From: "Kristoffer Haugsbakk" <kristofferhaugsbakk@fastmail•com>
To: "Patrick Steinhardt" <ps@pks•im>, git@vger•kernel.org
Cc: "Karthik Nayak" <karthik.188@gmail•com>,
"Justin Tobler" <jltobler@gmail•com>,
"Junio C Hamano" <gitster@pobox•com>,
"SZEDER Gábor" <szeder.dev@gmail•com>,
"Toon Claes" <toon@iotcl•com>
Subject: Re: [PATCH v2 4/8] builtin/reflog: implement subcommand to write new entries
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 17:33:32 +0200 [thread overview]
Message-ID: <6414dbfd-6f34-48d1-aa3f-3fe7998f80af@app.fastmail.com> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <20250725-pks-reflog-append-v2-4-e4e7cbe3f578@pks.im>
On Fri, Jul 25, 2025, at 08:58, Patrick Steinhardt wrote:
> While we provide a couple of subcommands in git-reflog(1) to remove
> reflog entries, we don't provide any to write new entries. Obviously
> this is not an operation that really would be needed for many use cases
> out there, or otherwise people would have complained that such a command
> does not exist yet.
This command will allow you to write a simpler unique marker (without
having to make a marker-ref for a ref) that can be used to find back to
a specific point.
I’ve had some use for that. I used git-update-ref(1) for that because
of `-m` (as well as plumbing-for-scripting).
> diff --git a/Documentation/git-reflog.adoc
> b/Documentation/git-reflog.adoc
> index c3801b82fb6..c8389810273 100644
> --- a/Documentation/git-reflog.adoc
> +++ b/Documentation/git-reflog.adoc
> @@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ SYNOPSIS
> git reflog [show] [<log-options>] [<ref>]
> git reflog list
> git reflog exists <ref>
> +git reflog write <ref> <old-oid> <new-oid> <message>
> git reflog delete [--rewrite] [--updateref]
> [--dry-run | -n] [--verbose] <ref>@{<specifier>}...
> git reflog drop [--all [--single-worktree] | <refs>...]
> @@ -47,6 +48,12 @@ The "exists" subcommand checks whether a ref has a
> reflog. It exits
> with zero status if the reflog exists, and non-zero status if it does
> not.
>
> +The "write" subcommand writes a single entry to the reflog of a given
> +reference. This new entry is appended to the reflog and will thus become
> +the most recent entry. Both the old and new object IDs must not be
> +abbreviated and must point to existing objects. The reflog message gets
> +normalized.
> +
You have to give the full refname to this subcommand. `git reflog write
... branch <msg>` will update the reflog for the one-level ref `branch`.
But I’m used to using git-reflog(1) with a name like `branch` and it
using `refs/heads/branch` if it exists. At least that’s how the default
`git reflog show` behaves.
Which means that
git reflog write ... refs/heads/branch <msg>
git reflog branch
Will show that written reflog.
Whereas this
git reflog write ... branch <msg>
git reflog branch
Will show one entry since `branch` is the one-level ref `branch`, not
`refs/heads/branch`. Now it looks like `write` truncated the reflog and
wrote a new reflog message (if you mistakenly think that `branch` is a
branch).
It isn’t clear to me how the current doc guides me in the correct
direction here.
I tried `git reflog drop`[1] and it can deal with a branch like
`branch`. It doesn’t need to be told `refs/heads/branch`.
> The "delete" subcommand deletes single entries from the reflog, but
> not the reflog itself. Its argument must be an _exact_ entry (e.g. "`git
> reflog delete master@{2}`"). This subcommand is also typically not used
next prev parent reply other threads:[~2025-07-28 15:34 UTC|newest]
Thread overview: 114+ messages / expand[flat|nested] mbox.gz Atom feed top
2025-07-22 11:20 [PATCH 0/8] refs: fix migration of reflog entries Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-22 11:20 ` [PATCH 1/8] Documentation/git-reflog: convert to use synopsis type Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-22 22:04 ` Junio C Hamano
2025-07-22 11:20 ` [PATCH 2/8] builtin/reflog: improve grouping of subcommands Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-23 18:14 ` Justin Tobler
2025-07-24 7:42 ` Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-24 16:45 ` Junio C Hamano
2025-07-22 11:20 ` [PATCH 3/8] refs: export `ref_transaction_update_reflog()` Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-23 18:25 ` Justin Tobler
2025-07-24 8:36 ` Karthik Nayak
2025-07-24 12:55 ` Toon Claes
2025-07-22 11:20 ` [PATCH 4/8] builtin/reflog: implement subcommand to write new entries Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-23 19:00 ` Justin Tobler
2025-07-24 7:42 ` Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-24 12:54 ` Toon Claes
2025-07-25 5:36 ` Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-24 16:20 ` SZEDER Gábor
2025-07-24 21:10 ` Junio C Hamano
2025-07-25 5:36 ` Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-25 14:35 ` Junio C Hamano
2025-07-22 11:20 ` [PATCH 5/8] ident: fix type of string length parameter Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-22 11:20 ` [PATCH 6/8] refs: fix identity for migrated reflogs Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-23 19:41 ` Justin Tobler
2025-07-24 7:42 ` Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-24 9:41 ` Karthik Nayak
2025-07-24 12:56 ` Toon Claes
2025-07-22 11:20 ` [PATCH 7/8] refs: stop unsetting REF_HAVE_OLD for log-only updates Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-23 20:31 ` Justin Tobler
2025-07-24 7:42 ` Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-24 10:21 ` Karthik Nayak
2025-07-24 11:35 ` Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-22 11:20 ` [PATCH 8/8] refs: fix invalid old object IDs when migrating reflogs Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-22 22:09 ` Junio C Hamano
2025-07-23 4:04 ` Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-25 6:58 ` [PATCH v2 0/8] refs: fix migration of reflog entries Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-25 6:58 ` [PATCH v2 1/8] Documentation/git-reflog: convert to use synopsis type Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-25 6:58 ` [PATCH v2 2/8] builtin/reflog: improve grouping of subcommands Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-25 6:58 ` [PATCH v2 3/8] refs: export `ref_transaction_update_reflog()` Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-25 6:58 ` [PATCH v2 4/8] builtin/reflog: implement subcommand to write new entries Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-28 15:33 ` Kristoffer Haugsbakk [this message]
2025-07-28 18:49 ` Junio C Hamano
2025-07-28 20:39 ` Karthik Nayak
2025-07-28 20:59 ` Junio C Hamano
2025-07-30 7:55 ` Karthik Nayak
2025-07-29 0:25 ` Ben Knoble
2025-07-29 6:14 ` Kristoffer Haugsbakk
2025-07-29 6:51 ` Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-29 15:00 ` Junio C Hamano
2025-07-30 5:33 ` Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-30 10:33 ` Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-25 6:58 ` [PATCH v2 5/8] ident: fix type of string length parameter Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-25 6:58 ` [PATCH v2 6/8] refs: fix identity for migrated reflogs Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-25 6:58 ` [PATCH v2 7/8] refs: stop unsetting REF_HAVE_OLD for log-only updates Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-25 11:36 ` Jeff King
2025-07-28 14:43 ` Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-29 7:14 ` Jeff King
2025-07-29 7:54 ` Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-25 6:58 ` [PATCH v2 8/8] refs: fix invalid old object IDs when migrating reflogs Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-29 8:55 ` [PATCH v3 0/9] refs: fix migration of reflog entries Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-29 8:55 ` [PATCH v3 1/9] Documentation/git-reflog: convert to use synopsis type Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-29 8:55 ` [PATCH v3 2/9] builtin/reflog: improve grouping of subcommands Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-29 8:55 ` [PATCH v3 3/9] refs: export `ref_transaction_update_reflog()` Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-01 11:38 ` Toon Claes
2025-08-04 7:37 ` Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-29 8:55 ` [PATCH v3 4/9] builtin/reflog: implement subcommand to write new entries Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-29 16:07 ` Junio C Hamano
2025-08-01 11:37 ` Toon Claes
2025-08-04 7:38 ` Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-29 8:55 ` [PATCH v3 5/9] ident: fix type of string length parameter Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-29 8:55 ` [PATCH v3 6/9] refs: fix identity for migrated reflogs Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-29 8:55 ` [PATCH v3 7/9] refs/files: detect race when generating reflog entry for HEAD Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-29 16:16 ` Junio C Hamano
2025-08-01 11:55 ` Toon Claes
2025-08-02 11:11 ` Jeff King
2025-08-04 7:38 ` Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-04 14:47 ` Jeff King
2025-07-29 8:55 ` [PATCH v3 8/9] refs: stop unsetting REF_HAVE_OLD for log-only updates Patrick Steinhardt
2025-07-29 8:55 ` [PATCH v3 9/9] refs: fix invalid old object IDs when migrating reflogs Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-04 9:46 ` [PATCH v4 0/9] refs: fix migration of reflog entries Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-04 9:46 ` [PATCH v4 1/9] Documentation/git-reflog: convert to use synopsis type Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-04 9:46 ` [PATCH v4 2/9] builtin/reflog: improve grouping of subcommands Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-04 9:46 ` [PATCH v4 3/9] refs: export `ref_transaction_update_reflog()` Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-04 9:46 ` [PATCH v4 4/9] builtin/reflog: implement subcommand to write new entries Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-04 9:46 ` [PATCH v4 5/9] ident: fix type of string length parameter Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-04 9:46 ` [PATCH v4 6/9] refs: fix identity for migrated reflogs Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-04 9:46 ` [PATCH v4 7/9] refs/files: detect race when generating reflog entry for HEAD Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-04 15:38 ` Jeff King
2025-08-04 9:46 ` [PATCH v4 8/9] refs: stop unsetting REF_HAVE_OLD for log-only updates Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-04 9:46 ` [PATCH v4 9/9] refs: fix invalid old object IDs when migrating reflogs Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-05 15:11 ` [PATCH v5 0/9] refs: fix migration of reflog entries Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-05 15:11 ` [PATCH v5 1/9] Documentation/git-reflog: convert to use synopsis type Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-05 17:04 ` Jean-Noël AVILA
2025-08-05 21:47 ` Junio C Hamano
2025-08-06 5:53 ` Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-05 15:11 ` [PATCH v5 2/9] builtin/reflog: improve grouping of subcommands Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-05 15:11 ` [PATCH v5 3/9] refs: export `ref_transaction_update_reflog()` Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-05 15:11 ` [PATCH v5 4/9] builtin/reflog: implement subcommand to write new entries Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-05 15:11 ` [PATCH v5 5/9] ident: fix type of string length parameter Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-05 15:11 ` [PATCH v5 6/9] refs: fix identity for migrated reflogs Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-05 15:11 ` [PATCH v5 7/9] refs/files: detect race when generating reflog entry for HEAD Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-05 15:11 ` [PATCH v5 8/9] refs: stop unsetting REF_HAVE_OLD for log-only updates Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-05 15:11 ` [PATCH v5 9/9] refs: fix invalid old object IDs when migrating reflogs Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-05 18:47 ` [PATCH v5 0/9] refs: fix migration of reflog entries Jeff King
2025-08-06 5:53 ` Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-06 5:54 ` [PATCH v6 " Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-06 5:54 ` [PATCH v6 1/9] Documentation/git-reflog: convert to use synopsis type Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-06 5:54 ` [PATCH v6 2/9] builtin/reflog: improve grouping of subcommands Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-06 5:54 ` [PATCH v6 3/9] refs: export `ref_transaction_update_reflog()` Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-06 5:54 ` [PATCH v6 4/9] builtin/reflog: implement subcommand to write new entries Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-06 5:54 ` [PATCH v6 5/9] ident: fix type of string length parameter Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-06 5:54 ` [PATCH v6 6/9] refs: fix identity for migrated reflogs Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-06 5:54 ` [PATCH v6 7/9] refs/files: detect race when generating reflog entry for HEAD Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-06 5:54 ` [PATCH v6 8/9] refs: stop unsetting REF_HAVE_OLD for log-only updates Patrick Steinhardt
2025-08-06 5:54 ` [PATCH v6 9/9] refs: fix invalid old object IDs when migrating reflogs Patrick Steinhardt
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