Re: Why doesn't `git log -m` imply `-p`?

From: Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>
Date: Apr 29, 2021, 03:22 UTC
Message-ID: <xmqqwnsl93m3.fsf@gitster.g>
In-Reply-To: <CAMMLpeR-W35Qq6a343ifrxJ=mwBc_VcXZtVrBYDpJTySNBroFw@mail.gmail.com>

Alex Henrie <alexhenrie24@gmail.com> writes:

> Why do -c and -cc imply -p, but -m does not? I tried to use both `git
> log -c` and `git log -m` today and was confused when the latter didn't
> produce any output. Could we change this behavior in a future version
> of Git?

"[alias] lm = log -m" can be used when you only want the logs

    $ git lm maint..master

or when you want to also view patches your preference is to see all sides of diffs of merges

    $ git lm -p maint..mater

but depending on who you are that may be of dubious utility.

It is best to move on, writing it off as historical accident, and embrace the new --diff-merges=m option, instead of wasting time on pondering "why", because accidents do not have to have a deep reason behind them ;-)