threads / patch / 63463

patchsequencer: make it clearer that commit descriptions are just comments

Subject: [PATCH] sequencer: make it clearer that commit descriptions are just comments

## tl;dr

11 messages between May 15, 2025 and May 16, 2025. Diffs are folded; open one to read it.

replies: 10people: 5as markdown or json

Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget· May 15, 2025, 02:20 UTC · lore
From: Elijah Newren <newren@gmail.com>

Every once in a while, users report that editing the commit summaries in the todo list does not get reflected in the rebase operation, suggesting that users are (a) only using one-line commit messages, and (b) not understanding that the commit summaries are merely helpful comments to help them find the right hashes.

It may be difficult to correct users' poor commit messages, but we can at least try to make it clearer that the commit summaries are not directives of some sort by inserting a comment character. Hopefully that leads to them looking a little further and noticing the hints at the bottom to use 'reword' or 'edit' directives.

Yes, this change may look funny at first since it hardcodes '#' rather than using comment_line_str. However:

  * comment_line_str exists to allow disambiguation between lines in
    a commit message and lines that are instructions to users editing
    the commit message.  No such disambiguation is needed for these
    comments that occur on the same line after existing directives
  * the exact "comment" character(s) on regular pick lines used aren't
    actually important; I could have used anything, including completely
    random variable length text for each line and it'd work because we
    ignore everything after 'pick' and the hash.
  * The whole point of this change is to signal to users that they
    should NOT be editing any part of the line after the hash (and if
    they do so, their edits will be ignored), while the whole point of
    comment_line_str is to allow highly flexible editing.  So making
    it more general by using comment_line_str actually feels
    counterproductive.
  * The character for merge directives absolutely must be '#'; that
    has been deeply hardcoded for a long time (see below), and will
    break if some other comment character is used instead.  In a
    desire to have pick and merge directives be similar, I use the
    same comment character for both.
  * Perhaps merge directives could be fixed to not be inflexible about
    the comment character used, if someone feels highly motivated, but
    I think that should be done in a separate follow-on patch.

Here are (some of?) the locations where '#' has already been hardcoded for a long time for merges:

  1) In check_label_or_ref_arg():
	case TODO_LABEL:
		/*
		 * '#' is not a valid label as the merge command uses it to
		 * separate merge parents from the commit subject.
		 */
  2) In do_merge():
	/*
	 * For octopus merges, the arg starts with the list of revisions to be
	 * merged. The list is optionally followed by '#' and the oneline.
	 */
	merge_arg_len = oneline_offset = arg_len;
	for (p = arg; p - arg < arg_len; p += strspn(p, " \t\n")) {
		if (!*p)
			break;
		if (*p == '#' && (!p[1] || isspace(p[1]))) {
  3) In label_oid():
		if ((buf->len == the_hash_algo->hexsz &&
		     !get_oid_hex(label, &dummy)) ||
		    (buf->len == 1 && *label == '#') ||
		    hashmap_get_from_hash(&state->labels,
					  strihash(label), label)) {
			/*
			 * If the label already exists, or if the label is a
			 * valid full OID, or the label is a '#' (which we use
			 * as a separator between merge heads and oneline), we
			 * append a dash and a number to make it unique.
			 */
Signed-off-by: Elijah Newren <newren@gmail.com>
---
    sequencer: make it clearer that commit descriptions are just comments
Published-As: https://github.com/gitgitgadget/git/releases/tag/pr-1923%2Fnewren%2Fsequencer-todo-commit-msgs-are-comments-v1
Fetch-It-Via: git fetch https://github.com/gitgitgadget/git pr-1923/newren/sequencer-todo-commit-msgs-are-comments-v1
Pull-Request: https://github.com/gitgitgadget/git/pull/1923
 sequencer.c                   | 16 +++++--
 t/t3404-rebase-interactive.sh | 54 +++++++++++-----------
 t/t3415-rebase-autosquash.sh  | 14 +++---
 t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh      | 10 ++--
 t/t5520-pull.sh               |  2 +-
 t/t7512-status-help.sh        | 86 +++++++++++++++++------------------
 6 files changed, 94 insertions(+), 88 deletions(-)
Show changes to 6 files +94 −88

sequencer.c, t/t3404-rebase-interactive.sh, t/t3415-rebase-autosquash.sh, t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh, t/t5520-pull.sh, t/t7512-status-help.sh

diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index b5c4043757e..2735966544b 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -5901,11 +5901,11 @@ static int make_script_with_merges(struct pretty_print_context *pp,
 
 		/* Create a label from the commit message */
 		strbuf_reset(&label_from_message);
-		if (skip_prefix(oneline.buf, "Merge ", &p1) &&
+		if (skip_prefix(oneline.buf, "# Merge ", &p1) &&
 		    (p1 = strchr(p1, '\'')) &&
 		    (p2 = strchr(++p1, '\'')))
 			strbuf_add(&label_from_message, p1, p2 - p1);
-		else if (skip_prefix(oneline.buf, "Merge pull request ",
+		else if (skip_prefix(oneline.buf, "# Merge pull request ",
 				     &p1) &&
 			 (p1 = strstr(p1, " from ")))
 			strbuf_addstr(&label_from_message, p1 + strlen(" from "));
@@ -5940,7 +5940,7 @@ static int make_script_with_merges(struct pretty_print_context *pp,
 
 			strbuf_addstr(&buf, label_oid(oid, label, &state));
 		}
-		strbuf_addf(&buf, " # %s", oneline.buf);
+		strbuf_addf(&buf, " %s", oneline.buf);
 
 		FLEX_ALLOC_STR(entry, string, buf.buf);
 		oidcpy(&entry->entry.oid, &commit->object.oid);
@@ -6022,7 +6022,7 @@ static int make_script_with_merges(struct pretty_print_context *pp,
 			else {
 				strbuf_reset(&oneline);
 				pretty_print_commit(pp, commit, &oneline);
-				strbuf_addf(out, "%s %s # %s\n",
+				strbuf_addf(out, "%s %s %s\n",
 					    cmd_reset, to, oneline.buf);
 			}
 		}
@@ -6090,8 +6090,14 @@ int sequencer_make_script(struct repository *r, struct strbuf *out, int argc,
 	git_config_get_string("rebase.instructionFormat", &format);
 	if (!format || !*format) {
 		free(format);
-		format = xstrdup("%s");
+		format = xstrdup("# %s");
 	}
+	if (*format != '#') {
+		char *temp = format;
+		format = xstrfmt("# %s", temp);
+		free(temp);
+	}
+
 	get_commit_format(format, &revs);
 	free(format);
 	pp.fmt = revs.commit_format;
diff --git a/t/t3404-rebase-interactive.sh b/t/t3404-rebase-interactive.sh
index 2aee9789a2f..6bac217ed35 100755
--- a/t/t3404-rebase-interactive.sh
+++ b/t/t3404-rebase-interactive.sh
@@ -1468,7 +1468,7 @@ test_expect_success 'rebase -i respects rebase.missingCommitsCheck = warn' '
 	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
 	Warning: some commits may have been dropped accidentally.
 	Dropped commits (newer to older):
-	 - $(git rev-list --pretty=oneline --abbrev-commit -1 primary)
+	 - $(git log --format="%h # %s" -1 primary)
 	To avoid this message, use "drop" to explicitly remove a commit.
 	EOF
 	test_config rebase.missingCommitsCheck warn &&
@@ -1486,8 +1486,8 @@ test_expect_success 'rebase -i respects rebase.missingCommitsCheck = error' '
 	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
 	Warning: some commits may have been dropped accidentally.
 	Dropped commits (newer to older):
-	 - $(git rev-list --pretty=oneline --abbrev-commit -1 primary)
-	 - $(git rev-list --pretty=oneline --abbrev-commit -1 primary~2)
+	 - $(git log --format="%h # %s" -1 primary)
+	 - $(git log --format="%h # %s" -1 primary~2)
 	To avoid this message, use "drop" to explicitly remove a commit.
 
 	Use '\''git config rebase.missingCommitsCheck'\'' to change the level of warnings.
@@ -1530,11 +1530,11 @@ test_expect_success 'rebase --edit-todo respects rebase.missingCommitsCheck = ig
 test_expect_success 'rebase --edit-todo respects rebase.missingCommitsCheck = warn' '
 	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
 	error: invalid command '\''pickled'\''
-	error: invalid line 1: pickled $(git rev-list --pretty=oneline --abbrev-commit -1 primary~4)
+	error: invalid line 1: pickled $(git log --format="%h # %s" -1 primary~4)
 	Warning: some commits may have been dropped accidentally.
 	Dropped commits (newer to older):
-	 - $(git rev-list --pretty=oneline --abbrev-commit -1 primary)
-	 - $(git rev-list --pretty=oneline --abbrev-commit -1 primary~4)
+	 - $(git log --format="%h # %s" -1 primary)
+	 - $(git log --format="%h # %s" -1 primary~4)
 	To avoid this message, use "drop" to explicitly remove a commit.
 	EOF
 	head -n5 expect >expect.2 &&
@@ -1565,11 +1565,11 @@ test_expect_success 'rebase --edit-todo respects rebase.missingCommitsCheck = wa
 test_expect_success 'rebase --edit-todo respects rebase.missingCommitsCheck = error' '
 	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
 	error: invalid command '\''pickled'\''
-	error: invalid line 1: pickled $(git rev-list --pretty=oneline --abbrev-commit -1 primary~4)
+	error: invalid line 1: pickled $(git log --format="%h # %s" -1 primary~4)
 	Warning: some commits may have been dropped accidentally.
 	Dropped commits (newer to older):
-	 - $(git rev-list --pretty=oneline --abbrev-commit -1 primary)
-	 - $(git rev-list --pretty=oneline --abbrev-commit -1 primary~4)
+	 - $(git log --format="%h # %s" -1 primary)
+	 - $(git log --format="%h # %s" -1 primary~4)
 	To avoid this message, use "drop" to explicitly remove a commit.
 
 	Use '\''git config rebase.missingCommitsCheck'\'' to change the level of warnings.
@@ -1642,11 +1642,11 @@ test_expect_success 'respects rebase.abbreviateCommands with fixup, squash and e
 	test_commit "fixup! first" file2.txt "first line again" first_fixup &&
 	test_commit "squash! second" file1.txt "another line here" second_squash &&
 	cat >expected <<-EOF &&
-	p $(git rev-list --abbrev-commit -1 first) first
-	f $(git rev-list --abbrev-commit -1 first_fixup) fixup! first
+	p $(git rev-list --abbrev-commit -1 first) # first
+	f $(git rev-list --abbrev-commit -1 first_fixup) # fixup! first
 	x git show HEAD
-	p $(git rev-list --abbrev-commit -1 second) second
-	s $(git rev-list --abbrev-commit -1 second_squash) squash! second
+	p $(git rev-list --abbrev-commit -1 second) # second
+	s $(git rev-list --abbrev-commit -1 second_squash) # squash! second
 	x git show HEAD
 	EOF
 	git checkout abbrevcmd &&
@@ -1665,7 +1665,7 @@ test_expect_success 'static check of bad command' '
 		set_fake_editor &&
 		test_must_fail env FAKE_LINES="1 2 3 bad 4 5" \
 		git rebase -i --root 2>actual &&
-		test_grep "pickled $(git rev-list --oneline -1 primary~1)" \
+		test_grep "pickled $(git log --format="%h # %s" -1 primary~1)" \
 				actual &&
 		test_grep "You can fix this with .git rebase --edit-todo.." \
 				actual &&
@@ -1865,15 +1865,15 @@ test_expect_success '--update-refs adds label and update-ref commands' '
 		set_cat_todo_editor &&
 
 		cat >expect <<-EOF &&
-		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h J) J
-		fixup $(git log -1 --format=%h update-refs) fixup! J # empty
+		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h J) # J
+		fixup $(git log -1 --format=%h update-refs) # fixup! J # empty
 		update-ref refs/heads/second
 		update-ref refs/heads/first
-		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h K) K
-		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h L) L
-		fixup $(git log -1 --format=%h is-not-reordered) fixup! L # empty
+		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h K) # K
+		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h L) # L
+		fixup $(git log -1 --format=%h is-not-reordered) # fixup! L # empty
 		update-ref refs/heads/third
-		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h M) M
+		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h M) # M
 		update-ref refs/heads/no-conflict-branch
 		update-ref refs/heads/is-not-reordered
 		update-ref refs/heads/shared-tip
@@ -1905,19 +1905,19 @@ test_expect_success '--update-refs adds commands with --rebase-merges' '
 		cat >expect <<-EOF &&
 		label onto
 		reset onto
-		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h branch2~1) F
-		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h branch2) I
+		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h branch2~1) # F
+		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h branch2) # I
 		update-ref refs/heads/branch2
 		label branch2
 		reset onto
-		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h refs/heads/second) J
+		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h refs/heads/second) # J
 		update-ref refs/heads/second
 		update-ref refs/heads/first
-		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h refs/heads/third~1) K
-		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h refs/heads/third) L
-		fixup $(git log -1 --format=%h update-refs-with-merge) fixup! L # empty
+		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h refs/heads/third~1) # K
+		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h refs/heads/third) # L
+		fixup $(git log -1 --format=%h update-refs-with-merge) # fixup! L # empty
 		update-ref refs/heads/third
-		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h HEAD~2) M
+		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h HEAD~2) # M
 		update-ref refs/heads/no-conflict-branch
 		merge -C $(git log -1 --format=%h HEAD~1) branch2 # merge
 		update-ref refs/heads/merge-branch
diff --git a/t/t3415-rebase-autosquash.sh b/t/t3415-rebase-autosquash.sh
index fcc40d6fe1f..26b42a526a1 100755
--- a/t/t3415-rebase-autosquash.sh
+++ b/t/t3415-rebase-autosquash.sh
@@ -257,8 +257,8 @@ test_expect_success 'auto squash of fixup commit that matches branch name which
 	GIT_SEQUENCE_EDITOR="cat >tmp" git rebase --autosquash -i HEAD^^ &&
 	sed -ne "/^[^#]/{s/[0-9a-f]\{7,\}/HASH/g;p;}" tmp >actual &&
 	cat <<-EOF >expect &&
-	pick HASH second commit
-	pick HASH fixup! self-cycle # empty
+	pick HASH # second commit
+	pick HASH # fixup! self-cycle # empty
 	EOF
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
@@ -311,10 +311,10 @@ test_auto_fixup_fixup () {
 		parent2=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD^^) &&
 		parent3=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD^^^) &&
 		cat >expected <<-EOF &&
-		pick $parent3 first commit
-		$1 $parent1 $1! first
-		$1 $head $1! $2! first
-		pick $parent2 second commit
+		pick $parent3 # first commit
+		$1 $parent1 # $1! first
+		$1 $head # $1! $2! first
+		pick $parent2 # second commit
 		EOF
 		test_cmp expected actual
 	) &&
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@ test_expect_success 'autosquash with empty custom instructionFormat' '
 		set_cat_todo_editor &&
 		test_must_fail git -c rebase.instructionFormat= \
 			rebase --autosquash  --force-rebase -i HEAD^ >actual &&
-		git log -1 --format="pick %h %s" >expect &&
+		git log -1 --format="pick %h # %s" >expect &&
 		test_cmp expect actual
 	)
 '
diff --git a/t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh b/t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh
index b84d68c4b96..5f8fa05420c 100755
--- a/t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh
+++ b/t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh
@@ -106,18 +106,18 @@ test_expect_success 'generate correct todo list' '
 	label onto
 
 	reset onto
-	pick $b B
+	pick $b # B
 	label first
 
 	reset onto
-	pick $c C
+	pick $c # C
 	label branch-point
-	pick $f F
-	pick $g G
+	pick $f # F
+	pick $g # G
 	label second
 
 	reset branch-point # C
-	pick $d D
+	pick $d # D
 	merge -C $e first # E
 	merge -C $h second # H
 
diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 47534f1062d..52a5e4c016b 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -813,7 +813,7 @@ test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase does not reapply old patches' '
 		cd dst &&
 		test_must_fail git pull --rebase &&
 		cat .git/rebase-merge/done .git/rebase-merge/git-rebase-todo >work &&
-		grep -v -e \# -e ^$ work >patches &&
+		sed -e s/#.*// work | grep -v ^$ >patches &&
 		test_line_count = 1 patches &&
 		rm -f work
 	)
diff --git a/t/t7512-status-help.sh b/t/t7512-status-help.sh
index 802f8f704c6..25e8e9711f8 100755
--- a/t/t7512-status-help.sh
+++ b/t/t7512-status-help.sh
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status during rebase -i when conflicts unresolved' '
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last command done (1 command done):
-   pick $LAST_COMMIT one_second
+   pick $LAST_COMMIT # one_second
 No commands remaining.
 You are currently rebasing branch '\''rebase_i_conflicts_second'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (fix conflicts and then run "git rebase --continue")
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status during rebase -i after resolving conflicts' '
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last command done (1 command done):
-   pick $LAST_COMMIT one_second
+   pick $LAST_COMMIT # one_second
 No commands remaining.
 You are currently rebasing branch '\''rebase_i_conflicts_second'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (all conflicts fixed: run "git rebase --continue")
@@ -200,8 +200,8 @@ test_expect_success 'status when rebasing -i in edit mode' '
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last commands done (2 commands done):
-   pick $COMMIT2 two_rebase_i
-   edit $COMMIT3 three_rebase_i
+   pick $COMMIT2 # two_rebase_i
+   edit $COMMIT3 # three_rebase_i
 No commands remaining.
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''rebase_i_edit'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (use "git commit --amend" to amend the current commit)
@@ -233,10 +233,10 @@ test_expect_success 'status when splitting a commit' '
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last commands done (2 commands done):
-   pick $COMMIT2 two_split
-   edit $COMMIT3 three_split
+   pick $COMMIT2 # two_split
+   edit $COMMIT3 # three_split
 Next command to do (1 remaining command):
-   pick $COMMIT4 four_split
+   pick $COMMIT4 # four_split
   (use "git rebase --edit-todo" to view and edit)
 You are currently splitting a commit while rebasing branch '\''split_commit'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (Once your working directory is clean, run "git rebase --continue")
@@ -271,8 +271,8 @@ test_expect_success 'status after editing the last commit with --amend during a
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last commands done (3 commands done):
-   pick $COMMIT3 three_amend
-   edit $COMMIT4 four_amend
+   pick $COMMIT3 # three_amend
+   edit $COMMIT4 # four_amend
   (see more in file .git/rebase-merge/done)
 No commands remaining.
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''amend_last'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
@@ -309,10 +309,10 @@ test_expect_success 'status: (continue first edit) second edit' '
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last commands done (2 commands done):
-   edit $COMMIT2 two_edits
-   edit $COMMIT3 three_edits
+   edit $COMMIT2 # two_edits
+   edit $COMMIT3 # three_edits
 Next command to do (1 remaining command):
-   pick $COMMIT4 four_edits
+   pick $COMMIT4 # four_edits
   (use "git rebase --edit-todo" to view and edit)
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_edits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (use "git commit --amend" to amend the current commit)
@@ -340,10 +340,10 @@ test_expect_success 'status: (continue first edit) second edit and split' '
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last commands done (2 commands done):
-   edit $COMMIT2 two_edits
-   edit $COMMIT3 three_edits
+   edit $COMMIT2 # two_edits
+   edit $COMMIT3 # three_edits
 Next command to do (1 remaining command):
-   pick $COMMIT4 four_edits
+   pick $COMMIT4 # four_edits
   (use "git rebase --edit-todo" to view and edit)
 You are currently splitting a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_edits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (Once your working directory is clean, run "git rebase --continue")
@@ -375,10 +375,10 @@ test_expect_success 'status: (continue first edit) second edit and amend' '
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last commands done (2 commands done):
-   edit $COMMIT2 two_edits
-   edit $COMMIT3 three_edits
+   edit $COMMIT2 # two_edits
+   edit $COMMIT3 # three_edits
 Next command to do (1 remaining command):
-   pick $COMMIT4 four_edits
+   pick $COMMIT4 # four_edits
   (use "git rebase --edit-todo" to view and edit)
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_edits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (use "git commit --amend" to amend the current commit)
@@ -406,10 +406,10 @@ test_expect_success 'status: (amend first edit) second edit' '
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last commands done (2 commands done):
-   edit $COMMIT2 two_edits
-   edit $COMMIT3 three_edits
+   edit $COMMIT2 # two_edits
+   edit $COMMIT3 # three_edits
 Next command to do (1 remaining command):
-   pick $COMMIT4 four_edits
+   pick $COMMIT4 # four_edits
   (use "git rebase --edit-todo" to view and edit)
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_edits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (use "git commit --amend" to amend the current commit)
@@ -438,10 +438,10 @@ test_expect_success 'status: (amend first edit) second edit and split' '
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last commands done (2 commands done):
-   edit $COMMIT2 two_edits
-   edit $COMMIT3 three_edits
+   edit $COMMIT2 # two_edits
+   edit $COMMIT3 # three_edits
 Next command to do (1 remaining command):
-   pick $COMMIT4 four_edits
+   pick $COMMIT4 # four_edits
   (use "git rebase --edit-todo" to view and edit)
 You are currently splitting a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_edits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (Once your working directory is clean, run "git rebase --continue")
@@ -474,10 +474,10 @@ test_expect_success 'status: (amend first edit) second edit and amend' '
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last commands done (2 commands done):
-   edit $COMMIT2 two_edits
-   edit $COMMIT3 three_edits
+   edit $COMMIT2 # two_edits
+   edit $COMMIT3 # three_edits
 Next command to do (1 remaining command):
-   pick $COMMIT4 four_edits
+   pick $COMMIT4 # four_edits
   (use "git rebase --edit-todo" to view and edit)
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_edits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (use "git commit --amend" to amend the current commit)
@@ -507,10 +507,10 @@ test_expect_success 'status: (split first edit) second edit' '
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last commands done (2 commands done):
-   edit $COMMIT2 two_edits
-   edit $COMMIT3 three_edits
+   edit $COMMIT2 # two_edits
+   edit $COMMIT3 # three_edits
 Next command to do (1 remaining command):
-   pick $COMMIT4 four_edits
+   pick $COMMIT4 # four_edits
   (use "git rebase --edit-todo" to view and edit)
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_edits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (use "git commit --amend" to amend the current commit)
@@ -541,10 +541,10 @@ test_expect_success 'status: (split first edit) second edit and split' '
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last commands done (2 commands done):
-   edit $COMMIT2 two_edits
-   edit $COMMIT3 three_edits
+   edit $COMMIT2 # two_edits
+   edit $COMMIT3 # three_edits
 Next command to do (1 remaining command):
-   pick $COMMIT4 four_edits
+   pick $COMMIT4 # four_edits
   (use "git rebase --edit-todo" to view and edit)
 You are currently splitting a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_edits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (Once your working directory is clean, run "git rebase --continue")
@@ -579,10 +579,10 @@ test_expect_success 'status: (split first edit) second edit and amend' '
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last commands done (2 commands done):
-   edit $COMMIT2 two_edits
-   edit $COMMIT3 three_edits
+   edit $COMMIT2 # two_edits
+   edit $COMMIT3 # three_edits
 Next command to do (1 remaining command):
-   pick $COMMIT4 four_edits
+   pick $COMMIT4 # four_edits
   (use "git rebase --edit-todo" to view and edit)
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_edits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (use "git commit --amend" to amend the current commit)
@@ -997,11 +997,11 @@ test_expect_success 'status: two commands done with some white lines in done fil
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last commands done (2 commands done):
-   pick $COMMIT2 two_commit
+   pick $COMMIT2 # two_commit
    exec exit 15
 Next commands to do (2 remaining commands):
-   pick $COMMIT3 three_commit
-   pick $COMMIT4 four_commit
+   pick $COMMIT3 # three_commit
+   pick $COMMIT4 # four_commit
   (use "git rebase --edit-todo" to view and edit)
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_commits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (use "git commit --amend" to amend the current commit)
@@ -1025,12 +1025,12 @@ test_expect_success 'status: two remaining commands with some white lines in tod
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last commands done (3 commands done):
-   pick $COMMIT2 two_commit
+   pick $COMMIT2 # two_commit
    exec exit 15
   (see more in file .git/rebase-merge/done)
 Next commands to do (2 remaining commands):
-   pick $COMMIT3 three_commit
-   pick $COMMIT4 four_commit
+   pick $COMMIT3 # three_commit
+   pick $COMMIT4 # four_commit
   (use "git rebase --edit-todo" to view and edit)
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_commits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (use "git commit --amend" to amend the current commit)
@@ -1050,7 +1050,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status: handle not-yet-started rebase -i gracefully' '
 On branch several_commits
 No commands done.
 Next command to do (1 remaining command):
-   pick $COMMIT four_commit
+   pick $COMMIT # four_commit
   (use "git rebase --edit-todo" to view and edit)
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_commits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (use "git commit --amend" to amend the current commit)

base-commit: 1a8a4971cc6c179c4dd711f4a7f5d7178f4b3ab7
-- 
gitgitgadget
Reto· May 15, 2025, 04:42 UTC · re: Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget · lore

Re: [PATCH] sequencer: make it clearer that commit descriptions are just comments

On Thu, May 15, 2025 at 02:20:27AM +0000, Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget wrote:
Show 5 quoted lines
> Every once in a while, users report that editing the commit summaries
> in the todo list does not get reflected in the rebase operation,
> suggesting that users are (a) only using one-line commit messages, and
> (b) not understanding that the commit summaries are merely helpful
> comments to help them find the right hashes.

As with everything in git, you can learn that this is the case. You could as well just add a explanatory comment to the footer.

Show 5 quoted lines
> It may be difficult to correct users' poor commit messages, but we can
> at least try to make it clearer that the commit summaries are not
> directives of some sort by inserting a comment character.  Hopefully
> that leads to them looking a little further and noticing the hints at
> the bottom to use 'reword' or 'edit' directives.

For fancy things/editors that recognize comments, this will *dim* the commit messages, to light grey or such. This is decidedly not what I'd like to happen at least. The commit messages there are my primary way of navigating the commit, given that I'm not learning the commit shas by hard ;)

While I appreciate the motivation, I don't think the comment string is a good approach here.

Cheers, Reto

Phillip Wood· May 15, 2025, 10:16 UTC · re: Reto · lore

Re: [PATCH] sequencer: make it clearer that commit descriptions are just comments

Hi Reto
On 15/05/2025 05:42, Reto wrote:
Show 13 quoted lines
> On Thu, May 15, 2025 at 02:20:27AM +0000, Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget wrote:
> 
>> It may be difficult to correct users' poor commit messages, but we can
>> at least try to make it clearer that the commit summaries are not
>> directives of some sort by inserting a comment character.  Hopefully
>> that leads to them looking a little further and noticing the hints at
>> the bottom to use 'reword' or 'edit' directives.
> 
> For fancy things/editors that recognize comments, this will *dim* the commit
> messages, to light grey or such.
> This is decidedly not what I'd like to happen at least. The commit messages
> there are my primary way of navigating the commit, given that I'm not learning
> the commit shas by hard ;)

As the commit message makes clear we already insert a '#' between the parents and subject line of a merge command. We also append '# empty' to empty commits. If there are editors that erroneously treat a '#' anywhere in the line as a comment they're already dimming things they shouldn't. A line in the todo list is only a comment if it starts with core.commentString which defaults to '#'. Editors that unconditionally treat '#' as the start of a comment are buggy.

> While I appreciate the motivation, I don't think the comment string is a
> good approach here.

As the commit message points out strictly speaking we're not using the comment string we using a fixed single character.

Best Wishes
Phillip
Phillip Wood· May 15, 2025, 10:19 UTC · re: Phillip Wood · lore

Re: [PATCH] sequencer: make it clearer that commit descriptions are just comments

Sorry I forgot to Cc the original author in the message below.
On 15/05/2025 11:16, Phillip Wood wrote:
Show 39 quoted lines
> Hi Reto
> 
> On 15/05/2025 05:42, Reto wrote:
>> On Thu, May 15, 2025 at 02:20:27AM +0000, Elijah Newren via 
>> GitGitGadget wrote:
>>
>>> It may be difficult to correct users' poor commit messages, but we can
>>> at least try to make it clearer that the commit summaries are not
>>> directives of some sort by inserting a comment character.  Hopefully
>>> that leads to them looking a little further and noticing the hints at
>>> the bottom to use 'reword' or 'edit' directives.
>>
>> For fancy things/editors that recognize comments, this will *dim* the 
>> commit
>> messages, to light grey or such.
>> This is decidedly not what I'd like to happen at least. The commit 
>> messages
>> there are my primary way of navigating the commit, given that I'm not 
>> learning
>> the commit shas by hard ;)
> 
> As the commit message makes clear we already insert a '#' between the 
> parents and subject line of a merge command. We also append '# empty' to 
> empty commits. If there are editors that erroneously treat a '#' 
> anywhere in the line as a comment they're already dimming things they 
> shouldn't. A line in the todo list is only a comment if it starts with 
> core.commentString which defaults to '#'. Editors that unconditionally 
> treat '#' as the start of a comment are buggy.
> 
>> While I appreciate the motivation, I don't think the comment string is a
>> good approach here.
> 
> As the commit message points out strictly speaking we're not using the 
> comment string we using a fixed single character.
> 
> Best Wishes
> 
> Phillip
> 
Phillip Wood· May 15, 2025, 13:02 UTC · re: Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget · lore

Re: [PATCH] sequencer: make it clearer that commit descriptions are just comments

Hi Elijah
On 15/05/2025 03:20, Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget wrote:
Show 75 quoted lines
> From: Elijah Newren <newren@gmail.com>
> 
> Every once in a while, users report that editing the commit summaries
> in the todo list does not get reflected in the rebase operation,
> suggesting that users are (a) only using one-line commit messages, and
> (b) not understanding that the commit summaries are merely helpful
> comments to help them find the right hashes.
> 
> It may be difficult to correct users' poor commit messages, but we can
> at least try to make it clearer that the commit summaries are not
> directives of some sort by inserting a comment character.  Hopefully
> that leads to them looking a little further and noticing the hints at
> the bottom to use 'reword' or 'edit' directives.
> 
> Yes, this change may look funny at first since it hardcodes '#' rather
> than using comment_line_str.  However:
> 
>    * comment_line_str exists to allow disambiguation between lines in
>      a commit message and lines that are instructions to users editing
>      the commit message.  No such disambiguation is needed for these
>      comments that occur on the same line after existing directives
>    * the exact "comment" character(s) on regular pick lines used aren't
>      actually important; I could have used anything, including completely
>      random variable length text for each line and it'd work because we
>      ignore everything after 'pick' and the hash.
>    * The whole point of this change is to signal to users that they
>      should NOT be editing any part of the line after the hash (and if
>      they do so, their edits will be ignored), while the whole point of
>      comment_line_str is to allow highly flexible editing.  So making
>      it more general by using comment_line_str actually feels
>      counterproductive.
>    * The character for merge directives absolutely must be '#'; that
>      has been deeply hardcoded for a long time (see below), and will
>      break if some other comment character is used instead.  In a
>      desire to have pick and merge directives be similar, I use the
>      same comment character for both.
>    * Perhaps merge directives could be fixed to not be inflexible about
>      the comment character used, if someone feels highly motivated, but
>      I think that should be done in a separate follow-on patch.
> 
> Here are (some of?) the locations where '#' has already been hardcoded
> for a long time for merges:
> 
>    1) In check_label_or_ref_arg():
> 	case TODO_LABEL:
> 		/*
> 		 * '#' is not a valid label as the merge command uses it to
> 		 * separate merge parents from the commit subject.
> 		 */
> 
>    2) In do_merge():
> 
> 	/*
> 	 * For octopus merges, the arg starts with the list of revisions to be
> 	 * merged. The list is optionally followed by '#' and the oneline.
> 	 */
> 	merge_arg_len = oneline_offset = arg_len;
> 	for (p = arg; p - arg < arg_len; p += strspn(p, " \t\n")) {
> 		if (!*p)
> 			break;
> 		if (*p == '#' && (!p[1] || isspace(p[1]))) {
> 
>    3) In label_oid():
> 
> 		if ((buf->len == the_hash_algo->hexsz &&
> 		     !get_oid_hex(label, &dummy)) ||
> 		    (buf->len == 1 && *label == '#') ||
> 		    hashmap_get_from_hash(&state->labels,
> 					  strihash(label), label)) {
> 			/*
> 			 * If the label already exists, or if the label is a
> 			 * valid full OID, or the label is a '#' (which we use
> 			 * as a separator between merge heads and oneline), we
> 			 * append a dash and a number to make it unique.
> 			 */

Thanks for the comprehensive commit message. I think this change is a very good idea. The code changes all look good to me. I've left one comment on the tests below though I should admit that I could feel my eyes glazing over by the time I got to the end of all the test changes. The test changes are pretty much all mechanical though so I'm reasonably confidant that the tests would fail if there was something wrong with the conversion.

Show 10 quoted lines
> diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
> index 47534f1062d..52a5e4c016b 100755
> --- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
> +++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
> @@ -813,7 +813,7 @@ test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase does not reapply old patches' '
>   		cd dst &&
>   		test_must_fail git pull --rebase &&
>   		cat .git/rebase-merge/done .git/rebase-merge/git-rebase-todo >work &&
> -		grep -v -e \# -e ^$ work >patches &&
> +		sed -e s/#.*// work | grep -v ^$ >patches &&
I think we could just use 'sed -n "!/^#/p work >patches &&" here
Thanks
Phillip
Junio C Hamano· May 15, 2025, 15:56 UTC · re: Phillip Wood · lore

Re: [PATCH] sequencer: make it clearer that commit descriptions are just comments

Phillip Wood <phillip.wood123@gmail.com> writes:
>> -		grep -v -e \# -e ^$ work >patches &&
>> +		sed -e s/#.*// work | grep -v ^$ >patches &&
>
> I think we could just use 'sed -n "!/^#/p work >patches &&" here
Or even "sed -e '/^#/d' -e '/^$/d'" ?
Ben Knoble· May 16, 2025, 12:04 UTC · re: Junio C Hamano · lore

Re: [PATCH] sequencer: make it clearer that commit descriptions are just comments

Show 10 quoted lines
> Le 15 mai 2025 à 11:56, Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com> a écrit :
> 
> Phillip Wood <phillip.wood123@gmail.com> writes:
> 
>>> -        grep -v -e \# -e ^$ work >patches &&
>>> +        sed -e s/#.*// work | grep -v ^$ >patches &&
>> 
>> I think we could just use 'sed -n "!/^#/p work >patches &&" here
> 
> Or even "sed -e '/^#/d' -e '/^$/d'" ?
I’m probably missing something obvious, but why step away from "grep -v -e ^\# -e ^$"? A one character change from the original ;) If we must go with Sed, I’d prefer Junio’s construct (combining, with obvious semantics via "d") over the sed|grep pipeline. 
Elijah Newren· May 16, 2025, 15:22 UTC · re: Ben Knoble · lore

Re: [PATCH] sequencer: make it clearer that commit descriptions are just comments

On Fri, May 16, 2025 at 7:07 AM Ben Knoble <ben.knoble@gmail.com> wrote:
Show 13 quoted lines
>
> > Le 15 mai 2025 à 11:56, Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com> a écrit :
> >
> > Phillip Wood <phillip.wood123@gmail.com> writes:
> >
> >>> -        grep -v -e \# -e ^$ work >patches &&
> >>> +        sed -e s/#.*// work | grep -v ^$ >patches &&
> >>
> >> I think we could just use 'sed -n "!/^#/p work >patches &&" here
> >
> > Or even "sed -e '/^#/d' -e '/^$/d'" ?
>
> I’m probably missing something obvious, but why step away from "grep -v -e ^\# -e ^$"? A one character change from the original ;) If we must go with Sed, I’d prefer Junio’s construct (combining, with obvious semantics via "d") over the sed|grep pipeline.

:-) I made this exact change to make it be a one-character modification of the original, and pushed it up yesterday (https://github.com/gitgitgadget/git/pull/1923); I just hadn't /submit'ted it to the list yet. I agree that every suggestion folks have made so far is better than my original proposal, but I kind of prefer this latest suggestion of just making a one-character modification. So, unless folks object, I'll indeed go with this one.

Junio C Hamano· May 16, 2025, 16:21 UTC · re: Ben Knoble · lore

Re: [PATCH] sequencer: make it clearer that commit descriptions are just comments

Ben Knoble <ben.knoble@gmail.com> writes:
Show 12 quoted lines
>> Le 15 mai 2025 à 11:56, Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com> a écrit :
>> 
>> Phillip Wood <phillip.wood123@gmail.com> writes:
>> 
>>>> -        grep -v -e \# -e ^$ work >patches &&
>>>> +        sed -e s/#.*// work | grep -v ^$ >patches &&
>>> 
>>> I think we could just use 'sed -n "!/^#/p work >patches &&" here
>> 
>> Or even "sed -e '/^#/d' -e '/^$/d'" ?
>
> I’m probably missing something obvious, but why step away from "grep -v -e ^\# -e ^$"? A one character change from the original ;) If we must go with Sed, I’d prefer Junio’s construct (combining, with obvious semantics via "d") over the sed|grep pipeline. 

Mine was a spinal reflex against piping sed and grep; I do not see a reason why "grep -v" with two patterns like you gave should not work---that is a good way to remove the pipe, too.

Thanks.
Junio C Hamano· May 15, 2025, 13:58 UTC · re: Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget · lore

Re: [PATCH] sequencer: make it clearer that commit descriptions are just comments

"Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget" <gitgitgadget@gmail.com> writes:
Show 9 quoted lines
> suggesting that users are (a) only using one-line commit messages, and
> (b) not understanding that the commit summaries are merely helpful
> comments to help them find the right hashes.
>
> It may be difficult to correct users' poor commit messages, but we can
> at least try to make it clearer that the commit summaries are not
> directives of some sort by inserting a comment character.  Hopefully
> that leads to them looking a little further and noticing the hints at
> the bottom to use 'reword' or 'edit' directives.
Cute and clever.
Show 9 quoted lines
>  Last commands done (2 commands done):
> -   pick $COMMIT2 two_split
> -   edit $COMMIT3 three_split
> +   pick $COMMIT2 # two_split
> +   edit $COMMIT3 # three_split
>  Next command to do (1 remaining command):
> -   pick $COMMIT4 four_split
> +   pick $COMMIT4 # four_split
>    (use "git rebase --edit-todo" to view and edit)

These show the intentions quite well. I think all places the addition of '#' is done at the output layer, and the matching of commits for the purpose of --autosquash should be done solely using the internal representation without '#', this change should not break anything, I would think, that we internally have.

Breaking custom todo-editors the users may have is a different story, but if they are somehow matching against the first line of the commit log message when there prominently is a short-but-unique commit object name, they are simply crazy and not worth worrying about, I would say ;-)

Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget· May 16, 2025, 16:26 UTC · re: Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget · lore

[PATCH v2] sequencer: make it clearer that commit descriptions are just comments

From: Elijah Newren <newren@gmail.com>

Every once in a while, users report that editing the commit summaries in the todo list does not get reflected in the rebase operation, suggesting that users are (a) only using one-line commit messages, and (b) not understanding that the commit summaries are merely helpful comments to help them find the right hashes.

It may be difficult to correct users' poor commit messages, but we can at least try to make it clearer that the commit summaries are not directives of some sort by inserting a comment character. Hopefully that leads to them looking a little further and noticing the hints at the bottom to use 'reword' or 'edit' directives.

Yes, this change may look funny at first since it hardcodes '#' rather than using comment_line_str. However:

  * comment_line_str exists to allow disambiguation between lines in
    a commit message and lines that are instructions to users editing
    the commit message.  No such disambiguation is needed for these
    comments that occur on the same line after existing directives
  * the exact "comment" character(s) on regular pick lines used aren't
    actually important; I could have used anything, including completely
    random variable length text for each line and it'd work because we
    ignore everything after 'pick' and the hash.
  * The whole point of this change is to signal to users that they
    should NOT be editing any part of the line after the hash (and if
    they do so, their edits will be ignored), while the whole point of
    comment_line_str is to allow highly flexible editing.  So making
    it more general by using comment_line_str actually feels
    counterproductive.
  * The character for merge directives absolutely must be '#'; that
    has been deeply hardcoded for a long time (see below), and will
    break if some other comment character is used instead.  In a
    desire to have pick and merge directives be similar, I use the
    same comment character for both.
  * Perhaps merge directives could be fixed to not be inflexible about
    the comment character used, if someone feels highly motivated, but
    I think that should be done in a separate follow-on patch.

Here are (some of?) the locations where '#' has already been hardcoded for a long time for merges:

  1) In check_label_or_ref_arg():
	case TODO_LABEL:
		/*
		 * '#' is not a valid label as the merge command uses it to
		 * separate merge parents from the commit subject.
		 */
  2) In do_merge():
	/*
	 * For octopus merges, the arg starts with the list of revisions to be
	 * merged. The list is optionally followed by '#' and the oneline.
	 */
	merge_arg_len = oneline_offset = arg_len;
	for (p = arg; p - arg < arg_len; p += strspn(p, " \t\n")) {
		if (!*p)
			break;
		if (*p == '#' && (!p[1] || isspace(p[1]))) {
  3) In label_oid():
		if ((buf->len == the_hash_algo->hexsz &&
		     !get_oid_hex(label, &dummy)) ||
		    (buf->len == 1 && *label == '#') ||
		    hashmap_get_from_hash(&state->labels,
					  strihash(label), label)) {
			/*
			 * If the label already exists, or if the label is a
			 * valid full OID, or the label is a '#' (which we use
			 * as a separator between merge heads and oneline), we
			 * append a dash and a number to make it unique.
			 */
Signed-off-by: Elijah Newren <newren@gmail.com>
---
    sequencer: make it clearer that commit descriptions are just comments
    
    Changes since v1:
    
     * Simplified the change to t5520 down to a single character change
Published-As: https://github.com/gitgitgadget/git/releases/tag/pr-1923%2Fnewren%2Fsequencer-todo-commit-msgs-are-comments-v2
Fetch-It-Via: git fetch https://github.com/gitgitgadget/git pr-1923/newren/sequencer-todo-commit-msgs-are-comments-v2
Pull-Request: https://github.com/gitgitgadget/git/pull/1923
Range-diff vs v1:
 1:  e5f3d7059e4 ! 1:  5d290203d62 sequencer: make it clearer that commit descriptions are just comments
     @@ t/t5520-pull.sh: test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase does not reapply old pat
       		test_must_fail git pull --rebase &&
       		cat .git/rebase-merge/done .git/rebase-merge/git-rebase-todo >work &&
      -		grep -v -e \# -e ^$ work >patches &&
     -+		sed -e s/#.*// work | grep -v ^$ >patches &&
     ++		grep -v -e ^\# -e ^$ work >patches &&
       		test_line_count = 1 patches &&
       		rm -f work
       	)
 sequencer.c                   | 16 +++++--
 t/t3404-rebase-interactive.sh | 54 +++++++++++-----------
 t/t3415-rebase-autosquash.sh  | 14 +++---
 t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh      | 10 ++--
 t/t5520-pull.sh               |  2 +-
 t/t7512-status-help.sh        | 86 +++++++++++++++++------------------
 6 files changed, 94 insertions(+), 88 deletions(-)
Show changes to 6 files +94 −88

sequencer.c, t/t3404-rebase-interactive.sh, t/t3415-rebase-autosquash.sh, t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh, t/t5520-pull.sh, t/t7512-status-help.sh

diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index b5c4043757e..2735966544b 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -5901,11 +5901,11 @@ static int make_script_with_merges(struct pretty_print_context *pp,
 
 		/* Create a label from the commit message */
 		strbuf_reset(&label_from_message);
-		if (skip_prefix(oneline.buf, "Merge ", &p1) &&
+		if (skip_prefix(oneline.buf, "# Merge ", &p1) &&
 		    (p1 = strchr(p1, '\'')) &&
 		    (p2 = strchr(++p1, '\'')))
 			strbuf_add(&label_from_message, p1, p2 - p1);
-		else if (skip_prefix(oneline.buf, "Merge pull request ",
+		else if (skip_prefix(oneline.buf, "# Merge pull request ",
 				     &p1) &&
 			 (p1 = strstr(p1, " from ")))
 			strbuf_addstr(&label_from_message, p1 + strlen(" from "));
@@ -5940,7 +5940,7 @@ static int make_script_with_merges(struct pretty_print_context *pp,
 
 			strbuf_addstr(&buf, label_oid(oid, label, &state));
 		}
-		strbuf_addf(&buf, " # %s", oneline.buf);
+		strbuf_addf(&buf, " %s", oneline.buf);
 
 		FLEX_ALLOC_STR(entry, string, buf.buf);
 		oidcpy(&entry->entry.oid, &commit->object.oid);
@@ -6022,7 +6022,7 @@ static int make_script_with_merges(struct pretty_print_context *pp,
 			else {
 				strbuf_reset(&oneline);
 				pretty_print_commit(pp, commit, &oneline);
-				strbuf_addf(out, "%s %s # %s\n",
+				strbuf_addf(out, "%s %s %s\n",
 					    cmd_reset, to, oneline.buf);
 			}
 		}
@@ -6090,8 +6090,14 @@ int sequencer_make_script(struct repository *r, struct strbuf *out, int argc,
 	git_config_get_string("rebase.instructionFormat", &format);
 	if (!format || !*format) {
 		free(format);
-		format = xstrdup("%s");
+		format = xstrdup("# %s");
 	}
+	if (*format != '#') {
+		char *temp = format;
+		format = xstrfmt("# %s", temp);
+		free(temp);
+	}
+
 	get_commit_format(format, &revs);
 	free(format);
 	pp.fmt = revs.commit_format;
diff --git a/t/t3404-rebase-interactive.sh b/t/t3404-rebase-interactive.sh
index 2aee9789a2f..6bac217ed35 100755
--- a/t/t3404-rebase-interactive.sh
+++ b/t/t3404-rebase-interactive.sh
@@ -1468,7 +1468,7 @@ test_expect_success 'rebase -i respects rebase.missingCommitsCheck = warn' '
 	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
 	Warning: some commits may have been dropped accidentally.
 	Dropped commits (newer to older):
-	 - $(git rev-list --pretty=oneline --abbrev-commit -1 primary)
+	 - $(git log --format="%h # %s" -1 primary)
 	To avoid this message, use "drop" to explicitly remove a commit.
 	EOF
 	test_config rebase.missingCommitsCheck warn &&
@@ -1486,8 +1486,8 @@ test_expect_success 'rebase -i respects rebase.missingCommitsCheck = error' '
 	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
 	Warning: some commits may have been dropped accidentally.
 	Dropped commits (newer to older):
-	 - $(git rev-list --pretty=oneline --abbrev-commit -1 primary)
-	 - $(git rev-list --pretty=oneline --abbrev-commit -1 primary~2)
+	 - $(git log --format="%h # %s" -1 primary)
+	 - $(git log --format="%h # %s" -1 primary~2)
 	To avoid this message, use "drop" to explicitly remove a commit.
 
 	Use '\''git config rebase.missingCommitsCheck'\'' to change the level of warnings.
@@ -1530,11 +1530,11 @@ test_expect_success 'rebase --edit-todo respects rebase.missingCommitsCheck = ig
 test_expect_success 'rebase --edit-todo respects rebase.missingCommitsCheck = warn' '
 	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
 	error: invalid command '\''pickled'\''
-	error: invalid line 1: pickled $(git rev-list --pretty=oneline --abbrev-commit -1 primary~4)
+	error: invalid line 1: pickled $(git log --format="%h # %s" -1 primary~4)
 	Warning: some commits may have been dropped accidentally.
 	Dropped commits (newer to older):
-	 - $(git rev-list --pretty=oneline --abbrev-commit -1 primary)
-	 - $(git rev-list --pretty=oneline --abbrev-commit -1 primary~4)
+	 - $(git log --format="%h # %s" -1 primary)
+	 - $(git log --format="%h # %s" -1 primary~4)
 	To avoid this message, use "drop" to explicitly remove a commit.
 	EOF
 	head -n5 expect >expect.2 &&
@@ -1565,11 +1565,11 @@ test_expect_success 'rebase --edit-todo respects rebase.missingCommitsCheck = wa
 test_expect_success 'rebase --edit-todo respects rebase.missingCommitsCheck = error' '
 	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
 	error: invalid command '\''pickled'\''
-	error: invalid line 1: pickled $(git rev-list --pretty=oneline --abbrev-commit -1 primary~4)
+	error: invalid line 1: pickled $(git log --format="%h # %s" -1 primary~4)
 	Warning: some commits may have been dropped accidentally.
 	Dropped commits (newer to older):
-	 - $(git rev-list --pretty=oneline --abbrev-commit -1 primary)
-	 - $(git rev-list --pretty=oneline --abbrev-commit -1 primary~4)
+	 - $(git log --format="%h # %s" -1 primary)
+	 - $(git log --format="%h # %s" -1 primary~4)
 	To avoid this message, use "drop" to explicitly remove a commit.
 
 	Use '\''git config rebase.missingCommitsCheck'\'' to change the level of warnings.
@@ -1642,11 +1642,11 @@ test_expect_success 'respects rebase.abbreviateCommands with fixup, squash and e
 	test_commit "fixup! first" file2.txt "first line again" first_fixup &&
 	test_commit "squash! second" file1.txt "another line here" second_squash &&
 	cat >expected <<-EOF &&
-	p $(git rev-list --abbrev-commit -1 first) first
-	f $(git rev-list --abbrev-commit -1 first_fixup) fixup! first
+	p $(git rev-list --abbrev-commit -1 first) # first
+	f $(git rev-list --abbrev-commit -1 first_fixup) # fixup! first
 	x git show HEAD
-	p $(git rev-list --abbrev-commit -1 second) second
-	s $(git rev-list --abbrev-commit -1 second_squash) squash! second
+	p $(git rev-list --abbrev-commit -1 second) # second
+	s $(git rev-list --abbrev-commit -1 second_squash) # squash! second
 	x git show HEAD
 	EOF
 	git checkout abbrevcmd &&
@@ -1665,7 +1665,7 @@ test_expect_success 'static check of bad command' '
 		set_fake_editor &&
 		test_must_fail env FAKE_LINES="1 2 3 bad 4 5" \
 		git rebase -i --root 2>actual &&
-		test_grep "pickled $(git rev-list --oneline -1 primary~1)" \
+		test_grep "pickled $(git log --format="%h # %s" -1 primary~1)" \
 				actual &&
 		test_grep "You can fix this with .git rebase --edit-todo.." \
 				actual &&
@@ -1865,15 +1865,15 @@ test_expect_success '--update-refs adds label and update-ref commands' '
 		set_cat_todo_editor &&
 
 		cat >expect <<-EOF &&
-		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h J) J
-		fixup $(git log -1 --format=%h update-refs) fixup! J # empty
+		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h J) # J
+		fixup $(git log -1 --format=%h update-refs) # fixup! J # empty
 		update-ref refs/heads/second
 		update-ref refs/heads/first
-		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h K) K
-		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h L) L
-		fixup $(git log -1 --format=%h is-not-reordered) fixup! L # empty
+		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h K) # K
+		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h L) # L
+		fixup $(git log -1 --format=%h is-not-reordered) # fixup! L # empty
 		update-ref refs/heads/third
-		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h M) M
+		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h M) # M
 		update-ref refs/heads/no-conflict-branch
 		update-ref refs/heads/is-not-reordered
 		update-ref refs/heads/shared-tip
@@ -1905,19 +1905,19 @@ test_expect_success '--update-refs adds commands with --rebase-merges' '
 		cat >expect <<-EOF &&
 		label onto
 		reset onto
-		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h branch2~1) F
-		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h branch2) I
+		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h branch2~1) # F
+		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h branch2) # I
 		update-ref refs/heads/branch2
 		label branch2
 		reset onto
-		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h refs/heads/second) J
+		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h refs/heads/second) # J
 		update-ref refs/heads/second
 		update-ref refs/heads/first
-		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h refs/heads/third~1) K
-		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h refs/heads/third) L
-		fixup $(git log -1 --format=%h update-refs-with-merge) fixup! L # empty
+		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h refs/heads/third~1) # K
+		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h refs/heads/third) # L
+		fixup $(git log -1 --format=%h update-refs-with-merge) # fixup! L # empty
 		update-ref refs/heads/third
-		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h HEAD~2) M
+		pick $(git log -1 --format=%h HEAD~2) # M
 		update-ref refs/heads/no-conflict-branch
 		merge -C $(git log -1 --format=%h HEAD~1) branch2 # merge
 		update-ref refs/heads/merge-branch
diff --git a/t/t3415-rebase-autosquash.sh b/t/t3415-rebase-autosquash.sh
index fcc40d6fe1f..26b42a526a1 100755
--- a/t/t3415-rebase-autosquash.sh
+++ b/t/t3415-rebase-autosquash.sh
@@ -257,8 +257,8 @@ test_expect_success 'auto squash of fixup commit that matches branch name which
 	GIT_SEQUENCE_EDITOR="cat >tmp" git rebase --autosquash -i HEAD^^ &&
 	sed -ne "/^[^#]/{s/[0-9a-f]\{7,\}/HASH/g;p;}" tmp >actual &&
 	cat <<-EOF >expect &&
-	pick HASH second commit
-	pick HASH fixup! self-cycle # empty
+	pick HASH # second commit
+	pick HASH # fixup! self-cycle # empty
 	EOF
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
@@ -311,10 +311,10 @@ test_auto_fixup_fixup () {
 		parent2=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD^^) &&
 		parent3=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD^^^) &&
 		cat >expected <<-EOF &&
-		pick $parent3 first commit
-		$1 $parent1 $1! first
-		$1 $head $1! $2! first
-		pick $parent2 second commit
+		pick $parent3 # first commit
+		$1 $parent1 # $1! first
+		$1 $head # $1! $2! first
+		pick $parent2 # second commit
 		EOF
 		test_cmp expected actual
 	) &&
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@ test_expect_success 'autosquash with empty custom instructionFormat' '
 		set_cat_todo_editor &&
 		test_must_fail git -c rebase.instructionFormat= \
 			rebase --autosquash  --force-rebase -i HEAD^ >actual &&
-		git log -1 --format="pick %h %s" >expect &&
+		git log -1 --format="pick %h # %s" >expect &&
 		test_cmp expect actual
 	)
 '
diff --git a/t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh b/t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh
index b84d68c4b96..5f8fa05420c 100755
--- a/t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh
+++ b/t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh
@@ -106,18 +106,18 @@ test_expect_success 'generate correct todo list' '
 	label onto
 
 	reset onto
-	pick $b B
+	pick $b # B
 	label first
 
 	reset onto
-	pick $c C
+	pick $c # C
 	label branch-point
-	pick $f F
-	pick $g G
+	pick $f # F
+	pick $g # G
 	label second
 
 	reset branch-point # C
-	pick $d D
+	pick $d # D
 	merge -C $e first # E
 	merge -C $h second # H
 
diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 47534f1062d..63c9a8f04b1 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -813,7 +813,7 @@ test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase does not reapply old patches' '
 		cd dst &&
 		test_must_fail git pull --rebase &&
 		cat .git/rebase-merge/done .git/rebase-merge/git-rebase-todo >work &&
-		grep -v -e \# -e ^$ work >patches &&
+		grep -v -e ^\# -e ^$ work >patches &&
 		test_line_count = 1 patches &&
 		rm -f work
 	)
diff --git a/t/t7512-status-help.sh b/t/t7512-status-help.sh
index 802f8f704c6..25e8e9711f8 100755
--- a/t/t7512-status-help.sh
+++ b/t/t7512-status-help.sh
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status during rebase -i when conflicts unresolved' '
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last command done (1 command done):
-   pick $LAST_COMMIT one_second
+   pick $LAST_COMMIT # one_second
 No commands remaining.
 You are currently rebasing branch '\''rebase_i_conflicts_second'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (fix conflicts and then run "git rebase --continue")
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status during rebase -i after resolving conflicts' '
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last command done (1 command done):
-   pick $LAST_COMMIT one_second
+   pick $LAST_COMMIT # one_second
 No commands remaining.
 You are currently rebasing branch '\''rebase_i_conflicts_second'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (all conflicts fixed: run "git rebase --continue")
@@ -200,8 +200,8 @@ test_expect_success 'status when rebasing -i in edit mode' '
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last commands done (2 commands done):
-   pick $COMMIT2 two_rebase_i
-   edit $COMMIT3 three_rebase_i
+   pick $COMMIT2 # two_rebase_i
+   edit $COMMIT3 # three_rebase_i
 No commands remaining.
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''rebase_i_edit'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (use "git commit --amend" to amend the current commit)
@@ -233,10 +233,10 @@ test_expect_success 'status when splitting a commit' '
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last commands done (2 commands done):
-   pick $COMMIT2 two_split
-   edit $COMMIT3 three_split
+   pick $COMMIT2 # two_split
+   edit $COMMIT3 # three_split
 Next command to do (1 remaining command):
-   pick $COMMIT4 four_split
+   pick $COMMIT4 # four_split
   (use "git rebase --edit-todo" to view and edit)
 You are currently splitting a commit while rebasing branch '\''split_commit'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (Once your working directory is clean, run "git rebase --continue")
@@ -271,8 +271,8 @@ test_expect_success 'status after editing the last commit with --amend during a
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last commands done (3 commands done):
-   pick $COMMIT3 three_amend
-   edit $COMMIT4 four_amend
+   pick $COMMIT3 # three_amend
+   edit $COMMIT4 # four_amend
   (see more in file .git/rebase-merge/done)
 No commands remaining.
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''amend_last'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
@@ -309,10 +309,10 @@ test_expect_success 'status: (continue first edit) second edit' '
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last commands done (2 commands done):
-   edit $COMMIT2 two_edits
-   edit $COMMIT3 three_edits
+   edit $COMMIT2 # two_edits
+   edit $COMMIT3 # three_edits
 Next command to do (1 remaining command):
-   pick $COMMIT4 four_edits
+   pick $COMMIT4 # four_edits
   (use "git rebase --edit-todo" to view and edit)
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_edits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (use "git commit --amend" to amend the current commit)
@@ -340,10 +340,10 @@ test_expect_success 'status: (continue first edit) second edit and split' '
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last commands done (2 commands done):
-   edit $COMMIT2 two_edits
-   edit $COMMIT3 three_edits
+   edit $COMMIT2 # two_edits
+   edit $COMMIT3 # three_edits
 Next command to do (1 remaining command):
-   pick $COMMIT4 four_edits
+   pick $COMMIT4 # four_edits
   (use "git rebase --edit-todo" to view and edit)
 You are currently splitting a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_edits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (Once your working directory is clean, run "git rebase --continue")
@@ -375,10 +375,10 @@ test_expect_success 'status: (continue first edit) second edit and amend' '
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last commands done (2 commands done):
-   edit $COMMIT2 two_edits
-   edit $COMMIT3 three_edits
+   edit $COMMIT2 # two_edits
+   edit $COMMIT3 # three_edits
 Next command to do (1 remaining command):
-   pick $COMMIT4 four_edits
+   pick $COMMIT4 # four_edits
   (use "git rebase --edit-todo" to view and edit)
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_edits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (use "git commit --amend" to amend the current commit)
@@ -406,10 +406,10 @@ test_expect_success 'status: (amend first edit) second edit' '
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last commands done (2 commands done):
-   edit $COMMIT2 two_edits
-   edit $COMMIT3 three_edits
+   edit $COMMIT2 # two_edits
+   edit $COMMIT3 # three_edits
 Next command to do (1 remaining command):
-   pick $COMMIT4 four_edits
+   pick $COMMIT4 # four_edits
   (use "git rebase --edit-todo" to view and edit)
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_edits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (use "git commit --amend" to amend the current commit)
@@ -438,10 +438,10 @@ test_expect_success 'status: (amend first edit) second edit and split' '
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last commands done (2 commands done):
-   edit $COMMIT2 two_edits
-   edit $COMMIT3 three_edits
+   edit $COMMIT2 # two_edits
+   edit $COMMIT3 # three_edits
 Next command to do (1 remaining command):
-   pick $COMMIT4 four_edits
+   pick $COMMIT4 # four_edits
   (use "git rebase --edit-todo" to view and edit)
 You are currently splitting a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_edits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (Once your working directory is clean, run "git rebase --continue")
@@ -474,10 +474,10 @@ test_expect_success 'status: (amend first edit) second edit and amend' '
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last commands done (2 commands done):
-   edit $COMMIT2 two_edits
-   edit $COMMIT3 three_edits
+   edit $COMMIT2 # two_edits
+   edit $COMMIT3 # three_edits
 Next command to do (1 remaining command):
-   pick $COMMIT4 four_edits
+   pick $COMMIT4 # four_edits
   (use "git rebase --edit-todo" to view and edit)
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_edits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (use "git commit --amend" to amend the current commit)
@@ -507,10 +507,10 @@ test_expect_success 'status: (split first edit) second edit' '
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last commands done (2 commands done):
-   edit $COMMIT2 two_edits
-   edit $COMMIT3 three_edits
+   edit $COMMIT2 # two_edits
+   edit $COMMIT3 # three_edits
 Next command to do (1 remaining command):
-   pick $COMMIT4 four_edits
+   pick $COMMIT4 # four_edits
   (use "git rebase --edit-todo" to view and edit)
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_edits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (use "git commit --amend" to amend the current commit)
@@ -541,10 +541,10 @@ test_expect_success 'status: (split first edit) second edit and split' '
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last commands done (2 commands done):
-   edit $COMMIT2 two_edits
-   edit $COMMIT3 three_edits
+   edit $COMMIT2 # two_edits
+   edit $COMMIT3 # three_edits
 Next command to do (1 remaining command):
-   pick $COMMIT4 four_edits
+   pick $COMMIT4 # four_edits
   (use "git rebase --edit-todo" to view and edit)
 You are currently splitting a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_edits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (Once your working directory is clean, run "git rebase --continue")
@@ -579,10 +579,10 @@ test_expect_success 'status: (split first edit) second edit and amend' '
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last commands done (2 commands done):
-   edit $COMMIT2 two_edits
-   edit $COMMIT3 three_edits
+   edit $COMMIT2 # two_edits
+   edit $COMMIT3 # three_edits
 Next command to do (1 remaining command):
-   pick $COMMIT4 four_edits
+   pick $COMMIT4 # four_edits
   (use "git rebase --edit-todo" to view and edit)
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_edits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (use "git commit --amend" to amend the current commit)
@@ -997,11 +997,11 @@ test_expect_success 'status: two commands done with some white lines in done fil
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last commands done (2 commands done):
-   pick $COMMIT2 two_commit
+   pick $COMMIT2 # two_commit
    exec exit 15
 Next commands to do (2 remaining commands):
-   pick $COMMIT3 three_commit
-   pick $COMMIT4 four_commit
+   pick $COMMIT3 # three_commit
+   pick $COMMIT4 # four_commit
   (use "git rebase --edit-todo" to view and edit)
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_commits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (use "git commit --amend" to amend the current commit)
@@ -1025,12 +1025,12 @@ test_expect_success 'status: two remaining commands with some white lines in tod
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
 interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 Last commands done (3 commands done):
-   pick $COMMIT2 two_commit
+   pick $COMMIT2 # two_commit
    exec exit 15
   (see more in file .git/rebase-merge/done)
 Next commands to do (2 remaining commands):
-   pick $COMMIT3 three_commit
-   pick $COMMIT4 four_commit
+   pick $COMMIT3 # three_commit
+   pick $COMMIT4 # four_commit
   (use "git rebase --edit-todo" to view and edit)
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_commits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (use "git commit --amend" to amend the current commit)
@@ -1050,7 +1050,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status: handle not-yet-started rebase -i gracefully' '
 On branch several_commits
 No commands done.
 Next command to do (1 remaining command):
-   pick $COMMIT four_commit
+   pick $COMMIT # four_commit
   (use "git rebase --edit-todo" to view and edit)
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_commits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (use "git commit --amend" to amend the current commit)

base-commit: 1a8a4971cc6c179c4dd711f4a7f5d7178f4b3ab7
-- 
gitgitgadget

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