# [PATCH v3 2/3] completion: improve docs for using __git_complete

10 messages from 2024-04-25 to 2024-04-26. Participants: Roland Hieber, Kristoffer Haugsbakk, Justin Tobler, Junio C Hamano, Patrick Steinhardt.
Thread: https://gitlist.dev/t/61366

## Roland Hieber, 2024-04-25 10:18

Subject: [PATCH v3 2/3] completion: improve docs for using __git_complete
Message-ID: <20240425101845.708554-2-rhi@pengutronix.de>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/20240425101845.708554-2-rhi%40pengutronix.de
In-Reply-To: <20240425101845.708554-1-rhi@pengutronix.de>

```
It took me more than a few tries and a good lecture of __git_main to
understand that the two paragraphs really only refer to adding
completion functions for executables that are not called through git's
subcommand magic. Improve the docs and be more specific.

Signed-off-by: Roland Hieber <rhi@pengutronix.de>
---
PATCH v3: new in v3, based on feedback from Junio C Hamano
---
 contrib/completion/git-completion.bash | 13 ++++++++++---
 1 file changed, 10 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/contrib/completion/git-completion.bash b/contrib/completion/git-completion.bash
index 4d63fb6eeaf7..566f32d412ce 100644
--- a/contrib/completion/git-completion.bash
+++ b/contrib/completion/git-completion.bash
@@ -31,15 +31,22 @@
 # Note that "git" is optional --- '!f() { : commit; ...}; f' would complete
 # just like the 'git commit' command.
 #
-# If you have a command that is not part of git, but you would still
-# like completion, you can use __git_complete:
+# If you have a shell command that is not part of git (and is not called as a
+# git subcommand), but you would still like git-style completion for it, use
+# __git_complete. For example, to use the same completion as for 'git log' also
+# for the 'gl' command:
 #
 #   __git_complete gl git_log
 #
-# Or if it's a main command (i.e. git or gitk):
+# Or if the 'gk' command should be completed the same as 'gitk':
 #
 #   __git_complete gk gitk
 #
+# The second parameter of __git_complete gives the completion function; it is
+# resolved as a function named "$2", or "__$2_main", or "_$2" in that order.
+# In the examples above, the actual functions used for completion will be
+# _git_log and __gitk_main.
+#
 # Compatible with bash 3.2.57.
 #
 # You can set the following environment variables to influence the behavior of
-- 
2.39.2


```

## Roland Hieber, 2024-04-25 10:18

Subject: [PATCH v3 3/3] completion: add docs on how to add subcommand completions
Message-ID: <20240425101845.708554-3-rhi@pengutronix.de>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/20240425101845.708554-3-rhi%40pengutronix.de
In-Reply-To: <20240425101845.708554-1-rhi@pengutronix.de>

```
Signed-off-by: Roland Hieber <rhi@pengutronix.de>
---
PATCH v3:
 - change the wording a bit to make the text more fluent

PATCH v2: https://lore.kernel.org/git/20240424215019.268208-2-rhi@pengutronix.de
 - fix typo and superfluous "-my" (thanks to Junio C Hamano)

PATCH v1: https://lore.kernel.org/git/20240424210549.256256-2-rhi@pengutronix.de/
---
 contrib/completion/git-completion.bash | 7 +++++++
 1 file changed, 7 insertions(+)

diff --git a/contrib/completion/git-completion.bash b/contrib/completion/git-completion.bash
index 566f32d412ce..5c0ddeb3d4fb 100644
--- a/contrib/completion/git-completion.bash
+++ b/contrib/completion/git-completion.bash
@@ -31,6 +31,13 @@
 # Note that "git" is optional --- '!f() { : commit; ...}; f' would complete
 # just like the 'git commit' command.
 #
+# To add completion for git subcommands that are implemented in external
+# scripts, define a function of the form '_git_${subcommand}' while replacing
+# all dashes with underscores, and the main git completion will make use of it.
+# For example, to add completion for 'git do-stuff' (which could e.g. live
+# in /usr/bin/git-do-stuff), name the completion function '_git_do_stuff'.
+# See _git_show, _git_bisect etc. below for more examples.
+#
 # If you have a shell command that is not part of git (and is not called as a
 # git subcommand), but you would still like git-style completion for it, use
 # __git_complete. For example, to use the same completion as for 'git log' also
-- 
2.39.2


```

## Roland Hieber, 2024-04-25 10:18

Subject: [PATCH v3 1/3] completion: add 'symbolic-ref'
Message-ID: <20240425101845.708554-1-rhi@pengutronix.de>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/20240425101845.708554-1-rhi%40pengutronix.de

```
Even 'symbolic-ref' is only completed when
GIT_COMPLETION_SHOW_ALL_COMMANDS=1 is set, it currently defaults to
completing file names, which is not very helpful. Add a simple
completion function which completes options and refs.

Signed-off-by: Roland Hieber <rhi@pengutronix.de>
---
PATCH v3:
 - make use of __gitcomp_builtin instead of hard-coded options, and add
   a test for it (thanks to Patrick Steinhardt)
 - add empty line between test cases (thanks to Patrick Steinhardt)

PATCH v2: https://lore.kernel.org/git/20240424215019.268208-1-rhi@pengutronix.de
 - no changes

PATCH v1: https://lore.kernel.org/git/20240424210549.256256-1-rhi@pengutronix.de/
---
 contrib/completion/git-completion.bash | 11 +++++++++++
 t/t9902-completion.sh                  | 23 +++++++++++++++++++++++
 2 files changed, 34 insertions(+)

diff --git a/contrib/completion/git-completion.bash b/contrib/completion/git-completion.bash
index 75193ded4bde..4d63fb6eeaf7 100644
--- a/contrib/completion/git-completion.bash
+++ b/contrib/completion/git-completion.bash
@@ -3581,6 +3581,17 @@ _git_svn ()
 	fi
 }
 
+_git_symbolic_ref () {
+	case "$cur" in
+	--*)
+		__gitcomp_builtin symbolic-ref
+		return
+		;;
+	esac
+
+	__git_complete_refs
+}
+
 _git_tag ()
 {
 	local i c="$__git_cmd_idx" f=0
diff --git a/t/t9902-completion.sh b/t/t9902-completion.sh
index 569cf2310434..963f865f27ed 100755
--- a/t/t9902-completion.sh
+++ b/t/t9902-completion.sh
@@ -2518,6 +2518,29 @@ test_expect_success 'complete tree filename with metacharacters' '
 	EOF
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'symbolic-ref completes builtin options' '
+	test_completion "git symbolic-ref --d" <<-\EOF
+	--delete Z
+	EOF
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'symbolic-ref completes short ref names' '
+	test_completion "git symbolic-ref foo m" <<-\EOF
+	main Z
+	mybranch Z
+	mytag Z
+	EOF
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'symbolic-ref completes full ref names' '
+	test_completion "git symbolic-ref foo refs/" <<-\EOF
+	refs/heads/main Z
+	refs/heads/mybranch Z
+	refs/tags/mytag Z
+	refs/tags/A Z
+	EOF
+'
+
 test_expect_success PERL 'send-email' '
 	test_completion "git send-email --cov" <<-\EOF &&
 	--cover-from-description=Z
-- 
2.39.2


```

## Kristoffer Haugsbakk, 2024-04-25 10:45

Subject: Re: [PATCH v3 1/3] completion: add 'symbolic-ref'
Message-ID: <4ea09a34-bd62-434e-b893-8e3780aa915f@app.fastmail.com>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/4ea09a34-bd62-434e-b893-8e3780aa915f%40app.fastmail.com
In-Reply-To: <20240425101845.708554-1-rhi@pengutronix.de>

```
On Thu, Apr 25, 2024, at 12:18, Roland Hieber wrote:
> Signed-off-by: Roland Hieber <rhi@pengutronix.de>
> ---
> PATCH v3:
>  - make use of __gitcomp_builtin instead of hard-coded options, and add
>    a test for it (thanks to Patrick Steinhardt)
>  - add empty line between test cases (thanks to Patrick Steinhardt)
>
> PATCH v2: https://lore.kernel.org/git/20240424215019.268208-1-rhi@pengutronix.de
>  - no changes
>
> PATCH v1:
> https://lore.kernel.org/git/20240424210549.256256-1-rhi@pengutronix.de/

You can use `git format-patch
--in-reply-to='20240424215019.268208-1-rhi@pengutronix.de'` in order to
link v3 to v2 (or rather: you can use that for a possible v4 (points to
v3)).

(I was going to link to SubmittingPatches here but I didn’t find a
mention of it there. Apparently I misremembered.)

```

## Justin Tobler, 2024-04-25 14:36

Subject: Re: [PATCH v3 1/3] completion: add 'symbolic-ref'
Message-ID: <mg33zswrxwxrlbzcvxyssxpqty5qxbezw43rwwnkepskne6fmh@3fypf2gskbyh>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/mg33zswrxwxrlbzcvxyssxpqty5qxbezw43rwwnkepskne6fmh%403fypf2gskbyh
In-Reply-To: <4ea09a34-bd62-434e-b893-8e3780aa915f@app.fastmail.com>

```
On 24/04/25 12:45PM, Kristoffer Haugsbakk wrote:
> On Thu, Apr 25, 2024, at 12:18, Roland Hieber wrote:
> > Signed-off-by: Roland Hieber <rhi@pengutronix.de>
> > ---
> > PATCH v3:
> >  - make use of __gitcomp_builtin instead of hard-coded options, and add
> >    a test for it (thanks to Patrick Steinhardt)
> >  - add empty line between test cases (thanks to Patrick Steinhardt)
> >
> > PATCH v2: https://lore.kernel.org/git/20240424215019.268208-1-rhi@pengutronix.de
> >  - no changes
> >
> > PATCH v1:
> > https://lore.kernel.org/git/20240424210549.256256-1-rhi@pengutronix.de/
> 
> You can use `git format-patch
> --in-reply-to='20240424215019.268208-1-rhi@pengutronix.de'` in order to
> link v3 to v2 (or rather: you can use that for a possible v4 (points to
> v3)).
> 
> (I was going to link to SubmittingPatches here but I didn’t find a
> mention of it there. Apparently I misremembered.)

There is a section in the MyFirstContribution docs that mentions it
briefly:

https://git-scm.com/docs/MyFirstContribution#v2-git-send-email

-Justin

```

## Junio C Hamano, 2024-04-25 16:42

Subject: Re: [PATCH v3 1/3] completion: add 'symbolic-ref'
Message-ID: <xmqqh6fpgzs6.fsf@gitster.g>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/xmqqh6fpgzs6.fsf%40gitster.g
In-Reply-To: <mg33zswrxwxrlbzcvxyssxpqty5qxbezw43rwwnkepskne6fmh@3fypf2gskbyh>

```
Justin Tobler <jltobler@gmail.com> writes:

>> (I was going to link to SubmittingPatches here but I didn’t find a
>> mention of it there. Apparently I misremembered.)
>
> There is a section in the MyFirstContribution docs that mentions it
> briefly:
>
> https://git-scm.com/docs/MyFirstContribution#v2-git-send-email

Thanks for noticing.  

We should improve the situation by probably moving[*] more from the
latter to SubmittingPatches so that people do not need to refer to
both just to find out the essentials.


[*] If it is small, just copy; if it is large, move and then replace
    the original with a reference into SubmittingPatches.


```

## Junio C Hamano, 2024-04-25 16:50

Subject: Re: [PATCH v3 1/3] completion: add 'symbolic-ref'
Message-ID: <xmqqcyqdgze3.fsf@gitster.g>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/xmqqcyqdgze3.fsf%40gitster.g
In-Reply-To: <20240425101845.708554-1-rhi@pengutronix.de>

```
Roland Hieber <rhi@pengutronix.de> writes:

> Even 'symbolic-ref' is only completed when
> GIT_COMPLETION_SHOW_ALL_COMMANDS=1 is set, it currently defaults to
> completing file names, which is not very helpful. Add a simple
> completion function which completes options and refs.
>
> Signed-off-by: Roland Hieber <rhi@pengutronix.de>
> ---
> PATCH v3:
>  - make use of __gitcomp_builtin instead of hard-coded options, and add
>    a test for it (thanks to Patrick Steinhardt)

Nice.

>  - add empty line between test cases (thanks to Patrick Steinhardt)
>
> PATCH v2: https://lore.kernel.org/git/20240424215019.268208-1-rhi@pengutronix.de
>  - no changes
>
> PATCH v1: https://lore.kernel.org/git/20240424210549.256256-1-rhi@pengutronix.de/
> ---
>  contrib/completion/git-completion.bash | 11 +++++++++++
>  t/t9902-completion.sh                  | 23 +++++++++++++++++++++++
>  2 files changed, 34 insertions(+)
>
> diff --git a/contrib/completion/git-completion.bash b/contrib/completion/git-completion.bash
> index 75193ded4bde..4d63fb6eeaf7 100644
> --- a/contrib/completion/git-completion.bash
> +++ b/contrib/completion/git-completion.bash
> @@ -3581,6 +3581,17 @@ _git_svn ()
>  	fi
>  }
>  
> +_git_symbolic_ref () {
> +	case "$cur" in
> +	--*)
> +		__gitcomp_builtin symbolic-ref
> +		return
> +		;;
> +	esac
> +
> +	__git_complete_refs
> +}
> +
>  _git_tag ()
>  {
>  	local i c="$__git_cmd_idx" f=0
> diff --git a/t/t9902-completion.sh b/t/t9902-completion.sh
> index 569cf2310434..963f865f27ed 100755
> --- a/t/t9902-completion.sh
> +++ b/t/t9902-completion.sh
> @@ -2518,6 +2518,29 @@ test_expect_success 'complete tree filename with metacharacters' '
>  	EOF
>  '
>  
> +test_expect_success 'symbolic-ref completes builtin options' '
> +	test_completion "git symbolic-ref --d" <<-\EOF
> +	--delete Z
> +	EOF
> +'
> +
> +test_expect_success 'symbolic-ref completes short ref names' '
> +	test_completion "git symbolic-ref foo m" <<-\EOF
> +	main Z
> +	mybranch Z
> +	mytag Z
> +	EOF
> +'
> +
> +test_expect_success 'symbolic-ref completes full ref names' '
> +	test_completion "git symbolic-ref foo refs/" <<-\EOF
> +	refs/heads/main Z
> +	refs/heads/mybranch Z
> +	refs/tags/mytag Z
> +	refs/tags/A Z
> +	EOF
> +'
> +
>  test_expect_success PERL 'send-email' '
>  	test_completion "git send-email --cov" <<-\EOF &&
>  	--cover-from-description=Z

```

## Justin Tobler, 2024-04-25 21:40

Subject: Re: [PATCH v3 1/3] completion: add 'symbolic-ref'
Message-ID: <prwckjhoktcmdgl7637jekssonghcjcbsyuivwzq6w6eqvl7g5@nfumrglobhyl>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/prwckjhoktcmdgl7637jekssonghcjcbsyuivwzq6w6eqvl7g5%40nfumrglobhyl
In-Reply-To: <xmqqh6fpgzs6.fsf@gitster.g>

```
On 24/04/25 09:42AM, Junio C Hamano wrote:
> Justin Tobler <jltobler@gmail.com> writes:
> 
> >> (I was going to link to SubmittingPatches here but I didn’t find a
> >> mention of it there. Apparently I misremembered.)
> >
> > There is a section in the MyFirstContribution docs that mentions it
> > briefly:
> >
> > https://git-scm.com/docs/MyFirstContribution#v2-git-send-email
> 
> Thanks for noticing.  
> 
> We should improve the situation by probably moving[*] more from the
> latter to SubmittingPatches so that people do not need to refer to
> both just to find out the essentials.
> 
> 
> [*] If it is small, just copy; if it is large, move and then replace
>     the original with a reference into SubmittingPatches.
> 

I think this is a good idea. Submitted a patch that attempts to improve
this.

https://lore.kernel.org/git/20240425213404.133660-1-jltobler@gmail.com/

-Justin

```

## Junio C Hamano, 2024-04-25 21:48

Subject: Re: [PATCH v3 1/3] completion: add 'symbolic-ref'
Message-ID: <xmqqjzkldsfs.fsf@gitster.g>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/xmqqjzkldsfs.fsf%40gitster.g
In-Reply-To: <prwckjhoktcmdgl7637jekssonghcjcbsyuivwzq6w6eqvl7g5@nfumrglobhyl>

```
Justin Tobler <jltobler@gmail.com> writes:

>> We should improve the situation by probably moving[*] more from the
>> latter to SubmittingPatches so that people do not need to refer to
>> both just to find out the essentials.
>> 
>> 
>> [*] If it is small, just copy; if it is large, move and then replace
>>     the original with a reference into SubmittingPatches.
>> 
>
> I think this is a good idea. Submitted a patch that attempts to improve
> this.

Thanks.  Its details are a bit different from what I expected, but
this will work just fine in practice, I would think.

Will queue.

```

## Patrick Steinhardt, 2024-04-26 11:43

Subject: Re: [PATCH v3 1/3] completion: add 'symbolic-ref'
Message-ID: <ZiuTUFtZxBBehVVs@tanuki>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/ZiuTUFtZxBBehVVs%40tanuki
In-Reply-To: <20240425101845.708554-1-rhi@pengutronix.de>

```
On Thu, Apr 25, 2024 at 12:18:42PM +0200, Roland Hieber wrote:
> Even 'symbolic-ref' is only completed when
> GIT_COMPLETION_SHOW_ALL_COMMANDS=1 is set, it currently defaults to
> completing file names, which is not very helpful. Add a simple
> completion function which completes options and refs.
> 
> Signed-off-by: Roland Hieber <rhi@pengutronix.de>

Thanks, this version looks good to me.

Patrick

```
