From: Johannes Schindelin <johannes.schindelin@gmx.de>
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:32:25 GMT
Subject: Re: [PATCH v4] Introduce %<branch> as shortcut to the tracked branch
Message-ID: <alpine.DEB.1.00.0903201831420.6865@intel-tinevez-2-302>
In-Reply-To: <7v7i2ki0sw.fsf@gitster.siamese.dyndns.org>

Hi,

On Fri, 20 Mar 2009, Junio C Hamano wrote:

> Johannes Schindelin <Johannes.Schindelin@gmx.de> writes:
> 
> > Often, it is quite interesting to inspect the branch tracked by a given
> > branch.  This patch introduces a nice notation to get at the tracked
> > branch: '%<branch>' can be used to access that tracked branch.
> >
> > A special shortcut '%' refers to the branch tracked by the current branch.
> >
> > Suggested by Pasky.
> >
> > Even if a branch name can legally start with a '%' sign, we can use the
> > special character '%' here, as you can always specify the full ref:
> > refs/heads/%my-branch (pointed out by doener on IRC).
> 
> That is not a good argument, as %<name> is (just like name@{-n} is) a
> substitute way to spell the "name" of a branch, not just a random SHA-1,
> and to some commands it makes a difference between <branchname> and
> refs/heads/<branchname>.  The latter is not giving the name of the branch,
> but merely a commit object name.
> 
> An most obvious one is that "git checkout branchname" and "git checkout
> refs/heads/branchname" behave differently.  You cannot checkout a branch
> called %master after this patch goes in.
> 
> Just be honest and say "You may have a branch whose name begins with a '%'
> and you cannot refer to it anymore in certain contexts.  Too bad.  Don't
> do it next time you create a new branch".  I _can_ buy that argument.

Be that as it may, at this point I kick the ball back to the interested 
parties.  I did my duty.

Ciao,
Dscho