Re: [PATCH 0/5] make room for "special ref"

From: Andy Koppe <andy.koppe@gmail.com>
Date: Dec 16, 2023, 10:56 UTC
Message-ID: <ade1666d-9e58-43cb-9e50-8ce04f8d9063@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To: <20231215203245.3622299-1-gitster@pobox.com>

On 15/12/2023 20:32, Junio C Hamano wrote:

> A pseudo ref is merely a normal ref with a funny naming convention,
> i.e., being outside the refs/ hierarchy and has names with all
> uppercase letters (or an underscore).

I know what you mean, but gitglossary defines pseudorefs as separate from refs, albeit behaving like refs. Their name itself implies the same.

Although the 'ref' entry then goes on to say that "there are a few special-purpose refs that do not begin with 'refs/', the most notable example being HEAD."

That implies that at least some of the pseudorefs are refs after all, while keeping in mind that "HEAD is not a pseudoref, because it is sometimes a symbolic ref" according to the 'pseudoref' entry.

I think a clearer answer on whether pseudorefs are refs is needed, or at least a better-defined fudge, such as "pseudorefs are refs except when ...".

Defining everything under "refs/" as refs, and the stuff outside it including HEAD itself as pseudorefs, would draw clearer lines. The fact HEAD is usually symbolic doesn't seem all that relevant from the perspective of a user trying to get a grasp of refs and pseudorefs.

Regards, Andy