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9080a7f178
While we have multiple ways to show the value of a given reference, we
do not have any way to check whether a reference exists at all. While
commands like git-rev-parse(1) or git-show-ref(1) can be used to check
for reference existence in case the reference resolves to something
sane, neither of them can be used to check for existence in some other
scenarios where the reference does not resolve cleanly:
- References which have an invalid name cannot be resolved.
- References to nonexistent objects cannot be resolved.
- Dangling symrefs can be resolved via git-symbolic-ref(1), but this
requires the caller to special case existence checks depending on
whether or not a reference is symbolic or direct.
Furthermore, git-rev-list(1) and other commands do not let the caller
distinguish easily between an actually missing reference and a generic
error.
Taken together, this seems like sufficient motivation to introduce a
separate plumbing command to explicitly check for the existence of a
reference without trying to resolve its contents.
This new command comes in the form of `git show-ref --exists`. This
new mode will exit successfully when the reference exists, with a
specific exit code of 2 when it does not exist, or with 1 when there
has been a generic error.
Note that the only way to properly implement this command is by using
the internal `refs_read_raw_ref()` function. While the public function
`refs_resolve_ref_unsafe()` can be made to behave in the same way by
passing various flags, it does not provide any way to obtain the errno
with which the reference backend failed when reading the reference. As
such, it becomes impossible for us to distinguish generic errors from
the explicit case where the reference wasn't found.
Signed-off-by: Patrick Steinhardt <ps@pks.im>
Signed-off-by: Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>
Git - fast, scalable, distributed revision control system
Git is a fast, scalable, distributed revision control system with an unusually rich command set that provides both high-level operations and full access to internals.
Git is an Open Source project covered by the GNU General Public License version 2 (some parts of it are under different licenses, compatible with the GPLv2). It was originally written by Linus Torvalds with help of a group of hackers around the net.
Please read the file INSTALL for installation instructions.
Many Git online resources are accessible from https://git-scm.com/ including full documentation and Git related tools.
See Documentation/gittutorial.txt to get started, then see
Documentation/giteveryday.txt for a useful minimum set of commands, and
Documentation/git-<commandname>.txt for documentation of each command.
If git has been correctly installed, then the tutorial can also be
read with man gittutorial or git help tutorial, and the
documentation of each command with man git-<commandname> or git help <commandname>.
CVS users may also want to read Documentation/gitcvs-migration.txt
(man gitcvs-migration or git help cvs-migration if git is
installed).
The user discussion and development of Git take place on the Git mailing list -- everyone is welcome to post bug reports, feature requests, comments and patches to git@vger.kernel.org (read Documentation/SubmittingPatches for instructions on patch submission and Documentation/CodingGuidelines).
Those wishing to help with error message, usage and informational message
string translations (localization l10) should see po/README.md
(a po file is a Portable Object file that holds the translations).
To subscribe to the list, send an email with just "subscribe git" in the body to majordomo@vger.kernel.org (not the Git list). The mailing list archives are available at https://lore.kernel.org/git/, http://marc.info/?l=git and other archival sites.
Issues which are security relevant should be disclosed privately to the Git Security mailing list git-security@googlegroups.com.
The maintainer frequently sends the "What's cooking" reports that list the current status of various development topics to the mailing list. The discussion following them give a good reference for project status, development direction and remaining tasks.
The name "git" was given by Linus Torvalds when he wrote the very first version. He described the tool as "the stupid content tracker" and the name as (depending on your mood):
- random three-letter combination that is pronounceable, and not actually used by any common UNIX command. The fact that it is a mispronunciation of "get" may or may not be relevant.
- stupid. contemptible and despicable. simple. Take your pick from the dictionary of slang.
- "global information tracker": you're in a good mood, and it actually works for you. Angels sing, and a light suddenly fills the room.
- "goddamn idiotic truckload of sh*t": when it breaks