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[PATCH 6/8] builtin/config: introduce subcommands

From
Patrick Steinhardt <ps@pks.im>
Date
Mar 6, 2024, 11:31 UTC
Message-ID
<f79c0f94e415de5c1c7b4120af5270fe4900d825.1709724089.git.ps@pks.im>
In-Reply-To
<cover.1709724089.git.ps@pks.im>

While git-config(1) has several modes, those modes are not exposed with subcommands but instead by specifying e.g. `--unset` or `--list`. This user interface is not really in line with how our more modern commands work, where it is a lot more customary to say e.g. `git remote list`. Furthermore, to add to the confusion, git-config(1) also allows the user to request modes implicitly by just specifying the correct number of arguments. Thus, `git config foo.bar` will retrieve the value of "foo.bar" while `git config foo.bar baz` will set it to "baz".

Overall, this makes for a confusing interface that could really use a makeover. It hurts discoverability of what you can do with git-config(1) and is comparatively easy to get wrong.

Modernize git-config(1) so that it understands proper subcommands like "list" or "unset". Like this, a user can say "git config get foo.bar" to retrieve the config key's value and "git config set foo.bar baz" to set it.

One concern in this context is backwards compatibility. Luckily, we can introduce subcommands without breaking backwards compatibility at all. This is because all the implicit modes of git-config(1) require that the first argument is a properly formatted config key. And as config keys _must_ have a dot in their name, any value without a dot would have been discarded by git-config(1) previous to this change. Thus, given that none of the subcommands do have a dot, they are unambiguous.

Consequently, we introduce subcommands in such a way that git-config(1) understands both the old and the new syntax at the same time. This should help to transition to the new-style syntax until we eventually deprecate and remove the old-style syntax.

Signed-off-by: Patrick Steinhardt <ps@pks.im>
---
 builtin/config.c | 52 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-------
 1 file changed, 45 insertions(+), 7 deletions(-)
diff --git a/builtin/config.c b/builtin/config.c
index 0d58397ef5..10fa933931 100644
--- a/builtin/config.c
+++ b/builtin/config.c
@@ -859,6 +859,26 @@ static parse_opt_subcommand_fn *subcommands_by_action[] = {
 	[ACTION_GET_COLORBOOL] = cmd_config_get_colorbool,
 };
 
+static struct option builtin_subcommand_options[] = {
+	OPT_SUBCOMMAND("list", &subcommand, cmd_config_list),
+	OPT_SUBCOMMAND("get", &subcommand, cmd_config_get),
+	OPT_SUBCOMMAND("get-all", &subcommand, cmd_config_get_all),
+	OPT_SUBCOMMAND("get-color", &subcommand, cmd_config_get_color),
+	OPT_SUBCOMMAND("get-colorbool", &subcommand, cmd_config_get_colorbool),
+	OPT_SUBCOMMAND("get-regexp", &subcommand, cmd_config_get_regexp),
+	OPT_SUBCOMMAND("get-urlmatch", &subcommand, cmd_config_get_urlmatch),
+	OPT_SUBCOMMAND("add", &subcommand, cmd_config_add),
+	OPT_SUBCOMMAND("set", &subcommand, cmd_config_set),
+	OPT_SUBCOMMAND("set-all", &subcommand, cmd_config_set_all),
+	OPT_SUBCOMMAND("unset", &subcommand, cmd_config_unset),
+	OPT_SUBCOMMAND("unset-all", &subcommand, cmd_config_unset_all),
+	OPT_SUBCOMMAND("replace-all", &subcommand, cmd_config_replace_all),
+	OPT_SUBCOMMAND("rename-section", &subcommand, cmd_config_rename_section),
+	OPT_SUBCOMMAND("remove-section", &subcommand, cmd_config_remove_section),
+	OPT_SUBCOMMAND("edit", &subcommand, cmd_config_edit),
+	OPT_END(),
+};
+
 static struct option builtin_config_options[] = {
 	OPT_GROUP(N_("Config file location")),
 	OPT_BOOL(0, "global", &use_global_config, N_("use global config file")),
@@ -910,6 +930,20 @@ int cmd_config(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 {
 	given_config_source.file = xstrdup_or_null(getenv(CONFIG_ENVIRONMENT));
 
+	/*
+	 * This is somewhat hacky: we first parse the command line while
+	 * keeping all args intact in order to determine whether a subcommand
+	 * has been specified. If so, we re-parse it a second time, but this
+	 * time we drop KEEP_ARGV0. This is so that we don't munge the command
+	 * line in case no subcommand was given, which would otherwise confuse
+	 * us when parsing the implicit modes.
+	 */
+	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, prefix, builtin_subcommand_options, builtin_config_usage,
+			     PARSE_OPT_SUBCOMMAND_OPTIONAL|PARSE_OPT_KEEP_ARGV0|PARSE_OPT_KEEP_UNKNOWN_OPT);
+	if (subcommand)
+		argc = parse_options(argc, argv, prefix, builtin_subcommand_options, builtin_config_usage,
+				     PARSE_OPT_SUBCOMMAND_OPTIONAL|PARSE_OPT_KEEP_UNKNOWN_OPT);
+
 	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, prefix, builtin_config_options,
 			     builtin_config_usage,
 			     PARSE_OPT_STOP_AT_NON_OPTION);
@@ -993,18 +1027,22 @@ int cmd_config(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		key_delim = '\n';
 	}
 
-	if (action == ACTION_NONE) {
+	if (action != ACTION_NONE && subcommand) {
+		error(_("subcommand and action modes are incompatible"));
+		usage_builtin_config();
+	} else if (action == ACTION_NONE && !subcommand) {
 		switch (argc) {
-		case 1: action = ACTION_GET; break;
-		case 2: action = ACTION_SET; break;
-		case 3: action = ACTION_SET_ALL; break;
+		case 1: subcommand = cmd_config_get; break;
+		case 2: subcommand = cmd_config_set; break;
+		case 3: subcommand = cmd_config_set_all; break;
 		default:
 			usage_builtin_config();
 		}
+	} else if (action != ACTION_NONE) {
+		if (action < ACTION_NONE || action >= ARRAY_SIZE(subcommands_by_action))
+			BUG("invalid action %d", action);
+		subcommand = subcommands_by_action[action];
 	}
-	if (action <= ACTION_NONE || action >= ARRAY_SIZE(subcommands_by_action))
-		BUG("invalid action %d", action);
-	subcommand = subcommands_by_action[action];
 
 	if (type && (subcommand == cmd_config_get_color ||
 		     subcommand == cmd_config_get_colorbool)) {
-- 
2.44.0
Previous: Patrick SteinhardtNext: Karthik Nayak
Message 13 of 116 in “builtin/config: introduce subcommands”
  1. 0/8 builtin/config: introduce subcommandsPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 6, 2024
  2. 1/8 builtin/config: move option array aroundPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 6, 2024
  3. 2/8 builtin/config: move "fixed-value" option to correct groupPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 6, 2024
  4. 3/8 builtin/config: use `OPT_CMDMODE()` to specify modesPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 6, 2024
  5. Taylor BlauMar 6, 2024
  6. Patrick SteinhardtMar 7, 2024
  7. 4/8 builtin/config: move modes into separate functionsPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 6, 2024
  8. 5/8 builtin/config: track subcommands by actionPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 6, 2024
  9. Jean-Noël AVILAMar 6, 2024
  10. Patrick SteinhardtMar 7, 2024
  11. Taylor BlauMar 7, 2024
  12. Patrick SteinhardtMar 7, 2024
  13. 6/8 builtin/config: introduce subcommandsPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 6, 2024
  14. Karthik NayakMar 6, 2024
  15. Patrick SteinhardtMar 7, 2024
  16. 7/8 t1300: exercise both old- and new-style modesPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 6, 2024
  17. 8/8 Documentation/git-config: update to new-style syntaxPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 6, 2024
  18. Eric SunshineMar 7, 2024
  19. Patrick SteinhardtMar 7, 2024
  20. Junio C HamanoMar 6, 2024
  21. Taylor BlauMar 6, 2024
  22. Junio C HamanoMar 6, 2024
  23. Taylor BlauMar 7, 2024
  24. Dragan SimicMar 7, 2024
  25. Patrick SteinhardtMar 7, 2024
  26. Junio C HamanoMar 7, 2024
  27. Kristoffer HaugsbakkMar 6, 2024
  28. 00/13 builtin/config: introduce subcommandsPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 11, 2024
  29. 01/13 builtin/config: move option array aroundPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 11, 2024
  30. 02/13 builtin/config: move "fixed-value" option to correct groupPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 11, 2024
  31. 03/13 builtin/config: use `OPT_CMDMODE()` to specify modesPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 11, 2024
  32. 04/13 builtin/config: pull out function to handle config locationPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 11, 2024
  33. 05/13 builtin/config: pull out function to handle `--null`Patrick Steinhardt, Mar 11, 2024
  34. 06/13 builtin/config: introduce "list" subcommandPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 11, 2024
  35. Eric SunshineMar 13, 2024
  36. Patrick SteinhardtMar 27, 2024
  37. 07/13 builtin/config: introduce "get" subcommandPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 11, 2024
  38. Eric SunshineMar 13, 2024
  39. Patrick SteinhardtMar 27, 2024
  40. 08/13 builtin/config: introduce "set" subcommandPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 11, 2024
  41. 09/13 builtin/config: introduce "unset" subcommandPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 11, 2024
  42. 10/13 builtin/config: introduce "rename-section" subcommandPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 11, 2024
  43. 11/13 builtin/config: introduce "remove-section" subcommandPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 11, 2024
  44. 12/13 builtin/config: introduce "edit" subcommandPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 11, 2024
  45. 13/13 builtin/config: display subcommand helpPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 11, 2024
  46. 00/13 builtin/config: introduce subcommandsPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 27, 2024
  47. 01/13 builtin/config: move option array aroundPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 27, 2024
  48. 02/13 builtin/config: move "fixed-value" option to correct groupPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 27, 2024
  49. 03/13 builtin/config: use `OPT_CMDMODE()` to specify modesPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 27, 2024
  50. 04/13 builtin/config: pull out function to handle config locationPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 27, 2024
  51. 05/13 builtin/config: pull out function to handle `--null`Patrick Steinhardt, Mar 27, 2024
  52. 06/13 builtin/config: introduce "list" subcommandPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 27, 2024
  53. 07/13 builtin/config: introduce "get" subcommandPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 27, 2024
  54. 08/13 builtin/config: introduce "set" subcommandPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 27, 2024
  55. 09/13 builtin/config: introduce "unset" subcommandPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 27, 2024
  56. 10/13 builtin/config: introduce "rename-section" subcommandPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 27, 2024
  57. 11/13 builtin/config: introduce "remove-section" subcommandPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 27, 2024
  58. 12/13 builtin/config: introduce "edit" subcommandPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 27, 2024
  59. 13/13 builtin/config: display subcommand helpPatrick Steinhardt, Mar 27, 2024
  60. Eric SunshineMar 27, 2024
  61. Patrick SteinhardtMar 27, 2024
  62. 00/14 builtin/config: introduce subcommandsPatrick Steinhardt, May 3, 2024
  63. 01/14 config: clarify memory ownership when preparing comment stringsPatrick Steinhardt, May 3, 2024
  64. Kristoffer HaugsbakkMay 3, 2024
  65. 02/14 builtin/config: move option array aroundPatrick Steinhardt, May 3, 2024
  66. 03/14 builtin/config: move "fixed-value" option to correct groupPatrick Steinhardt, May 3, 2024
  67. Karthik NayakMay 3, 2024
  68. Patrick SteinhardtMay 6, 2024
  69. 04/14 builtin/config: use `OPT_CMDMODE()` to specify modesPatrick Steinhardt, May 3, 2024
  70. 05/14 builtin/config: pull out function to handle config locationPatrick Steinhardt, May 3, 2024
  71. 06/14 builtin/config: pull out function to handle `--null`Patrick Steinhardt, May 3, 2024
  72. 07/14 builtin/config: introduce "list" subcommandPatrick Steinhardt, May 3, 2024
  73. Karthik NayakMay 3, 2024
  74. rsbecker@nexbridge.comMay 3, 2024
  75. Junio C HamanoMay 3, 2024
  76. Patrick SteinhardtMay 6, 2024
  77. Junio C HamanoMay 6, 2024
  78. rsbecker@nexbridge.comMay 6, 2024
  79. Dragan SimicMay 6, 2024
  80. Kristoffer HaugsbakkMay 7, 2024
  81. Git 3.0?Junio C Hamano, May 6, 2024
  82. Patrick SteinhardtMay 7, 2024
  83. Patrick SteinhardtMay 7, 2024
  84. Patrick SteinhardtMay 6, 2024
  85. Karthik NayakMay 6, 2024
  86. 08/14 builtin/config: introduce "get" subcommandPatrick Steinhardt, May 3, 2024
  87. 09/14 builtin/config: introduce "set" subcommandPatrick Steinhardt, May 3, 2024
  88. 10/14 builtin/config: introduce "unset" subcommandPatrick Steinhardt, May 3, 2024
  89. 11/14 builtin/config: introduce "rename-section" subcommandPatrick Steinhardt, May 3, 2024
  90. 12/14 builtin/config: introduce "remove-section" subcommandPatrick Steinhardt, May 3, 2024
  91. 13/14 builtin/config: introduce "edit" subcommandPatrick Steinhardt, May 3, 2024
  92. 14/14 builtin/config: display subcommand helpPatrick Steinhardt, May 3, 2024
  93. Dragan SimicMay 3, 2024
  94. Junio C HamanoMay 3, 2024
  95. 00/14 builtin/config: introduce subcommandsPatrick Steinhardt, May 6, 2024
  96. 01/14 config: clarify memory ownership when preparing comment stringsPatrick Steinhardt, May 6, 2024
  97. 02/14 builtin/config: move option array aroundPatrick Steinhardt, May 6, 2024
  98. 03/14 builtin/config: move "fixed-value" option to correct groupPatrick Steinhardt, May 6, 2024
  99. 04/14 builtin/config: use `OPT_CMDMODE()` to specify modesPatrick Steinhardt, May 6, 2024
  100. 05/14 builtin/config: pull out function to handle config locationPatrick Steinhardt, May 6, 2024
  101. 06/14 builtin/config: pull out function to handle `--null`Patrick Steinhardt, May 6, 2024
  102. 07/14 builtin/config: introduce "list" subcommandPatrick Steinhardt, May 6, 2024
  103. 08/14 builtin/config: introduce "get" subcommandPatrick Steinhardt, May 6, 2024
  104. SZEDER GáborAug 3, 2025
  105. Junio C HamanoAug 3, 2025
  106. Patrick SteinhardtSep 11, 2025
  107. 09/14 builtin/config: introduce "set" subcommandPatrick Steinhardt, May 6, 2024
  108. 10/14 builtin/config: introduce "unset" subcommandPatrick Steinhardt, May 6, 2024
  109. 11/14 builtin/config: introduce "rename-section" subcommandPatrick Steinhardt, May 6, 2024
  110. 12/14 builtin/config: introduce "remove-section" subcommandPatrick Steinhardt, May 6, 2024
  111. 13/14 builtin/config: introduce "edit" subcommandPatrick Steinhardt, May 6, 2024
  112. 14/14 builtin/config: display subcommand helpPatrick Steinhardt, May 6, 2024
  113. Karthik NayakMay 6, 2024
  114. Taylor BlauMay 6, 2024
  115. rsbecker@nexbridge.comMay 6, 2024
  116. Patrick SteinhardtMay 7, 2024

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