git diff: add option for omitting the contents of deletes

From: Mart Sõmermaa <mrts.pydev@gmail.com>
Date: Feb 26, 2011, 13:16 UTC
Message-ID: <AANLkTi=++gcw5CDQnTRbhUGkvWc9Zm+Ct4Zm5oGGYKUh@mail.gmail.com>

Paging through deletes adds a cognitive burden when reviewing code. Thus we have

    git config --global alias.deleteless-diff 'diff -M --diff-filter=ACMRTUXB'

and using `git deleteless-diff` is standard practice during code reviews.

However, the filter leaves out delete information altogether, which is error-prone.

Therefore I'd like to propose adding the -D (or --omit-delete-contents) option to git diff that would behave as follows:

$ git rm foo $ git diff -D

diff --git a/foo b/foo
delete foo

I.e. instead of displaying the contents of the file as a diff minus, a
descriptive message
is displayed -- like with renames.

Thoughts, suggestions?
Can 'diff -M --diff-filter=ACMRTUXB' be improved?

Best regards,
Mart Sõmermaa