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[Outreachy PATCH v3 0/3] store repo specific config values in new `struct repo_config_values`

From
Olamide Caleb Bello <belkid98@gmail.com>
Date
Jan 17, 2026, 20:59 UTC
Message-ID
<cover.1768681947.git.belkid98@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To
<cover.1768318762.git.belkid98@gmail.com>

Hi Git Community, Over the course of my ongoing internship, which focused on moving repo specific global variables in environment.h into local scope, I have attempted to move some variables into the struct repo-settings. However there has been some design concerns as regards the use of `prepare_repo_settings()` with respect to when and where to call the function, and also the change in behaviours when the variable is lazily loaded as discussed in [1] and [2].

After different deliberations, Phillip Wood proposed creating a new config struct [3], adding it to the repository struct and passing the repo struct to `git_default_config()` to store parsed repo specific config values per repo. This ensures the current behaviours will be retained.

I have experimented with this approach for some values and I would appreciate feedbacks about this approach before we can move forward and use it for more variables related to `git_default_config()`.

For now, the parsed value is stored in `the_repository` in `git_default_*_config()` and further efforts to pass the repository parameter to `git_default_config()` as the callback parameter will be looked into later on. The link to the CI tests can be see in [4]

1. https://lore.kernel.org/git/43aaec10-2696-44c9-8728-2045b83dc5d3@gmail.com/
2. https://lore.kernel.org/git/a881499d-e236-4f8e-a217-b6bce69e3e3c@gmail.com/
3. https://lore.kernel.org/git/8899016f-eeef-404b-8da6-ff3a90e81cea@gmail.com/
4. https://gitlab.com/gitlab-community/gitlab-org/git/-/pipelines/2266020513
Changes in v3:
==============
- Moved declaration and definition of repo_config_values_init into patch 1
- Returned commit message in line 1 of builtin/backfill.c
Olamide Caleb Bello (3):
  environment: stop storing `core.attributesFile` globally
  environment: environment: stop using core.sparseCheckout globally
  environment: move "branch.autoSetupMerge" into `struct
    repo_config_values`
 attr.c                      |  7 ++++---
 branch.h                    |  2 --
 builtin/backfill.c          |  2 +-
 builtin/branch.c            |  2 +-
 builtin/checkout.c          |  2 +-
 builtin/clone.c             |  2 +-
 builtin/grep.c              |  2 +-
 builtin/mv.c                |  2 +-
 builtin/push.c              |  2 +-
 builtin/sparse-checkout.c   | 22 +++++++++++-----------
 builtin/submodule--helper.c |  2 +-
 builtin/worktree.c          |  2 +-
 dir.c                       |  2 +-
 environment.c               | 28 ++++++++++++++++++----------
 environment.h               | 15 +++++++++++++--
 repository.c                |  1 +
 repository.h                |  4 ++++
 sparse-index.c              |  6 ++++--
 unpack-trees.c              |  2 +-
 wt-status.c                 |  2 +-
 20 files changed, 67 insertions(+), 42 deletions(-)
 Range diff versus v2:
 =====================
 1:  b6f8deaa40 ! 1:  1aa41da833 environment: stop storing `core.attributesFile` globally
    @@ Metadata
      ## Commit message ##
         environment: stop storing `core.attributesFile` globally
    -    The config value parsed in git_default_core_config() is loaded eagerly
    +    The config value is parsed in git_default_core_config(), loaded eagerly
         and stored in the global variable `git_attributes_file`.
         Storing this value in a global variable can lead to unexpected
         behaviours when more than one Git repository run in the same Git process.
    -    Move this value into a `struct repo_config_values` which holds all the
    -    values parsed by `git_default_config()` and can be accessed per
    -    repository via `git_default_config()`. This will ensure the current
    -    behaviour remains the same while also enabling the libification of Git.
    +    Create a new struct `repo_config_values` to hold this value and
    +    other repository dependent values parsed by `git_default_config()` and
    +    can be accessed per repository via `git_default_config()`.
    +    This will ensure the current behaviour remains the same while also
    +    enabling the libification of Git.
         It is important to note that `git_default_config()` is a wrapper to other
         `git_default_*_config()` such as `git_default_core_config()`.
    @@ environment.c: static int git_default_core_config(const char *var, const char *v
      	}
      	if (!strcmp(var, "core.bare")) {
    +@@ environment.c: int git_default_config(const char *var, const char *value,
    + 	/* Add other config variables here and to Documentation/config.adoc. */
    + 	return 0;
    + }
    ++
    ++void repo_config_values_init(struct repo_config_values *cfg)
    ++{
    ++	cfg->attributes_file_path = NULL;
    ++}
      ## environment.h ##
     @@ environment.h: extern const char * const local_repo_env[];
    @@ environment.h: extern const char * const local_repo_env[];
      /*
       * Wrapper of getenv() that returns a strdup value. This value is kept
       * in argv to be freed later.
    +@@ environment.h: const char *strip_namespace(const char *namespaced_ref);
    + int git_default_config(const char *, const char *,
    + 		       const struct config_context *, void *);
    +
    ++void repo_config_values_init(struct repo_config_values *cfg);
    ++
    + /*
    +  * TODO: All the below state either explicitly or implicitly relies on
    +  * `the_repository`. We should eventually get rid of these and make the
     @@ environment.h: extern int assume_unchanged;
      extern int warn_on_object_refname_ambiguity;
      extern char *apply_default_whitespace;
    @@ environment.h: extern int assume_unchanged;
      extern int pack_compression_level;
      extern unsigned long pack_size_limit_cfg;
    + ## repository.c ##
    +@@ repository.c: void initialize_repository(struct repository *repo)
    + 	ALLOC_ARRAY(repo->index, 1);
    + 	index_state_init(repo->index, repo);
    + 	repo->check_deprecated_config = true;
    ++	repo_config_values_init(&repo->config_values);
    +
    + 	/*
    + 	 * When a command runs inside a repository, it learns what
    +
      ## repository.h ##
     @@
2:  1e83c077f2 ! 2:  fd95169de4 environment: environment: stop using core.sparseCheckout globally
    @@ Commit message
         when different Git repositories running in the same process access this
         variable.
    -    Move the parsed value into `struct repo_config_values` which holds all the
    -    values parsed by `git_default_config()` and can be accessed
    -    per repo via `git_default_config()`. This retains current
    +    Move the parsed value into `struct repo_config_values` to retains current
         behaviours while achieving the repository scoped access.
         Suggested-by: Phillip Wood <phillip.wood123@gmail.com>
    @@ Commit message
         Signed-off-by: Olamide Caleb Bello <belkid98@gmail.com>
      ## builtin/backfill.c ##
    -@@
    --/* We need this macro to access core_apply_sparse_checkout */
    - #define USE_THE_REPOSITORY_VARIABLE
    -
    - #include "builtin.h"
     @@ builtin/backfill.c: int cmd_backfill(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix, struct reposit
      	repo_config(repo, git_default_config, NULL);
    @@ environment.c: static int git_default_core_config(const char *var, const char *v
      		return 0;
      	}
    +@@ environment.c: int git_default_config(const char *var, const char *value,
    + void repo_config_values_init(struct repo_config_values *cfg)
    + {
    + 	cfg->attributes_file_path = NULL;
    ++	cfg->sparse_checkout = 0;
    + }
      ## environment.h ##
     @@ environment.h: struct strvec;
3:  6e54e22ac7 ! 3:  9a411db9f8 environment: move "branch.autoSetupMerge" into `struct repo_config_values`
    @@ Commit message
         `git_branch_track`. This global variable can cause unexpected behaviours
         when multiple Git repos run in the the same process.
    -    Move this value into `struct repo_config_values` which holds all values
    -    parsed by `git_default_config()` and can be accessed per
    -    repo via `git_default_config()`. This would retain the same
    +    Move this value into `struct repo_config_values` to retain current
         behaviours while achieving repository scoped access.
         Suggested-by: Phillip Wood <phillip.wood123@gmail.com>
    @@ environment.c: static int git_default_i18n_config(const char *var, const char *v
      		return 0;
      	}
      	if (!strcmp(var, "branch.autosetuprebase")) {
    -@@ environment.c: int git_default_config(const char *var, const char *value,
    - 	/* Add other config variables here and to Documentation/config.adoc. */
    - 	return 0;
    - }
    -+
    -+void repo_config_values_init(struct repo_config_values *cfg)
    -+{
    +@@ environment.c: void repo_config_values_init(struct repo_config_values *cfg)
    + {
    + 	cfg->attributes_file_path = NULL;
    + 	cfg->sparse_checkout = 0;
     +	cfg->git_branch_track = BRANCH_TRACK_REMOTE;
    -+}
    + }
      ## environment.h ##
     @@
    @@ environment.h: struct repo_config_values {
      };
      /*
    -@@ environment.h: const char *strip_namespace(const char *namespaced_ref);
    - int git_default_config(const char *, const char *,
    - 		       const struct config_context *, void *);
    -
    -+void repo_config_values_init(struct repo_config_values *cfg);
    -+
    - /*
    -  * TODO: All the below state either explicitly or implicitly relies on
    -  * `the_repository`. We should eventually get rid of these and make the
    -
    - ## repository.c ##
    -@@ repository.c: void initialize_repository(struct repository *repo)
    - 	ALLOC_ARRAY(repo->index, 1);
    - 	index_state_init(repo->index, repo);
    - 	repo->check_deprecated_config = true;
    -+	repo_config_values_init(&repo->config_values);
    -
    - 	/*
    - 	 * When a command runs inside a repository, it learns what
-- 
2.34.1
Previous: Bello OlamideNext: Olamide Caleb Bello
Message 18 of 71 in “store git_default_config() parsed values in new config struct”
  1. 0/3 store git_default_config() parsed values in new config structOlamide Caleb Bello, Jan 12, 2026
  2. 1/3 environment: stop storing `core.attributesFile` globallyOlamide Caleb Bello, Jan 12, 2026
  3. Phillip WoodJan 12, 2026
  4. Bello OlamideJan 12, 2026
  5. 2/3 environment: stop using core.sparseCheckout globallyOlamide Caleb Bello, Jan 12, 2026
  6. 3/3 environment: move "branch.autoSetupMerge" into `struct config_values`Olamide Caleb Bello, Jan 12, 2026
  7. 0/3 store git_default_config() parsed values in new config structOlamide Caleb Bello, Jan 13, 2026
  8. 1/3 environment: stop storing `core.attributesFile` globallyOlamide Caleb Bello, Jan 13, 2026
  9. Junio C HamanoJan 13, 2026
  10. Bello OlamideJan 14, 2026
  11. 2/3 environment: environment: stop using core.sparseCheckout globallyOlamide Caleb Bello, Jan 13, 2026
  12. Junio C HamanoJan 13, 2026
  13. Bello OlamideJan 14, 2026
  14. 3/3 environment: move "branch.autoSetupMerge" into `struct repo_config_values`Olamide Caleb Bello, Jan 13, 2026
  15. Junio C HamanoJan 13, 2026
  16. Bello OlamideJan 14, 2026
  17. Bello OlamideJan 15, 2026
  18. 0/3 store repo specific config values in new `struct repo_config_values`Olamide Caleb Bello, Jan 17, 2026
  19. 1/3 environment: stop storing `core.attributesFile` globallyOlamide Caleb Bello, Jan 17, 2026
  20. Toon ClaesJan 22, 2026
  21. Bello OlamideJan 22, 2026
  22. Phillip WoodJan 22, 2026
  23. Bello OlamideJan 22, 2026
  24. 2/3 environment: environment: stop using core.sparseCheckout globallyOlamide Caleb Bello, Jan 17, 2026
  25. Toon ClaesJan 22, 2026
  26. Bello OlamideJan 22, 2026
  27. Phillip WoodJan 22, 2026
  28. Bello OlamideJan 22, 2026
  29. Phillip WoodJan 23, 2026
  30. Bello OlamideJan 23, 2026
  31. 3/3 environment: move "branch.autoSetupMerge" into `struct repo_config_values`Olamide Caleb Bello, Jan 17, 2026
  32. Phillip WoodJan 22, 2026
  33. Bello OlamideJan 22, 2026
  34. Bello OlamideJan 20, 2026
  35. 0/3 store repo specific config values in new `struct repo_config_values`Olamide Caleb Bello, Jan 24, 2026
  36. 1/3 environment: stop storing `core.attributesFile` globallyOlamide Caleb Bello, Jan 24, 2026
  37. 2/3 environment: stop using core.sparseCheckout globallyOlamide Caleb Bello, Jan 24, 2026
  38. 3/3 environment: move "branch.autoSetupMerge" into `struct repo_config_values`Olamide Caleb Bello, Jan 24, 2026
  39. 0/3 store repo specific config values in new `struct repo_config_values`Olamide Caleb Bello, Jan 24, 2026
  40. 1/3 environment: stop storing `core.attributesFile` globallyOlamide Caleb Bello, Jan 24, 2026
  41. Junio C HamanoJan 29, 2026
  42. 2/3 environment: stop using core.sparseCheckout globallyOlamide Caleb Bello, Jan 24, 2026
  43. Junio C HamanoJan 29, 2026
  44. 3/3 environment: move "branch.autoSetupMerge" into `struct repo_config_values`Olamide Caleb Bello, Jan 24, 2026
  45. Junio C HamanoJan 29, 2026
  46. Junio C HamanoJan 30, 2026
  47. Junio C HamanoJan 30, 2026
  48. Bello OlamideJan 29, 2026
  49. 0/3 store repo specific config values in new `struct repo_config_values`Olamide Caleb Bello, Feb 3, 2026
  50. 1/3 environment: stop storing `core.attributesFile` globallyOlamide Caleb Bello, Feb 3, 2026
  51. Phillip WoodFeb 4, 2026
  52. Bello OlamideFeb 9, 2026
  53. Junio C HamanoFeb 7, 2026
  54. Phillip WoodFeb 8, 2026
  55. Bello OlamideFeb 9, 2026
  56. Bello OlamideFeb 10, 2026
  57. 2/3 environment: stop using core.sparseCheckout globallyOlamide Caleb Bello, Feb 3, 2026
  58. Phillip WoodFeb 4, 2026
  59. 3/3 environment: move "branch.autoSetupMerge" into `struct repo_config_values`Olamide Caleb Bello, Feb 3, 2026
  60. Phillip WoodFeb 4, 2026
  61. 0/3 store repo specific config values in new `struct repo_config_values`Olamide Caleb Bello, Feb 16, 2026
  62. 1/3 environment: stop storing `core.attributesFile` globallyOlamide Caleb Bello, Feb 16, 2026
  63. 2/3 environment: stop using core.sparseCheckout globallyOlamide Caleb Bello, Feb 16, 2026
  64. Christian CouderFeb 26, 2026
  65. Junio C HamanoFeb 26, 2026
  66. Bello OlamideFeb 26, 2026
  67. 3/3 environment: move "branch.autoSetupMerge" into `struct repo_config_values`Olamide Caleb Bello, Feb 16, 2026
  68. Junio C HamanoFeb 17, 2026
  69. Bello OlamideFeb 18, 2026
  70. Christian CouderFeb 26, 2026
  71. Junio C HamanoFeb 26, 2026

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