When we see an add/add conflict on a file, we generate the
conflicted content by doing a 3-way merge with a "virtual"
base consisting of the common lines of the two sides. This
strategy dates back to cb93c19 (merge-one-file: use common
as base, instead of emptiness., 2005-11-09).
Back then, the next step was to call rcs merge to generate
the 3-way conflicts. Using the virtual base produced much
better results, as rcs merge does not attempt to minimize
the hunks. As a result, you'd get a conflict with the
entirety of the files on either side.
Since then, though, we've switched to using git-merge-file,
which uses xdiff's "zealous" merge. This will find the
minimal hunks even with just the simple, empty base.
Let's switch to using that empty base. It's simpler, more
efficient, and reduces our dependencies (we no longer need a
working diff binary). It's also how the merge-recursive
strategy handles this same case.
We can almost get rid of git-sh-setup's create_virtual_base,
but we don't here, for two reasons:
1. The functions in git-sh-setup are part of our public
interface, so it's possible somebody is depending on
it. We'd at least need to deprecate it first.
2. It's also used by mergetool's p4merge driver. It's
unknown whether its 3-way merge is as capable as git's;
if not, then it is benefiting from the function.
Signed-off-by: Jeff King <peff@peff.net>
Signed-off-by: Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>
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Git - the stupid content tracker
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"git" can mean anything, 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
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.
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).
Many Git online resources are accessible from http://git-scm.com/
including full documentation and Git related tools.
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).
To subscribe to the list, send an email with just "subscribe git" in
the body to majordomo@vger.kernel.org. The mailing list archives are
available at http://news.gmane.org/gmane.comp.version-control.git/,
http://marc.info/?l=git and other archival sites.
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.