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Re: [PATCH 1/5] xdiff: support external hunks via xpparam_t

From
Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>
Date
May 22, 2026, 05:29 UTC
Message-ID
<xmqq33zkui4q.fsf@gitster.g>
In-Reply-To
<8c0ea0bc0742651e634db7a3002e8cbe1240acf9.1779415884.git.gitgitgadget@gmail.com>
"Michael Montalbo via GitGitGadget" <gitgitgadget@gmail.com> writes:
Show 24 quoted lines
> +/*
> + * Populate the changed[] arrays from externally supplied hunks,
> + * bypassing the diff algorithm.  Validates that hunks are in order,
> + * non-overlapping, and within bounds.
> + *
> + * Returns 0 on success, -1 on validation failure.
> + */
> +static int xdl_populate_hunks_from_external(xdfenv_t *xe,
> +					    const struct xdl_hunk *hunks,
> +					    size_t nr_hunks)
> +{
> +	size_t i;
> +	long j, prev_old_end = 0, prev_new_end = 0;
> +	long total_old = 0, total_new = 0;
> +
> +	/*
> +	 * Clear changed[] arrays.  xdl_prepare_env() may have dirtied
> +	 * them via xdl_cleanup_records().  The allocation is nrec + 2
> +	 * elements; changed points one past the start (see xprepare.c).
> +	 */
> +	memset(xe->xdf1.changed - 1, 0,
> +	       (xe->xdf1.nrec + 2) * sizeof(bool));
> +	memset(xe->xdf2.changed - 1, 0,
> +	       (xe->xdf2.nrec + 2) * sizeof(bool));

This, especially the starting offset of -1, looks horrible. The internal layout of xdfenv_t might happen to match the way the above code expects, which is how xdl_prepare_ctx() may have give you, but it somehow feels brittle. I guess the assumption that changed[] does not point at the beginning of the allocated area (e.g., it is a no-no to free(xe->xdf1.changed) or realloc() it) is so pervasive that it cannot be helped. Sigh.

Show 23 quoted lines
>  int xdl_diff(mmfile_t *mf1, mmfile_t *mf2, xpparam_t const *xpp,
>  	     xdemitconf_t const *xecfg, xdemitcb_t *ecb) {
>  	xdchange_t *xscr;
>  	xdfenv_t xe;
>  	emit_func_t ef = xecfg->hunk_func ? xdl_call_hunk_func : xdl_emit_diff;
>  
> -	if (xdl_do_diff(mf1, mf2, xpp, &xe) < 0) {
> -
> -		return -1;
> +	if (xpp->external_hunks) {
> +		if (xdl_prepare_env(mf1, mf2, xpp, &xe) < 0)
> +			return -1;
> +		if (xdl_populate_hunks_from_external(&xe,
> +						     xpp->external_hunks,
> +						     xpp->external_hunks_nr) < 0) {
> +			/*
> +			 * Invalid external hunks; fall back to the
> +			 * builtin diff algorithm.  Re-runs
> +			 * xdl_prepare_env() via xdl_do_diff().
> +			 */
> +			xdl_free_env(&xe);
> +			if (xdl_do_diff(mf1, mf2, xpp, &xe) < 0)
> +				return -1;

If the external tool keeps sending bogus hunks, silently falling back to what we would have done if there weren't any external stuff may be necessary to pleasantly keep using Git, but two and a half short comments here.

 (1) "What we would have done" is exactly the same as what appears
     in the corresponding "else" block.  Can we make sure that we do
     not have to keep updating both copies in the future with some
     code rearrangement?
 (2) The writer of the external tool may want to see some trace of
     warning under certain flags when a failure of the tool forces
     the receiving end to fallback.
 (3) If the tool throws too many broken replies, perhaps we want to
     disable it automatically?
Show 9 quoted lines
> +		}
> +	} else {
> +		if (xdl_do_diff(mf1, mf2, xpp, &xe) < 0)
> +			return -1;
>  	}
> +
>  	if (xdl_change_compact(&xe.xdf1, &xe.xdf2, xpp->flags) < 0 ||
>  	    xdl_change_compact(&xe.xdf2, &xe.xdf1, xpp->flags) < 0 ||
>  	    xdl_build_script(&xe, &xscr) < 0) {
Previous: Michael Montalbo via GitGitGadgetNext: Michael Montalbo
Message 3 of 81 in “[RFC] diff: add diff.<driver>.process for external hunk providers”
  1. 0/5 [RFC] diff: add diff.<driver>.process for external hunk providersMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, May 22, 2026
  2. 1/5 xdiff: support external hunks via xpparam_tMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, May 22, 2026
  3. Junio C HamanoMay 22, 2026
  4. Michael MontalboMay 22, 2026
  5. Junio C HamanoMay 24, 2026
  6. Michael MontalboMay 24, 2026
  7. 2/5 userdiff: add diff.<driver>.process configMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, May 22, 2026
  8. 3/5 diff: add long-running diff process via diff.<driver>.processMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, May 22, 2026
  9. 4/5 blame: consult diff process for zero-hunk detectionMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, May 22, 2026
  10. 5/5 diff-process-normalize: add built-in whitespace normalizerMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, May 22, 2026
  11. Junio C HamanoMay 22, 2026
  12. Michael MontalboMay 22, 2026
  13. 0/4 [RFC] diff: add diff.<driver>.process for external hunk providersMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, May 25, 2026
  14. 1/4 xdiff: support external hunks via xpparam_tMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, May 25, 2026
  15. 2/4 userdiff: add diff.<driver>.process configMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, May 25, 2026
  16. 3/4 diff: add long-running diff process via diff.<driver>.processMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, May 25, 2026
  17. Junio C HamanoMay 26, 2026
  18. Michael MontalboMay 29, 2026
  19. Junio C HamanoMay 26, 2026
  20. Michael MontalboMay 29, 2026
  21. 4/4 blame: consult diff process for zero-hunk detectionMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, May 25, 2026
  22. 0/6 [RFC] diff: add diff.<driver>.process for external hunk providersMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, May 29, 2026
  23. 1/6 xdiff: support external hunks via xpparam_tMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, May 29, 2026
  24. 2/6 userdiff: add diff.<driver>.process configMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, May 29, 2026
  25. 3/6 sub-process: separate process lifecycle from hashmap managementMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, May 29, 2026
  26. 4/6 diff: add long-running diff process via diff.<driver>.processMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, May 29, 2026
  27. Johannes SchindelinJun 7, 2026
  28. Michael MontalboJun 7, 2026
  29. Junio C HamanoJun 8, 2026
  30. Michael MontalboJun 7, 2026
  31. Junio C HamanoJun 8, 2026
  32. Junio C HamanoJun 8, 2026
  33. 5/6 diff: bypass diff process with --no-ext-diff and in format-patchMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, May 29, 2026
  34. 6/6 blame: consult diff process for no-hunk detectionMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, May 29, 2026
  35. Junio C HamanoMay 31, 2026
  36. Michael MontalboJun 1, 2026
  37. 0/6 [RFC] diff: add diff.<driver>.process for external hunk providersMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, Jun 14, 2026
  38. 1/6 xdiff: support external hunks via xpparam_tMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, Jun 14, 2026
  39. 2/6 userdiff: add diff.<driver>.process configMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, Jun 14, 2026
  40. 3/6 sub-process: separate process lifecycle from hashmap managementMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, Jun 14, 2026
  41. 4/6 diff: add long-running diff process via diff.<driver>.processMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, Jun 14, 2026
  42. 5/6 diff: bypass diff process with --no-ext-diff and in format-patchMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, Jun 14, 2026
  43. 6/6 blame: consult diff process for no-hunk detectionMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, Jun 14, 2026
  44. 0/9 [RFC] diff: add diff.<driver>.process for external hunk providersMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, Jul 15, 2026
  45. 1/9 gitattributes: document how external diff drivers relate to diff featuresMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, Jul 15, 2026
  46. 2/9 xdiff: support external hunks via xpparam_tMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, Jul 15, 2026
  47. 3/9 userdiff: add diff.<driver>.process configMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, Jul 15, 2026
  48. 4/9 sub-process: separate process lifecycle from hashmap managementMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, Jul 15, 2026
  49. 5/9 diff: add long-running diff process via diff.<driver>.processMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, Jul 15, 2026
  50. 6/9 diff: bypass diff process with --no-ext-diff and in format-patchMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, Jul 15, 2026
  51. 7/9 blame: consult diff process for no-hunk detectionMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, Jul 15, 2026
  52. 8/9 diff: consult diff process for --stat countsMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, Jul 15, 2026
  53. 9/9 line-log: consult diff process for range trackingMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, Jul 15, 2026
  54. Junio C HamanoJul 16, 2026
  55. Michael MontalboJul 16, 2026
  56. 0/9 [RFC] diff: add diff.<driver>.process for external hunk providersMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, Jul 26, 2026
  57. 1/9 gitattributes: document how external diff drivers relate to diff featuresMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, Jul 26, 2026
  58. 2/9 xdiff: support external hunks via xpparam_tMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, Jul 26, 2026
  59. 3/9 userdiff: add diff.<driver>.process configMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, Jul 26, 2026
  60. 4/9 sub-process: separate process lifecycle from hashmap managementMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, Jul 26, 2026
  61. 5/9 diff: add long-running diff process via diff.<driver>.processMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, Jul 26, 2026
  62. 6/9 diff: bypass diff process with --no-ext-diff and in format-patchMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, Jul 26, 2026
  63. 7/9 blame: consult diff process for no-hunk detectionMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, Jul 26, 2026
  64. 8/9 diff: consult diff process for --stat countsMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, Jul 26, 2026
  65. 9/9 line-log: consult diff process for range trackingMichael Montalbo via GitGitGadget, Jul 26, 2026
  66. 0/10 diff: add provider interface and initial providersMichael Montalbo, Aug 1, 2026
  67. 01/10 gitattributes: document how external diff drivers relate to diff featuresMichael Montalbo, Aug 1, 2026
  68. 02/10 diff: introduce a hunk provider interfaceMichael Montalbo, Aug 1, 2026
  69. 03/10 diff-hunks: add the store format, library, and commandMichael Montalbo, Aug 1, 2026
  70. 04/10 diff: record precomputed hunks during stat outputMichael Montalbo, Aug 1, 2026
  71. 05/10 diff: read precomputed hunks for stat outputMichael Montalbo, Aug 1, 2026
  72. 06/10 blame: read precomputed hunksMichael Montalbo, Aug 1, 2026
  73. 07/10 sub-process: separate process lifecycle from hashmap managementMichael Montalbo, Aug 1, 2026
  74. 08/10 sub-process: add a gentle status readMichael Montalbo, Aug 1, 2026
  75. 09/10 userdiff: add diff.<driver>.process configMichael Montalbo, Aug 1, 2026
  76. 10/10 diff: consult oid-only hunk providers via diff.<driver>.processMichael Montalbo, Aug 1, 2026
  77. Michael MontalboAug 4, 2026
  78. Junio C HamanoAug 13, 2026
  79. Phillip WoodAug 4, 2026
  80. Michael MontalboAug 23, 2026
  81. Michael MontalboJun 15, 2026

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