`cat-file --filter` is broken in 2.50?

Dan Pristupov· Jun 30, 2025, 16:07 UTC · lore

Hi,

`cat-file --filter` stopped working in git 2.50.

``` $ git version git version 2.47.1.windows.2

$ git cat-file --filter "HEAD:changelog.md" <content> ```

``` $ git version git version 2.50.0.windows.1

$ git cat-file --filter "HEAD:changelog.md" fatal: invalid filter-spec 'HEAD:changelog.md' ```

The problem was introduced at eb83e4c64b5a3458569593c2ab0c29365f10a82f.

Then it was merged into the main branch by a271b05066a1fd2c3a62508d9908d6c5df14a1cb.

This seems like a bug.

Phillip Wood· Jun 30, 2025, 17:06 UTC · re: Dan Pristupov · lore

Re: `cat-file --filter` is broken in 2.50?

Hi Dan

On 30/06/2025 17:07, Dan Pristupov wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> `cat-file --filter` stopped working in git 2.50.

cat-file did not have a "--filter" option before 2.50. The option you are looking for is "--filters". As git accepts unambiguous abbreviations for long options "--filter" used to match "--filters" but now it is a separate option. Being able to use abbreviated option names is useful at the command line but they are best avoided in scripts.

Best Wishes

Phillip

Show 25 quoted lines

> 
> ```
> $ git version
> git version 2.47.1.windows.2
> 
> $ git cat-file --filter "HEAD:changelog.md"
> <content>
> ```
> 
> ```
> $ git version
> git version 2.50.0.windows.1
> 
> $ git cat-file --filter "HEAD:changelog.md"
> fatal: invalid filter-spec 'HEAD:changelog.md'
> ```
> 
> The problem was introduced at eb83e4c64b5a3458569593c2ab0c29365f10a82f.
> 
> Then it was merged into the main branch by 
> a271b05066a1fd2c3a62508d9908d6c5df14a1cb.
> 
> This seems like a bug.
> 
>