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Re: [PATCH v6 2/3] replay: make atomic ref updates the default behavior

From
PWPhillip Wood <phillip.wood123@gmail.com>
Date
Nov 3, 2025, 16:25 UTC
Message-ID
<a7f9c31b-2342-405e-848d-08b9de837dc6@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To
<20251030191931.30837-3-siddharthasthana31@gmail.com>
Hi Siddharth
On 30/10/2025 19:19, Siddharth Asthana wrote:
> +	case REF_ACTION_UPDATE:
> +		return ref_transaction_update(transaction, refname, new_oid, old_oid,
> +					      NULL, NULL, 0, "git replay", err);

I wonder if we should use a more descriptive reflog message here that says what git replay was doing. For example "git replay --onto <new-base> <revs>" could include the new base in the reflog message like "git rebase" does. For "git replay --advance" we could include the commits that have been picked. It would be helpful to test the reflog message in the new tests as well.

Thanks
Phillip
Show 245 quoted lines
> +	default:
> +		BUG("unknown ref_action_mode %d", mode);
> +	}
> +}
> +
>   int cmd_replay(int argc,
>   	       const char **argv,
>   	       const char *prefix,
> @@ -294,6 +321,8 @@ int cmd_replay(int argc,
>   	struct commit *onto = NULL;
>   	const char *onto_name = NULL;
>   	int contained = 0;
> +	const char *ref_action_str = NULL;
> +	enum ref_action_mode ref_action = REF_ACTION_UPDATE;
>   
>   	struct rev_info revs;
>   	struct commit *last_commit = NULL;
> @@ -302,12 +331,14 @@ int cmd_replay(int argc,
>   	struct merge_result result;
>   	struct strset *update_refs = NULL;
>   	kh_oid_map_t *replayed_commits;
> +	struct ref_transaction *transaction = NULL;
> +	struct strbuf transaction_err = STRBUF_INIT;
>   	int ret = 0;
>   
> -	const char * const replay_usage[] = {
> +	const char *const replay_usage[] = {
>   		N_("(EXPERIMENTAL!) git replay "
>   		   "([--contained] --onto <newbase> | --advance <branch>) "
> -		   "<revision-range>..."),
> +		   "[--ref-action[=<mode>]] <revision-range>..."),
>   		NULL
>   	};
>   	struct option replay_options[] = {
> @@ -319,6 +350,9 @@ int cmd_replay(int argc,
>   			   N_("replay onto given commit")),
>   		OPT_BOOL(0, "contained", &contained,
>   			 N_("advance all branches contained in revision-range")),
> +		OPT_STRING(0, "ref-action", &ref_action_str,
> +			   N_("mode"),
> +			   N_("control ref update behavior (update|print)")),
>   		OPT_END()
>   	};
>   
> @@ -333,6 +367,18 @@ int cmd_replay(int argc,
>   	die_for_incompatible_opt2(!!advance_name_opt, "--advance",
>   				  contained, "--contained");
>   
> +	/* Default to update mode if not specified */
> +	if (!ref_action_str)
> +		ref_action_str = "update";
> +
> +	/* Parse ref action mode */
> +	if (!strcmp(ref_action_str, "update"))
> +		ref_action = REF_ACTION_UPDATE;
> +	else if (!strcmp(ref_action_str, "print"))
> +		ref_action = REF_ACTION_PRINT;
> +	else
> +		die(_("unknown --ref-action mode '%s'"), ref_action_str);
> +
>   	advance_name = xstrdup_or_null(advance_name_opt);
>   
>   	repo_init_revisions(repo, &revs, prefix);
> @@ -389,6 +435,17 @@ int cmd_replay(int argc,
>   	determine_replay_mode(repo, &revs.cmdline, onto_name, &advance_name,
>   			      &onto, &update_refs);
>   
> +	/* Initialize ref transaction if using update mode */
> +	if (ref_action == REF_ACTION_UPDATE) {
> +		transaction = ref_store_transaction_begin(get_main_ref_store(repo),
> +							  0, &transaction_err);
> +		if (!transaction) {
> +			ret = error(_("failed to begin ref transaction: %s"),
> +				    transaction_err.buf);
> +			goto cleanup;
> +		}
> +	}
> +
>   	if (!onto) /* FIXME: Should handle replaying down to root commit */
>   		die("Replaying down to root commit is not supported yet!");
>   
> @@ -434,10 +491,15 @@ int cmd_replay(int argc,
>   			if (decoration->type == DECORATION_REF_LOCAL &&
>   			    (contained || strset_contains(update_refs,
>   							  decoration->name))) {
> -				printf("update %s %s %s\n",
> -				       decoration->name,
> -				       oid_to_hex(&last_commit->object.oid),
> -				       oid_to_hex(&commit->object.oid));
> +				if (handle_ref_update(ref_action, transaction,
> +						      decoration->name,
> +						      &last_commit->object.oid,
> +						      &commit->object.oid,
> +						      &transaction_err) < 0) {
> +					ret = error(_("failed to update ref '%s': %s"),
> +						    decoration->name, transaction_err.buf);
> +					goto cleanup;
> +				}
>   			}
>   			decoration = decoration->next;
>   		}
> @@ -445,10 +507,23 @@ int cmd_replay(int argc,
>   
>   	/* In --advance mode, advance the target ref */
>   	if (result.clean == 1 && advance_name) {
> -		printf("update %s %s %s\n",
> -		       advance_name,
> -		       oid_to_hex(&last_commit->object.oid),
> -		       oid_to_hex(&onto->object.oid));
> +		if (handle_ref_update(ref_action, transaction, advance_name,
> +				      &last_commit->object.oid,
> +				      &onto->object.oid,
> +				      &transaction_err) < 0) {
> +			ret = error(_("failed to update ref '%s': %s"),
> +				    advance_name, transaction_err.buf);
> +			goto cleanup;
> +		}
> +	}
> +
> +	/* Commit the ref transaction if we have one */
> +	if (transaction && result.clean == 1) {
> +		if (ref_transaction_commit(transaction, &transaction_err)) {
> +			ret = error(_("failed to commit ref transaction: %s"),
> +				    transaction_err.buf);
> +			goto cleanup;
> +		}
>   	}
>   
>   	merge_finalize(&merge_opt, &result);
> @@ -460,6 +535,9 @@ int cmd_replay(int argc,
>   	ret = result.clean;
>   
>   cleanup:
> +	if (transaction)
> +		ref_transaction_free(transaction);
> +	strbuf_release(&transaction_err);
>   	release_revisions(&revs);
>   	free(advance_name);
>   
> diff --git a/t/t3650-replay-basics.sh b/t/t3650-replay-basics.sh
> index 58b3759935..123734b49f 100755
> --- a/t/t3650-replay-basics.sh
> +++ b/t/t3650-replay-basics.sh
> @@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ test_expect_success 'setup bare' '
>   '
>   
>   test_expect_success 'using replay to rebase two branches, one on top of other' '
> -	git replay --onto main topic1..topic2 >result &&
> +	git replay --ref-action=print --onto main topic1..topic2 >result &&
>   
>   	test_line_count = 1 result &&
>   
> @@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ test_expect_success 'using replay to rebase two branches, one on top of other' '
>   '
>   
>   test_expect_success 'using replay on bare repo to rebase two branches, one on top of other' '
> -	git -C bare replay --onto main topic1..topic2 >result-bare &&
> +	git -C bare replay --ref-action=print --onto main topic1..topic2 >result-bare &&
>   	test_cmp expect result-bare
>   '
>   
> @@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ test_expect_success 'using replay to perform basic cherry-pick' '
>   	# 2nd field of result is refs/heads/main vs. refs/heads/topic2
>   	# 4th field of result is hash for main instead of hash for topic2
>   
> -	git replay --advance main topic1..topic2 >result &&
> +	git replay --ref-action=print --advance main topic1..topic2 >result &&
>   
>   	test_line_count = 1 result &&
>   
> @@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ test_expect_success 'using replay to perform basic cherry-pick' '
>   '
>   
>   test_expect_success 'using replay on bare repo to perform basic cherry-pick' '
> -	git -C bare replay --advance main topic1..topic2 >result-bare &&
> +	git -C bare replay --ref-action=print --advance main topic1..topic2 >result-bare &&
>   	test_cmp expect result-bare
>   '
>   
> @@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ test_expect_success 'replay fails when both --advance and --onto are omitted' '
>   '
>   
>   test_expect_success 'using replay to also rebase a contained branch' '
> -	git replay --contained --onto main main..topic3 >result &&
> +	git replay --ref-action=print --contained --onto main main..topic3 >result &&
>   
>   	test_line_count = 2 result &&
>   	cut -f 3 -d " " result >new-branch-tips &&
> @@ -139,12 +139,12 @@ test_expect_success 'using replay to also rebase a contained branch' '
>   '
>   
>   test_expect_success 'using replay on bare repo to also rebase a contained branch' '
> -	git -C bare replay --contained --onto main main..topic3 >result-bare &&
> +	git -C bare replay --ref-action=print --contained --onto main main..topic3 >result-bare &&
>   	test_cmp expect result-bare
>   '
>   
>   test_expect_success 'using replay to rebase multiple divergent branches' '
> -	git replay --onto main ^topic1 topic2 topic4 >result &&
> +	git replay --ref-action=print --onto main ^topic1 topic2 topic4 >result &&
>   
>   	test_line_count = 2 result &&
>   	cut -f 3 -d " " result >new-branch-tips &&
> @@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ test_expect_success 'using replay to rebase multiple divergent branches' '
>   '
>   
>   test_expect_success 'using replay on bare repo to rebase multiple divergent branches, including contained ones' '
> -	git -C bare replay --contained --onto main ^main topic2 topic3 topic4 >result &&
> +	git -C bare replay --ref-action=print --contained --onto main ^main topic2 topic3 topic4 >result &&
>   
>   	test_line_count = 4 result &&
>   	cut -f 3 -d " " result >new-branch-tips &&
> @@ -217,4 +217,32 @@ test_expect_success 'merge.directoryRenames=false' '
>   		--onto rename-onto rename-onto..rename-from
>   '
>   
> +test_expect_success 'default atomic behavior updates refs directly' '
> +	# Store original state for cleanup
> +	test_when_finished "git branch -f topic2 topic1" &&
> +
> +	# Test default atomic behavior (no output, refs updated)
> +	git replay --onto main topic1..topic2 >output &&
> +	test_must_be_empty output &&
> +
> +	# Verify ref was updated
> +	git log --format=%s topic2 >actual &&
> +	test_write_lines E D M L B A >expect &&
> +	test_cmp expect actual
> +'
> +
> +test_expect_success 'atomic behavior in bare repository' '
> +	# Test atomic updates work in bare repo
> +	git -C bare replay --onto main topic1..topic2 >output &&
> +	test_must_be_empty output &&
> +
> +	# Verify ref was updated in bare repo
> +	git -C bare log --format=%s topic2 >actual &&
> +	test_write_lines E D M L B A >expect &&
> +	test_cmp expect actual &&
> +
> +	# Reset for other tests
> +	git -C bare update-ref refs/heads/topic2 $(git -C bare rev-parse topic1)
> +'
> +
>   test_done
Previous: Siddharth AsthanaNext: Siddharth Asthana
Message 108 of 125 in “replay: add --update-refs option”
  1. 0/2 replay: add --update-refs optionSiddharth Asthana, Sep 8, 2025
  2. 1/2 replay: add --update-refs optionSiddharth Asthana, Sep 8, 2025
  3. Patrick SteinhardtSep 8, 2025
  4. Siddharth AsthanaSep 9, 2025
  5. Patrick SteinhardtSep 9, 2025
  6. Elijah NewrenSep 9, 2025
  7. Siddharth AsthanaSep 10, 2025
  8. 2/2 replay: document --update-refs and --batch optionsSiddharth Asthana, Sep 8, 2025
  9. Christian CouderSep 8, 2025
  10. Siddharth AsthanaSep 9, 2025
  11. Christian CouderSep 9, 2025
  12. Siddharth AsthanaSep 10, 2025
  13. Kristoffer HaugsbakkSep 8, 2025
  14. Siddharth AsthanaSep 9, 2025
  15. Andrei RybakSep 9, 2025
  16. Siddharth AsthanaSep 10, 2025
  17. Christian CouderSep 8, 2025
  18. Siddharth AsthanaSep 9, 2025
  19. Kristoffer HaugsbakkSep 8, 2025
  20. Siddharth AsthanaSep 9, 2025
  21. Elijah NewrenSep 9, 2025
  22. Christian CouderSep 9, 2025
  23. Elijah NewrenSep 9, 2025
  24. Junio C HamanoSep 9, 2025
  25. Elijah NewrenSep 9, 2025
  26. 0/1 replay: make atomic ref updates the default behaviorSiddharth Asthana, Sep 26, 2025
  27. 1/1 replay: make atomic ref updates the default behaviorSiddharth Asthana, Sep 26, 2025
  28. Christian CouderSep 30, 2025
  29. Siddharth AsthanaOct 2, 2025
  30. Christian CouderOct 3, 2025
  31. Elijah NewrenOct 2, 2025
  32. Christian CouderOct 3, 2025
  33. Phillip WoodSep 30, 2025
  34. Karthik NayakOct 2, 2025
  35. Siddharth AsthanaOct 2, 2025
  36. Siddharth AsthanaOct 2, 2025
  37. Phillip WoodOct 8, 2025
  38. Siddharth AsthanaOct 8, 2025
  39. Elijah NewrenOct 8, 2025
  40. Siddharth AsthanaOct 8, 2025
  41. Phillip WoodOct 9, 2025
  42. Elijah NewrenOct 2, 2025
  43. Junio C HamanoOct 2, 2025
  44. Siddharth AsthanaOct 2, 2025
  45. Siddharth AsthanaOct 2, 2025
  46. Christian CouderOct 3, 2025
  47. Siddharth AsthanaOct 8, 2025
  48. Elijah NewrenOct 3, 2025
  49. Junio C HamanoOct 3, 2025
  50. Siddharth AsthanaOct 8, 2025
  51. Junio C HamanoOct 8, 2025
  52. Siddharth AsthanaOct 8, 2025
  53. Elijah NewrenOct 8, 2025
  54. Siddharth AsthanaOct 8, 2025
  55. Kristoffer HaugsbakkOct 2, 2025
  56. Siddharth AsthanaOct 2, 2025
  57. Kristoffer HaugsbakkOct 3, 2025
  58. Siddharth AsthanaOct 8, 2025
  59. Elijah NewrenOct 8, 2025
  60. Kristoffer HaugsbakkOct 8, 2025
  61. Siddharth AsthanaOct 8, 2025
  62. 0/3 replay: make atomic ref updates the defaultSiddharth Asthana, Oct 13, 2025
  63. 1/3 replay: use die_for_incompatible_opt2() for option validationSiddharth Asthana, Oct 13, 2025
  64. 2/3 replay: make atomic ref updates the default behaviorSiddharth Asthana, Oct 13, 2025
  65. Junio C HamanoOct 13, 2025
  66. Siddharth AsthanaOct 15, 2025
  67. 3/3 replay: add replay.defaultAction config optionSiddharth Asthana, Oct 13, 2025
  68. Junio C HamanoOct 13, 2025
  69. Siddharth AsthanaOct 15, 2025
  70. Christian CouderOct 15, 2025
  71. Junio C HamanoOct 15, 2025
  72. 0/3 replay: make atomic ref updates the defaultSiddharth Asthana, Oct 22, 2025
  73. 1/3 replay: use die_for_incompatible_opt2() for option validationSiddharth Asthana, Oct 22, 2025
  74. 2/3 replay: make atomic ref updates the default behaviorSiddharth Asthana, Oct 22, 2025
  75. Junio C HamanoOct 22, 2025
  76. Siddharth AsthanaOct 28, 2025
  77. Christian CouderOct 24, 2025
  78. Junio C HamanoOct 24, 2025
  79. Siddharth AsthanaOct 28, 2025
  80. Siddharth AsthanaOct 28, 2025
  81. 3/3 replay: add replay.refAction config optionSiddharth Asthana, Oct 22, 2025
  82. Christian CouderOct 24, 2025
  83. Junio C HamanoOct 24, 2025
  84. Siddharth AsthanaOct 28, 2025
  85. Siddharth AsthanaOct 28, 2025
  86. Phillip WoodOct 24, 2025
  87. Phillip WoodOct 24, 2025
  88. Siddharth AsthanaOct 28, 2025
  89. Siddharth AsthanaOct 28, 2025
  90. Junio C HamanoOct 23, 2025
  91. Junio C HamanoOct 25, 2025
  92. Siddharth AsthanaOct 28, 2025
  93. Christian CouderOct 24, 2025
  94. 0/3 replay: make atomic ref updates the defaultSiddharth Asthana, Oct 28, 2025
  95. 1/3 replay: use die_for_incompatible_opt2() for option validationSiddharth Asthana, Oct 28, 2025
  96. 2/3 replay: make atomic ref updates the default behaviorSiddharth Asthana, Oct 28, 2025
  97. 3/3 replay: add replay.refAction config optionSiddharth Asthana, Oct 28, 2025
  98. Christian CouderOct 29, 2025
  99. Siddharth AsthanaOct 29, 2025
  100. 0/3 replay: make atomic ref updates the defaultSiddharth Asthana, Oct 30, 2025
  101. 1/3 replay: use die_for_incompatible_opt2() for option validationSiddharth Asthana, Oct 30, 2025
  102. Elijah NewrenOct 31, 2025
  103. Siddharth AsthanaNov 5, 2025
  104. 2/3 replay: make atomic ref updates the default behaviorSiddharth Asthana, Oct 30, 2025
  105. Elijah NewrenOct 31, 2025
  106. Junio C HamanoOct 31, 2025
  107. Siddharth AsthanaNov 5, 2025
  108. Phillip WoodNov 3, 2025
  109. Siddharth AsthanaNov 3, 2025
  110. Phillip WoodNov 4, 2025
  111. 3/3 replay: add replay.refAction config optionSiddharth Asthana, Oct 30, 2025
  112. Christian CouderOct 31, 2025
  113. Siddharth AsthanaNov 5, 2025
  114. Elijah NewrenOct 31, 2025
  115. Siddharth AsthanaNov 5, 2025
  116. Elijah NewrenOct 31, 2025
  117. 0/3 replay: make atomic ref updates the defaultSiddharth Asthana, Nov 5, 2025
  118. 1/3 replay: use die_for_incompatible_opt2() for option validationSiddharth Asthana, Nov 5, 2025
  119. 2/3 replay: make atomic ref updates the default behaviorSiddharth Asthana, Nov 5, 2025
  120. 3/3 replay: add replay.refAction config optionSiddharth Asthana, Nov 5, 2025
  121. Elijah NewrenNov 6, 2025
  122. Siddharth AsthanaNov 8, 2025
  123. Elijah NewrenNov 8, 2025
  124. Phillip WoodNov 7, 2025
  125. Siddharth AsthanaNov 8, 2025

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