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Re: [PATCH 06/10] evolve: add support for writing metacommits

From
CPChris P <christophe.poucet@gmail.com>
Date
Oct 5, 2022, 09:40 UTC
Message-ID
<CAN84kKke+vSQ18wNM7h6BvTF9XBtSH96L0_qNOFn+V3fj2yNhg@mail.gmail.com>
In-Reply-To
<a7ddab8a-ddd6-a8bf-496d-4ce7757d89cf@dunelm.org.uk>
+cc my work account due to a bug in gitgitgadget
>
> I think the code to parse and create metacommits (as well as the change
> table code) could quite happily live in the same file.

I am considering this, it would hide the change_table as that doesn't need to be exposed (for now at least). My only concern is that it would make the commit-msg rather unwieldy.

Show 20 quoted lines
>
> > diff --git a/metacommit.c b/metacommit.c
> > new file mode 100644
> > index 00000000000..d2b859a4d3b
> > --- /dev/null
> > +++ b/metacommit.c
> > @@ -0,0 +1,404 @@
> > +#include "cache.h"
> > +#include "metacommit.h"
> > +#include "commit.h"
> > +#include "change-table.h"
> > +#include "refs.h"
> > +
> > +void init_metacommit_data(struct metacommit_data *state)
> > +{
> > +     memset(state, 0, sizeof(*state));
> > +}
> We'd normally use an initializer macro instead
>
>         #define METACOMMIT_DATA_INIT = { 0 }
Thanks, done.
Show 15 quoted lines
>
> > +void clear_metacommit_data(struct metacommit_data *state)
> > +{
> > +     oid_array_clear(&state->replace);
> > +     oid_array_clear(&state->origin);
> > +}
> > +
> > +static void compute_default_change_name(struct commit *initial_commit,
> > +     struct strbuf* result)
> > +{
> > +     struct strbuf default_name;
>
> The canonical way to initialize an strbuf that is not on the heap is
>
>         struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
Done.
Show 13 quoted lines
>
> > +     const char *buffer;
> > +     const char *subject;
> > +     const char *eol;
> > +     int len;
> > +     strbuf_init(&default_name, 0);
> > +     buffer = get_commit_buffer(initial_commit, NULL);
> > +     find_commit_subject(buffer, &subject);
> > +     eol = strchrnul(subject, '\n');
> > +     for (len = 0;subject < eol && len < 10; ++subject, ++len) {
>
> There's a space missing after the first ';'. We prefer post-increments
> to pre-increments unless the pre-increment is significant.
Done and done :)
Show 10 quoted lines
>
> > +             char next = *subject;
> > +             if (isspace(next))
> > +                     continue;
> > +
> > +             strbuf_addch(&default_name, next);
> > +     }
> > +     sanitize_refname_component(default_name.buf, result);
>
> I suspect we need to call unuse_commit_buffer(initial_commit) here.
Oh interesting, yes.
Show 20 quoted lines
>
> > +}
> > +
> > +/**
> > + * Computes a change name for a change rooted at the given initial commit. Good
> > + * change names should be memorable, unique, and easy to type. They are not
> > + * required to match the commit comment.
> > + */
> > +static void compute_change_name(struct commit *initial_commit, struct strbuf* result)
> > +{
> > +     struct strbuf default_name;
> > +     struct object_id unused;
> > +
> > +     strbuf_init(&default_name, 0);
> > +     if (initial_commit)
> > +             compute_default_change_name(initial_commit, &default_name);
> > +     else
> > +             strbuf_addstr(&default_name, "change");
>
> What does it mean to call this function with initial_commit == NULL?

I don't know to be honest, the call site always seems to pass one in. Changed it to BUG.

Show 11 quoted lines
>
> > +     strbuf_addstr(result, "refs/metas/");
> > +     strbuf_addbuf(result, &default_name);
> > +     /* If there is already a change of this name, append a suffix */
> > +     if (!read_ref(result->buf, &unused)) {
> > +             int suffix = 2;
> > +             int original_length = result->len;
>
> This is one of many places where we have a size_t len or nr member and
> assign it to an int. I think it would be clearer to use a size_t instead
> to avoid adding any more signed<->unsigned conversions.
Done, I had to leave one place because it did while(i >= 0);
Show 19 quoted lines
>
> > +
> > +             while (1) {
> > +                     strbuf_addf(result, "%d", suffix);
> > +                     if (read_ref(result->buf, &unused))
> > +                             break;
> > +                     strbuf_remove(result, original_length, result->len - original_length);
> > +                     ++suffix;
> > +             }
> > +     }
> > +
> > +     strbuf_release(&default_name);
> > +}
> > +
> > +struct resolve_metacommit_callback_data
>
> While there are some structs with a _callback_data suffix in the code
> base, it is far more common to use _context and name any corresponding
> variables ctx.
Done.
Show 12 quoted lines
>
> > +{
> > +     struct change_table* active_changes;
> > +     struct string_list *changes;
> > +     struct oid_array *heads;
> > +};
> > +
> > +static int resolve_metacommit_callback(const char *refname, void *cb_data)
> > +{
> > +     struct resolve_metacommit_callback_data *data = (struct resolve_metacommit_callback_data *)cb_data;
>
> We don't use redundant casts such as this.
Thanks :)
Show 9 quoted lines
>
> > +     struct change_head *chhead;
> > +
> > +     chhead = get_change_head(data->active_changes, refname);
>
> This is really a comment on the previous patch but are there uses of
> for_each_change_referencing() for which just the refname is sufficient?
> It might be more convenient to pass the change head into the callback as
> well.
I'm not sure, will investigate post-squash
Show 7 quoted lines
>
> > +
> > +     if (data->changes)
> > +             string_list_append(data->changes, refname)->util = &(chhead->head);
>
> We don't use redundant parentheses such as this (and this patch does not
> use them consistently)
Done.
Show 16 quoted lines
>
> > +     if (data->heads)
> > +             oid_array_append(data->heads, &(chhead->head));
> > +
> > +     return 0;
> > +}
> > +
> > +/**
> > + * Produces the final form of a metacommit based on the current change refs.
> > + */
> > +static void resolve_metacommit(
> > +     struct repository* repo,
> > +     struct change_table* active_changes,
> > +     const struct metacommit_data *to_resolve,
>
> [testing my understanding] This is the metacommit we want to update

Maybe you can help me find a bug. If you run `git-change update` twice without changing commits, it prints that it created a second one, but then if you `git-change list` it doesn't show that last one because it doesn't create an extra one if there's already a change pointing at HEAD.

Also, thanks for all the comments, it's helping my understanding too. In general do you want all these comments added to the code?

Show 8 quoted lines
>
> > +     struct metacommit_data *resolved_output,
>
> This is the updated metacommit returned to the user
>
> > +     struct string_list *to_advance,
>
> Is also an output? It ends up as a list of refname to change head mappings

Yes, this is consumed in the change.c command. I was considering making this a strintmap that maps to an enum, because we need a tristate (updated, created, untouched). But unfortunately the oids assigned to `->util` are consumed later in the function.

Show 14 quoted lines
>
> > +     int allow_append)
> > +{
> > +     int i;
> > +     int len = to_resolve->replace.nr;
> > +     struct resolve_metacommit_callback_data cbdata;
>
> This would be a good place to a designated initializer.
>
>         struct resolve_metacommit_context ctx = {
>                 .active_changes = active_changes,
>                 .changes = to_advance,
>                 .heads = &resolved_output->replace
>         };
I'm learning new C :D
Show 11 quoted lines
>
> > +     int old_change_list_length = to_advance->nr;
> > +     struct commit* content;
> > +
> > +     oidcpy(&resolved_output->content, &to_resolve->content);
> > +
> > +     /* First look for changes that point to any of the replacement edges in the
> > +      * metacommit. These will be the changes that get advanced by this
> > +      * metacommit. */
>
> Style: '/*' & '*/' should be on their own lines.
Done
Show 120 quoted lines
>
> > +     resolved_output->abandoned = to_resolve->abandoned;
> > +     cbdata.active_changes = active_changes;
> > +     cbdata.changes = to_advance;
> > +     cbdata.heads = &(resolved_output->replace);
> > +
> > +     if (allow_append) {
> > +             for (i = 0; i < len; i++) {
> > +                     int old_number = resolved_output->replace.nr;
> > +                     for_each_change_referencing(active_changes, &(to_resolve->replace.oid[i]),
> > +                             resolve_metacommit_callback, &cbdata);
> > +                     /* If no changes were found, use the unresolved value. */
> > +                     if (old_number == resolved_output->replace.nr)
> > +                             oid_array_append(&(resolved_output->replace), &(to_resolve->replace.oid[i]));
>
> We see if there are any refs under refs/metas/ which point to
> 'to_resolve' or its content and if there are we add those refs and the
> corresponding change head to 'to_advance'. If we don't find any refs
> then we copy the replace oid from 'to_resolve' to 'resolved_output'
>
> If allow_append is false then we ignore all the replace oids in 'to_resolve'
>
> > +             }
> > +     }
> > +
> > +     cbdata.changes = NULL;
> > +     cbdata.heads = &(resolved_output->origin);
> > +
> > +     len = to_resolve->origin.nr;
> > +     for (i = 0; i < len; i++) {
> > +             int old_number = resolved_output->origin.nr;
> > +             for_each_change_referencing(active_changes, &(to_resolve->origin.oid[i]),
> > +                     resolve_metacommit_callback, &cbdata);
> > +             if (old_number == resolved_output->origin.nr)
> > +                     oid_array_append(&(resolved_output->origin), &(to_resolve->origin.oid[i]));
> > +     }
>
> This is copying the origin oids in the same way as we copied the replace
> oids above.
>
> > +     /* If no changes were advanced by this metacommit, we'll need to create a new
> > +      * one. */
> > +     if (to_advance->nr == old_change_list_length) {
> > +             struct strbuf change_name;
> > +
> > +             strbuf_init(&change_name, 80);
> > +             content = lookup_commit_reference_gently(repo, &(to_resolve->content), 1);
> > +
> > +             compute_change_name(content, &change_name);
> > +             string_list_append(to_advance, change_name.buf);
> > +             strbuf_release(&change_name);
> > +     }
> > +}
> > +
> > +static void lookup_commits(
> > +     struct repository *repo,
> > +     struct oid_array *to_lookup,
> > +     struct commit_list **result)
> > +{
> > +     int i = to_lookup->nr;
> > +
> > +     while (--i >= 0) {
> > +             struct object_id *next = &(to_lookup->oid[i]);
> > +             struct commit *commit = lookup_commit_reference_gently(repo, next, 1);
> > +             commit_list_insert(commit, result);
> > +     }
>
> We walk backwards because commit_list_insert prepends to the list - good.
>
> > +}
> > +
> > +#define PARENT_TYPE_PREFIX "parent-type "
> > +
> > +/**
> > + * Creates a new metacommit object with the given content. Writes the object
> > + * id of the newly-created commit to result.
> > + */
> > +int write_metacommit(struct repository *repo, struct metacommit_data *state,
> > +     struct object_id *result)
> > +{
> > +     struct commit_list *parents = NULL;
> > +     struct strbuf comment;
> > +     int i;
> > +     struct commit *content;
> > +
> > +     strbuf_init(&comment, strlen(PARENT_TYPE_PREFIX)
> > +             + 1 + 2 * (state->origin.nr + state->replace.nr));
> > +     lookup_commits(repo, &state->origin, &parents);
> > +     lookup_commits(repo, &state->replace, &parents);
> > +     content = lookup_commit_reference_gently(repo, &state->content, 1);
> > +     if (!content) {
> > +             strbuf_release(&comment);
> > +             free_commit_list(parents);
> > +             return -1;
> > +     }
> > +     commit_list_insert(content, &parents);
> > +
> > +     strbuf_addstr(&comment, PARENT_TYPE_PREFIX);
> > +     strbuf_addstr(&comment, state->abandoned ? "a" : "c");
> > +     for (i = 0; i < state->replace.nr; i++)
> > +             strbuf_addstr(&comment, " r");
> > +
> > +     for (i = 0; i < state->origin.nr; i++)
> > +             strbuf_addstr(&comment, " o"); > +      /* The parents list will be freed by this call. */
> > +     commit_tree(comment.buf, comment.len, repo->hash_algo->empty_tree, parents,
> > +             result, NULL, NULL);
>
> It would be relatively easy to use commit_tree_extended() with
> extra_headers so that we create a commit with a "parent-type" header
> rather than abusing the commit message.
>
>         struct commit_extra_header extra = { .key = "parent-type" };
>
>         /* build header value in strbuf */
>
>         extra.value = buf.buf;
>         extra.len = buf.len;
>         commit_tree_extended("", 0, repo->hash_algo->empty_tree,
>                              parents, result, NULL, NULL, NULL,
>                              &extra);

Sounds like a potentially good idea, to avoid that people accidentally create metacommits that aren't real. What would that look like on the parsing side as well as the test-setup?

Show 24 quoted lines
>
> > +
> > +     strbuf_release(&comment);
> > +     return 0;
> > +}
> > +
> > +/**
> > + * Returns true iff the given metacommit is abandoned, has one or more origin
> > + * parents, or has one or more replacement parents.
> > + */
> > +static int is_nontrivial_metacommit(struct metacommit_data *state)
> > +{
> > +     return state->replace.nr || state->origin.nr || state->abandoned;
> > +}
> > +
> > +/*
> > + * Records the relationships described by the given metacommit in the
> > + * repository.
> > + *
> > + * If override_change is NULL (the default), an attempt will be made
> > + * to append to existing changes wherever possible instead of creating new ones.
> > + * If override_change is non-null, only the given change ref will be updated.
>
> So override_head is the refname of an existing change?

Yes, this comes from the commandline with the option of '-g' (Which unfortunately is not documented).

Show 39 quoted lines
>
> > + * options is a bitwise combination of the UPDATE_OPTION_* flags.
> > + */
> > +int record_metacommit(
> > +     struct repository *repo,
> > +     const struct metacommit_data *metacommit, const char *override_change,
> > +     int options, struct strbuf *err)
> > +{
> > +             struct change_table chtable;
> > +             struct string_list changes;
> > +             int result;
> > +
> > +             change_table_init(&chtable);
> > +             change_table_add_all_visible(&chtable, repo);
> > +             string_list_init_dup(&changes);
> > +
> > +             result = record_metacommit_withresult(repo, &chtable, metacommit,
> > +                     override_change, options, err, &changes);
> > +
> > +             string_list_clear(&changes, 0);
> > +             change_table_clear(&chtable);
> > +             return result;
> > +}
> > +
> > +/*
> > + * Records the relationships described by the given metacommit in the
> > + * repository.
> > + *
> > + * If override_change is NULL (the default), an attempt will be made
> > + * to append to existing changes wherever possible instead of creating new ones.
> > + * If override_change is non-null, only the given change ref will be updated.
> > + *
> > + * The changes list is filled in with the list of change refs that were updated,
> > + * with the util pointers pointing to the old object IDS for those changes.
> > + * The object ID pointers all point to objects owned by the change_table and
> > + * will go out of scope when the change_table is destroyed.
>
> That potentially sounds like an invitation to create use after free bugs
> unless we're careful. Does this function need to be public?

So the change command uses the changes list to determine what to print to the output. It looks whether it's a new change or a created change based on whether the oid is null or not. We could return a strintmap instead that points at status per change. I tried that approach but unfortunately, `changes` is used later in this function. I could still consider a strintmap, it would just be that there's some duplicative storage of information until the function exits. LMKWYT.

Show 34 quoted lines
>
> > + *
> > + * options is a bitwise combination of the UPDATE_OPTION_* flags.
> > + */
> > +int record_metacommit_withresult(
> > +     struct repository *repo,
> > +     struct change_table *chtable,
> > +     const struct metacommit_data *metacommit,
> > +     const char *override_change,
> > +     int options, struct strbuf *err,
> > +     struct string_list *changes)
> > +{
> > +     static const char *msg = "updating change";
> > +     struct metacommit_data resolved_metacommit;
> > +     struct object_id commit_target;
> > +     struct ref_transaction *transaction = NULL;
> > +     struct change_head *overridden_head;
> > +     const struct object_id *old_head;
> > +
> > +     int i;
> > +     int ret = 0;
> > +     int force = (options & UPDATE_OPTION_FORCE);
> > +
> > +     init_metacommit_data(&resolved_metacommit);
> > +
> > +     resolve_metacommit(repo, chtable, metacommit, &resolved_metacommit, changes,
> > +             (options & UPDATE_OPTION_NOAPPEND) == 0);
> > +
> > +     if (override_change) {
> > +             string_list_clear(changes, 0);
> > +             overridden_head = get_change_head(chtable, override_change);
> > +             if (!overridden_head) {
>
> We enter this branch if overridden_head is NULL
Good catch!
Show 5 quoted lines
>
> > +                     /* This is an existing change */
> > +                     old_head = &overridden_head->head;
>
> Here we de-reference overridden_head which is NULL
Yep.
Show 15 quoted lines
>
> > +                     if (!force) {
> > +                             if (!oid_array_readonly_contains(&(resolved_metacommit.replace),
> > +                                     &overridden_head->head)) {
> > +                                     /* Attempted non-fast-forward change */
> > +                                     strbuf_addf(err, _("non-fast-forward update to '%s'"),
> > +                                             override_change);
> > +                                     ret = -1;
> > +                                     goto cleanup;
> > +                             }
> > +                     }
> > +             } else
>
> Style: if one branch of an if statement requires braces then all
> branches should have braces.
Thanks, fixed.
Show 9 quoted lines
>
> > +                     /* ...then this is a newly-created change */
> > +                     old_head = null_oid();
> > +
> > +             /* The expected "current" head of the change is stored in the util
> > +              * pointer. */
> > +             string_list_append(changes, override_change)->util = (void*)old_head;
>
> No need to cast here
Actually it's required because old_head is a const*
Show 19 quoted lines
>
> > +     }
> > +
> > +     if (is_nontrivial_metacommit(&resolved_metacommit)) {
> > +             /* If there are any origin or replacement parents, create a new metacommit
> > +              * object. */
> > +             if (write_metacommit(repo, &resolved_metacommit, &commit_target) < 0) {
> > +                     ret = -1;
> > +                     goto cleanup;
> > +             }
> > +     } else
> > +             /**
> > +              * If the metacommit would only contain a content commit, point to the
> > +              * commit itself rather than creating a trivial metacommit.
> > +              */
> > +             oidcpy(&commit_target, &(resolved_metacommit.content));
>
> Oh, is this optimization why we don't insist on metacommits but also
> allow ordinary commits to be added to the change table?
Yes.
Show 12 quoted lines
> > +
> > +extern int record_metacommit_withresult(
> > +     struct repository *repo,
> > +     struct change_table *chtable,
> > +     const struct metacommit_data *metacommit,
> > +     const char *override_change,
> > +     int options,
> > +     struct strbuf *err,
> > +     struct string_list *changes);
>
> Does this need to be public? i.e. why would one call this rather than
> record_metacommit()?

Turns out the change command needs the `changes` string_list. I've made this one private and extended the public one with the changes list. I could potentially still return a strintmap but I'm on the fence.

Show 14 quoted lines
>
> > +extern void modify_change(struct repository *repo,
> > +     const struct object_id *old_commit, const struct object_id *new_commit,
> > +     struct strbuf *err);
> > +
> > +extern int write_metacommit(struct repository *repo, struct metacommit_data *state,
> > +     struct object_id *result);
>
> The documentation for the flags is very welcome but this header could to
> with the api being documented as well.
>
> Best Wishes
>
> Phillip
Show 14 quoted lines
>
> > +extern void modify_change(struct repository *repo,
> > +     const struct object_id *old_commit, const struct object_id *new_commit,
> > +     struct strbuf *err);
> > +
> > +extern int write_metacommit(struct repository *repo, struct metacommit_data *state,
> > +     struct object_id *result);
>
> The documentation for the flags is very welcome but this header could to
> with the api being documented as well.
>
> Best Wishes
>
> Phillip
Previous: Phillip WoodNext: Phillip Wood
Message 29 of 66 in “Add the Git Change command”
  1. 00/10 Add the Git Change commandChristophe Poucet via GitGitGadget, Sep 23, 2022
  2. 02/10 sha1-array: implement oid_array_readonly_containsChris Poucet via GitGitGadget, Sep 23, 2022
  3. Phillip WoodSep 26, 2022
  4. 03/10 ref-filter: add the metas namespace to ref-filterChris Poucet via GitGitGadget, Sep 23, 2022
  5. Phillip WoodSep 26, 2022
  6. Chris POct 4, 2022
  7. 04/10 evolve: add support for parsing metacommitsStefan Xenos via GitGitGadget, Sep 23, 2022
  8. Phillip WoodSep 26, 2022
  9. Chris POct 4, 2022
  10. Phillip WoodOct 4, 2022
  11. 01/10 technical doc: add a design doc for the evolve commandStefan Xenos via GitGitGadget, Sep 23, 2022
  12. Jerry ZhangSep 23, 2022
  13. Junio C HamanoSep 28, 2022
  14. Junio C HamanoSep 28, 2022
  15. Phillip WoodSep 29, 2022
  16. Jonathan TanSep 29, 2022
  17. 05/10 evolve: add the change-table structureStefan Xenos via GitGitGadget, Sep 23, 2022
  18. Phillip WoodSep 27, 2022
  19. Ævar Arnfjörð BjarmasonSep 27, 2022
  20. Phillip WoodSep 27, 2022
  21. Ævar Arnfjörð BjarmasonSep 27, 2022
  22. Phillip WoodSep 28, 2022
  23. Ævar Arnfjörð BjarmasonSep 28, 2022
  24. Junio C HamanoSep 28, 2022
  25. Phillip WoodSep 27, 2022
  26. Chris POct 4, 2022
  27. 06/10 evolve: add support for writing metacommitsStefan Xenos via GitGitGadget, Sep 23, 2022
  28. Phillip WoodSep 28, 2022
  29. Chris POct 5, 2022
  30. Phillip WoodOct 5, 2022
  31. 10/10 evolve: add documentation for `git change`Chris Poucet via GitGitGadget, Sep 23, 2022
  32. Phillip WoodSep 25, 2022
  33. 07/10 evolve: implement the git change commandStefan Xenos via GitGitGadget, Sep 23, 2022
  34. Phillip WoodSep 25, 2022
  35. Ævar Arnfjörð BjarmasonSep 26, 2022
  36. Ævar Arnfjörð BjarmasonSep 26, 2022
  37. Chris POct 5, 2022
  38. 09/10 evolve: add delete commandChris Poucet via GitGitGadget, Sep 23, 2022
  39. Ævar Arnfjörð BjarmasonSep 26, 2022
  40. Chris PoucetSep 26, 2022
  41. 08/10 evolve: add the git change list commandStefan Xenos via GitGitGadget, Sep 23, 2022
  42. Phillip WoodSep 25, 2022
  43. Chris POct 4, 2022
  44. Phillip WoodOct 4, 2022
  45. Chris POct 4, 2022
  46. Chris POct 4, 2022
  47. Phillip WoodOct 4, 2022
  48. Phillip WoodOct 4, 2022
  49. 00/10 RFC: Git Evolve / ChangeChristophe Poucet via GitGitGadget, Oct 5, 2022
  50. 03/10 ref-filter: add the metas namespace to ref-filterChris Poucet via GitGitGadget, Oct 5, 2022
  51. 02/10 sha1-array: implement oid_array_readonly_containsChris Poucet via GitGitGadget, Oct 5, 2022
  52. 05/10 evolve: add the change-table structureStefan Xenos via GitGitGadget, Oct 5, 2022
  53. 04/10 evolve: add support for parsing metacommitsStefan Xenos via GitGitGadget, Oct 5, 2022
  54. 06/10 evolve: add support for writing metacommitsStefan Xenos via GitGitGadget, Oct 5, 2022
  55. 01/10 technical doc: add a design doc for the evolve commandStefan Xenos via GitGitGadget, Oct 5, 2022
  56. Chris PoucetOct 5, 2022
  57. Glen ChooOct 6, 2022
  58. Victoria DyeOct 10, 2022
  59. Phillip WoodOct 11, 2022
  60. Victoria DyeOct 11, 2022
  61. Phillip WoodOct 12, 2022
  62. 07/10 evolve: implement the git change commandStefan Xenos via GitGitGadget, Oct 5, 2022
  63. 09/10 evolve: add documentation for `git change`Chris Poucet via GitGitGadget, Oct 5, 2022
  64. 08/10 evolve: add delete commandChris Poucet via GitGitGadget, Oct 5, 2022
  65. 10/10 evolve: add tests for the git-change commandChris Poucet via GitGitGadget, Oct 5, 2022
  66. Phillip WoodOct 10, 2022

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