From: Immaculate Mecha <immaculatemecha87@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2026 13:37:18 GMT
Subject: [Outreachy] GIT_DIR inherited by shell aliases in linked worktrees
Message-ID: <CAKUOgLzP0CSwOwLeoSpM94A+XCT2X_cVojHsLugDfw+tBZk9LQ@mail.gmail.com>

I'm considering a small Outreachy contribution around repository
environment handling in external shell aliases.

I reproduced the following behaviour:

Create a repository with a linked worktree.

Run an external shell alias from inside that worktree.

Have the alias execute git -C ../TestBaseRepo rev-parse.

The nested command reports the calling worktree's Git directory and
common directory, even though --show-toplevel correctly identifies
TestBaseRepo.

I traced this to the inherited GIT_DIR variable. Unsetting GIT_DIR
before running the nested command makes all three results point to the
target repository.

I found the earlier 2020 discussion about GIT_DIR inheritance in
aliases, but I'm interested in whether there is still room for a
focused contribution, particularly around regression tests for linked
worktrees.

Would this be a suitable microproject for Outreachy?

Thank you,

Immaculate Mecha