If you have staged changes in path A and perform 'checkout
--merge' (which could result in conflicts in a totally unrelated path
B), changes in A will be gone. Which is unexpected. We are supposed
to keep all changes, or kick and scream otherwise.
This is the result of how --merge is implemented, from the very first
day in 1be0659efc (checkout: merge local modifications while switching
branches., 2006-01-12):
1. a merge is done, unmerged entries are collected
2. a hard switch to a new branch is done, then unmerged entries added
back
There is no trivial fix for this. Going with 3-way merge one file at a
time loses rename detection. Going with 3-way merge by trees requires
teaching the algorithm to pick up staged changes. And even if we detect
staged changes with --merge and abort for safety, an option to continue
--merge is very weird. Such an option would keep worktree changes, but
drop staged changes.
Because the problem has been with us since the introduction of --merge
and everybody has been pretty happy (except Phillip, who found this
problem), I'll just take a note here to acknowledge it and wait for
merge wizards to come in and work their magic. There may be a way
forward [1].
[1] CABPp-BFoL_U=bzON4SEMaQSKU2TKwnOgNqjt5MUaOejTKGUJxw@mail.gmail.com
Reported-by: Phillip Wood <phillip.wood@dunelm.org.uk>
Signed-off-by: Nguyễn Thái Ngọc Duy <pclouds@gmail.com>
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-.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).
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
