# strange result of `git describe` while bisecting

3 messages from 2015-06-12 to 2015-06-12. Participants: Philippe De Muyter, Andreas Schwab.
Thread: https://gitlist.dev/t/39612

## Philippe De Muyter, 2015-06-12 13:00

Subject: strange result of `git describe` while bisecting
Message-ID: <20150612130027.GA19711@frolo.macqel>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/20150612130027.GA19711%40frolo.macqel

```
Hi,

I am bisecting the kernel tree between v3.17 and v3.18, and 'git describe'
is used by the kernel compilation process.  Why do I get a version
v3.17-rc7-1626-ga4b4a2b, that seems outside of [v3.17..v3.18] ?

To reproduce :

git bisect start
git bisect bad v3.18
git bisect good v3.17
Bisecting: 6197 revisions left to test after this (roughly 13 steps)
[754c780953397dd5ee5191b7b3ca67e09088ce7a] Merge branch 'for-v3.18' of git://git.linaro.org/people/mszyprowski/linux-dma-mapping

git describe
v3.17-6163-g754c780

git bisect bad
Bisecting: 3086 revisions left to test after this (roughly 12 steps)
[4a4743e840d06a5772be7c21110807165c5b3c9f] Merge tag 'fixes-nc-for-linus' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/arm/arm-soc

git describe
v3.17-3076-g4a4743e

git bisect good
Bisecting: 1506 revisions left to test after this (roughly 11 steps)
[a4b4a2b7f98a45c71a906b1126cabea6446a9905] Merge tag 'master-2014-10-02' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/linville/wireless-next

git describe
v3.17-rc7-1626-ga4b4a2b

Philippe

-- 
Philippe De Muyter +32 2 6101532 Macq SA rue de l'Aeronef 2 B-1140 Bruxelles

```

## Andreas Schwab, 2015-06-12 13:17

Subject: Re: strange result of `git describe` while bisecting
Message-ID: <87ioatvzez.fsf@igel.home>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/87ioatvzez.fsf%40igel.home
In-Reply-To: <20150612130027.GA19711@frolo.macqel>

```
Philippe De Muyter <phdm@macq.eu> writes:

> I am bisecting the kernel tree between v3.17 and v3.18, and 'git describe'
> is used by the kernel compilation process.  Why do I get a version
> v3.17-rc7-1626-ga4b4a2b, that seems outside of [v3.17..v3.18] ?

Because your are testing a side branch that is based on v3.17-rc7.

3.17-rc7 --- 3.17 ------- 3.18
           \           /
            \----- * -/
                   ^
You are here ------^

Andreas.

-- 
Andreas Schwab, schwab@linux-m68k.org
GPG Key fingerprint = 58CA 54C7 6D53 942B 1756  01D3 44D5 214B 8276 4ED5
"And now for something completely different."

```

## Philippe De Muyter, 2015-06-12 13:21

Subject: Re: strange result of `git describe` while bisecting
Message-ID: <20150612132159.GA23768@frolo.macqel>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/20150612132159.GA23768%40frolo.macqel
In-Reply-To: <87ioatvzez.fsf@igel.home>

```
On Fri, Jun 12, 2015 at 03:17:40PM +0200, Andreas Schwab wrote:
> Philippe De Muyter <phdm@macq.eu> writes:
> 
> > I am bisecting the kernel tree between v3.17 and v3.18, and 'git describe'
> > is used by the kernel compilation process.  Why do I get a version
> > v3.17-rc7-1626-ga4b4a2b, that seems outside of [v3.17..v3.18] ?
> 
> Because your are testing a side branch that is based on v3.17-rc7.
> 
> 3.17-rc7 --- 3.17 ------- 3.18
>            \           /
>             \----- * -/
>                    ^
> You are here ------^

Thank you Andreas

Philippe

```