Re: [PATCH] Allow git-diff exit with codes similar to diff(1)

From: Linus Torvalds <torvalds@linux-foundation.org>
Date: Mar 14, 2007, 01:20 UTC
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.64.0703131816360.9690@woody.linux-foundation.org>
In-Reply-To: <Pine.LNX.4.63.0703140201240.22628@wbgn013.biozentrum.uni-wuerzburg.de>

On Wed, 14 Mar 2007, Johannes Schindelin wrote:

> 
> I am not convinced that this exit code (even if expected by experience) 
> makes sense. A diff should _only_ fail if anything goes _wrong_, not if 
> the files are _different. That is what cmp is for, no?

Well, "cmp" doesn't do a sane job for recursive diffs.

And Alex is certainly correct in stating that people historically expect and use the exit status of a regular "diff". I don't think there is any real down-side to making "git diff" have the same semantics, especially since the current exit-status isn't exactly useful.

			Linus