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Re: [BUG] git config --global: doc and behaviour disagree when ~/.gitconfig and XDG config file coexist

From
DWDelilah Ashley Wu <delilahwu@linux.microsoft.com>
Date
Aug 13, 2026, 06:07 UTC
Message-ID
<an1dekUM_fsM_l8d-delilahwu@linux.microsoft.com>
In-Reply-To
<336EEC18-98D3-4068-8C5C-476749959814@gmail.com>
On Fri, Jul 31, 2026 at 09:14:07AM +1000, Ben Knoble wrote:
Show 12 quoted lines
>> Le 31 juil. 2026 à 05:35, Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com> a écrit :
>> Nils Fahldieck <nils@fahldieck.de> writes:
>>> 2. The reading claim is outright wrong.
>>> 
>>>   The docs say --global reads from BOTH files.  The code reads from
>>>   ONE.  git_global_config() selects a winner and frees the other
>>>   path.  There is no code path under --global that reads both files.
>> 
>> The documentation needs to be corrected, I think.
> 
> Agreed based on recent thread <20260720113402.0dc16abe@frustcomp.hnjs.home.arpa>
> (subject « git config: unintuitive behavior with - -global and - -no-includes »

A previous thread [1] said this behavior could be a bug. So, last year, I submitted a patch series [2] to align behavior with documentation, changing `git config` to read from both files. We gave time for the community to comment on whether we should change the behavior or the documentation, but there weren't any strong opinions [3]. The only responses were a correction to my cover letter and a technical review of my patches.

Since then, I've addressed most of the review feedback. I have a draft v2 series [4] almost ready for reroll. I only work on it during "side project time" [5] at my workplace, but I'll try to have v2 ready soon for further discussion/review.

[1] https://lore.kernel.org/git/xmqqmt5lezi3.fsf@gitster.g/ [2] https://lore.kernel.org/git/pull.1938.git.1760058849.gitgitgadget@gmail.com/ [3] https://lore.kernel.org/git/xmqqtsysfakt.fsf@gitster.g/ [4] https://github.com/gitgitgadget/git/pull/2196 [5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Side_project_time

Previous: Nils FahldieckNext: Nils Fahldieck
Message 5 of 7 in “[BUG] git config --global: doc and behaviour disagree when ~/.gitconfig and XDG config file coexist”
  1. Nils FahldieckJul 30, 2026
  2. Junio C HamanoJul 30, 2026
  3. Ben KnobleJul 31, 2026
  4. Nils FahldieckJul 31, 2026
  5. Delilah Ashley WuAug 13, 2026
  6. Nils FahldieckAug 21, 2026
  7. Delilah Ashley WuAug 22, 2026

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