This allows to run external commands in parallel with ordered output
on stderr.
If we run external commands in parallel we cannot pipe the output directly
to the our stdout/err as it would mix up. So each process's output will
flow through a pipe, which we buffer. One subprocess can be directly
piped to out stdout/err for a low latency feedback to the user.
Example:
Let's assume we have 5 submodules A,B,C,D,E and each fetch takes a
different amount of time as the different submodules vary in size, then
the output of fetches in sequential order might look like this:
time -->
output: |---A---| |-B-| |-------C-------| |-D-| |-E-|
When we schedule these submodules into maximal two parallel processes,
a schedule and sample output over time may look like this:
process 1: |---A---| |-D-| |-E-|
process 2: |-B-| |-------C-------|
output: |---A---|B|---C-------|DE
So A will be perceived as it would run normally in the single child
version. As B has finished by the time A is done, we can dump its whole
progress buffer on stderr, such that it looks like it finished in no
time. Once that is done, C is determined to be the visible child and
its progress will be reported in real time.
So this way of output is really good for human consumption, as it only
changes the timing, not the actual output.
For machine consumption the output needs to be prepared in the tasks,
by either having a prefix per line or per block to indicate whose tasks
output is displayed, because the output order may not follow the
original sequential ordering:
|----A----| |--B--| |-C-|
will be scheduled to be all parallel:
process 1: |----A----|
process 2: |--B--|
process 3: |-C-|
output: |----A----|CB
This happens because C finished before B did, so it will be queued for
output before B.
To detect when a child has finished executing, we check interleaved
with other actions (such as checking the liveliness of children or
starting new processes) whether the stderr pipe still exists. Once a
child closed its stderr stream, we assume it is terminating very soon,
and use `finish_command()` from the single external process execution
interface to collect the exit status.
By maintaining the strong assumption of stderr being open until the
very end of a child process, we can avoid other hassle such as an
implementation using `waitpid(-1)`, which is not implemented in Windows.
Signed-off-by: Stefan Beller <sbeller@google.com>
Signed-off-by: Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Git - the stupid content tracker
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
"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.
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