  57. 11/11 git-gui: add gui and pick as explicit subcommandsMark Levedahl, May 14, 2026
  58. Johannes SixtMay 16, 2026
  59. Mark LevedahlMay 16, 2026
  60. Johannes SixtMay 19, 2026
  61. Mark LevedahlMay 19, 2026
  62. Johannes SixtMay 19, 2026
  63. Johannes SixtMay 16, 2026
  64. 00/11 Improve git gui operation without a worktreeMark Levedahl, May 20, 2026
  65. 01/11 git-gui: guard set/unset of GIT_DIR and GIT_WORK_TREEMark Levedahl, May 20, 2026
  66. Johannes SixtMay 22, 2026
  67. Mark LevedahlMay 22, 2026
  68. Johannes SixtMay 23, 2026
  69. Aina BootMay 23, 2026
  70. Mark LevedahlMay 23, 2026
  71. 02/11 git-gui: return status from choose_repository::pickMark Levedahl, May 20, 2026
  72. Johannes SixtMay 22, 2026
  73. 04/11 git-gui: use rev-parse exclusively to find a repositoryMark Levedahl, May 20, 2026
  74. Johannes SixtMay 22, 2026
  75. Mark LevedahlMay 22, 2026
  76. Mark LevedahlMay 22, 2026
  77. 05/11 git-gui: simplify [is_bare] to report if a worktree is knownMark Levedahl, May 20, 2026
  78. 06/11 git-gui: use git rev-parse for worktree discoveryMark Levedahl, May 20, 2026
  79. Johannes SixtMay 23, 2026
  80. 07/11 git-gui: try harder to find worktree from gitdirMark Levedahl, May 20, 2026
  81. Shroom MooMay 21, 2026
  82. Mark LevedahlMay 21, 2026
  83. Shroom MooMay 22, 2026
  84. Mark LevedahlMay 22, 2026
  85. Johannes SixtMay 23, 2026
  86. Shroom MooMay 23, 2026
  87. Johannes SixtMay 23, 2026
  88. Mark LevedahlMay 23, 2026
  89. 03/11 git-gui: use --absolute-git-dirMark Levedahl, May 20, 2026
  90. Johannes SixtMay 22, 2026
  91. 08/11 git-gui: use HEAD as current branch when detached (bug fix)Mark Levedahl, May 20, 2026
  92. Johannes SixtMay 23, 2026
  93. 09/11 git-gui: allow specifying path '.' to the browserMark Levedahl, May 20, 2026
  94. Johannes SixtMay 23, 2026
  95. Mark LevedahlMay 23, 2026
  96. 10/11 git-gui: adapt blame/browser parsing for bare operationMark Levedahl, May 20, 2026
  97. Shroom MooMay 21, 2026
  98. Mark LevedahlMay 21, 2026
  99. Shroom MooMay 22, 2026
  100. fixup git-gui: allow blame to show uncommitted changesMark Levedahl, May 23, 2026
  101. Johannes SixtMay 23, 2026
  102. 11/11 git-gui: add gui and pick as explicit subcommandsMark Levedahl, May 20, 2026
  103. Johannes SixtMay 24, 2026
  104. Johannes SixtMay 24, 2026
  105. Mark LevedahlMay 25, 2026
  106. 00/12 Improve git gui operation without a worktreeMark Levedahl, May 31, 2026
  107. 01/12 git-gui: use HEAD as current branch when detachedMark Levedahl, May 31, 2026
  108. 02/12 git-gui: remove unnecessary 'cd $_gitworktree' from do_gitkMark Levedahl, May 31, 2026
  109. 03/12 git-gui: guard set/unset of GIT_DIR and GIT_WORK_TREEMark Levedahl, May 31, 2026
  110. 04/12 git-gui: do not change global vars in choose_repository::pickMark Levedahl, May 31, 2026
  111. 05/12 git-gui: use --absolute-git-dirMark Levedahl, May 31, 2026
  112. 06/12 git-gui: use rev-parse exclusively to find a repositoryMark Levedahl, May 31, 2026
  113. 07/12 git-gui: use git rev-parse for worktree discoveryMark Levedahl, May 31, 2026
  114. 08/12 git-gui: simplify [is_bare] to report if a worktree is knownMark Levedahl, May 31, 2026
  115. 09/12 git-gui: try harder to find worktree from gitdirMark Levedahl, May 31, 2026
  116. 10/12 git-gui: allow specifying path '.' to the browserMark Levedahl, May 31, 2026
  117. 11/12 git-gui: check browser/blame arguments carefullyMark Levedahl, May 31, 2026
  118. 12/12 git-gui: add gui and pick as explicit subcommandsMark Levedahl, May 31, 2026
  119. Johannes SixtJun 2, 2026
  120. Mark LevedahlJun 2, 2026
  121. Johannes SixtJun 2, 2026
  122. Shroom MooApr 29, 2026
  123. 2/3 git-gui: disable gitk visualization when no worktree availableShroom Moo, May 6, 2026
  124. 1/3 git-gui: restructure repository startupShroom Moo, May 6, 2026
  125. 3/3 git-gui: handle GIT_DIR and GIT_WORK_TREE earlyShroom Moo, May 6, 2026
  126. Mark LevedahlMay 7, 2026
  127. Aina BootMay 9, 2026
  128. Shroom MooMay 9, 2026
  129. 1/3 git-gui: restructure repository startupShroom Moo, May 9, 2026
  130. Johannes SixtMay 15, 2026
  131. 3/3 git-gui: handle GIT_DIR and GIT_WORK_TREE earlyShroom Moo, May 9, 2026
  132. Johannes SixtMay 15, 2026
  133. 2/3 git-gui: disable gitk visualization when no worktree availableShroom Moo, May 9, 2026
  134. Johannes SixtMay 15, 2026

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