Re: [PATCH] precious-files.txt: new document proposing new precious file type

From: Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>
Date: Jan 19, 2024, 18:45 UTC
Message-ID: <xmqqy1cljh5t.fsf@gitster.g>
In-Reply-To: <4421D442-1BB2-4C89-834F-9E70F4CF360B@icloud.com>

Sebastian Thiel <sebastian.thiel@icloud.com> writes:

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> I am glad I can pull my initial proposition of 'having both syntaxes' off
> the table to side with this version - it's gorgeous.
>
> It's easy to forget that the search-order when matching ignore patterns
> is back to front, which makes this 'trick' work.

The true gem is not the search-order, though. It is the "last one wins" rule. Back to front search is merely an implementation detail to optimize the search so that we can stop at the first hit ;-)

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> If the insights gained with the last couple of emails would see their digest
> in the user-facing documentation, I think precious files wouldn't only become
> usable but would also allow projects to make the their choice during
> the transition period during which some users will inevitably access the repository
> with a Git that doesn't know about precious files yet.

OK.