Re: bug: git config --global --unset doesn't unset configs in corner case

From: Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>
Date: May 9, 2024, 16:23 UTC
Message-ID: <xmqqmsozuf7y.fsf@gitster.g>
In-Reply-To: <20240509021352.se4u7ajaolveyyjf@glandium.org>

Mike Hommey <mh@glandium.org> writes:

> When both ~/.gitconfig and ~/.config/git/config exist, git will read
> both. But when using `git config --global --unset`, it will only touch
> the first one. So unsetting config items from ~/.config/git/config is
> not possible from the command line when ~/.gitconfig exists.

Interesting observation of an understandable behaviour.

I think the original intent of limiting the writing to just one was to avoid having both files in the first place. When both do exist already, I am not sure what the right behaviour on the write side should be. We could special case "--unset-all" and remove from both, but "--unset" is to remove just one, so when the reading side reads from both, it becomes "which one to remove"?

Comments from those who are more familiar with the "git config" are certainly appreciated.

Thanks.