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Re: why does git set X in LESS env var?

From
DSDragan Simic <dsimic@manjaro.org>
Date
Oct 11, 2023, 22:51 UTC
Message-ID
<eadc03fc56d530ea31790f8a4b47a16e@manjaro.org>
In-Reply-To
<0c10c4b95f2a947a5d569a2c3d51fcb02b35e81d.camel@scientia.org>
On 2023-10-12 00:26, Christoph Anton Mitterer wrote:
Show 11 quoted lines
> On Wed, 2023-10-11 at 15:23 -0700, Junio C Hamano wrote:
>> I think that was the reason we added it back in 2005.  In any case,
>> asking "why" is not a useful use of anybody's time, because it is
>> very unlikely to change in the official version we ship, and because
>> it is so easy for any individual who does not like it to drop by
>> exporting the $LESS environment variable.
> 
> Well the other commit I've mentioned kinda read as if it was thought
> that either X or both F and X were needed for the effect to exit less
> immediately if the output is too short ("F and X because
> sometimes the output Git pipes to less is short").

In general, not clearing the screen (i.e. "-X") is there so the displayed contents is still visible in the terminal after exiting the pager. That wouldn't be the case if the screen was cleared, making it less usable for most users.

Exiting if less contents than one full screen was displayed (i.e. "-F") is there to save people from the frustration of quitting a pager that actually wasn't needed to be executed.

When it comes to "-R", it has to be there, otherwise no coloring of the paginated output could be possible.

Show 6 quoted lines
> So I thought maybe that was intended, and the no-clear was just a side-
> effect no one ever really thought about.
> 
> 
> Anyway, thanks,
> Chris.
Previous: Christoph Anton MittererNext: Christoph Anton Mitterer
Message 4 of 39 in “why does git set X in LESS env var?”
  1. Christoph Anton MittererOct 11, 2023
  2. Junio C HamanoOct 11, 2023
  3. Christoph Anton MittererOct 11, 2023
  4. Dragan SimicOct 11, 2023
  5. Christoph Anton MittererOct 11, 2023
  6. Dragan SimicOct 11, 2023
  7. Christoph Anton MittererOct 11, 2023
  8. Dragan SimicOct 12, 2023
  9. Christoph Anton MittererOct 12, 2023
  10. Dragan SimicOct 12, 2023
  11. Christoph Anton MittererOct 12, 2023
  12. Dragan SimicOct 12, 2023
  13. Christoph Anton MittererOct 12, 2023
  14. Dragan SimicOct 12, 2023
  15. Christoph Anton MittererOct 12, 2023
  16. Dragan SimicOct 12, 2023
  17. Christoph Anton MittererOct 12, 2023
  18. Dragan SimicOct 13, 2023
  19. Christoph Anton MittererOct 13, 2023
  20. Dragan SimicOct 13, 2023
  21. Jeff KingOct 12, 2023
  22. Dragan SimicOct 12, 2023
  23. Junio C HamanoOct 12, 2023
  24. Dragan SimicOct 12, 2023
  25. Junio C HamanoOct 12, 2023
  26. Dragan SimicOct 13, 2023
  27. Christoph Anton MittererOct 12, 2023
  28. Dragan SimicOct 12, 2023
  29. Thomas GuyotNov 2, 2023
  30. Dragan SimicNov 2, 2023
  31. Dragan SimicNov 2, 2023
  32. Thomas GuyotNov 2, 2023
  33. Dragan SimicNov 2, 2023
  34. Thomas GuyotNov 3, 2023
  35. Andy KoppeNov 3, 2023
  36. Dragan SimicNov 3, 2023
  37. Dragan SimicNov 3, 2023
  38. Dragan SimicNov 6, 2023
  39. Dragan SimicMar 21, 2024

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