A symbolic ref can currently only point at (another symbolic) ref.
However are use cases for symbolic refs to point at other things
representing a commit-ish, such as gitlink entries in other
repositories. In this use case we can use such a symbolic link
to strengthen the relationship between a submodule and a superproject.
Examples:
1) It makes it easier to explain when we recurse into submodules and
to which sha1 the submodule is updated.
Currently a submodule (or any repo) is either on a branch (i.e.
HEAD is a symbolic ref) or is in 'detached HEAD' state (HEAD is
a direct ref).
For submodules it is wrong to be on its own branch if it wants to be
controlled by the superproject as being on its own branch signals that
the submodule is independent and can move the HEAD freely.
Being in 'detached HEAD' state is the alternative to that and was
chosen when git-submodule was implemented, but it is equally wrong;
the lesser of two evils.
Semantically the correct way to state a submodule is part of the
superproject is by pointing its HEAD to the superproject.
We do have "reset/checkout --recurse-submodules" now, but it is
hard to explain what actually happens there (Which submodules are
updated? All of them! -- But I want a subset only!)
With this new mode of symbolic refs, any submodule that tracks the
superproject, would 'automatically follow' the superproject as the
submodules HEAD moves when the superproject changes.
2) "git -C submodule commit" would behave the same as it would on branch
nowadays: It would make the commit in the submodule and then change
the target of the symbolic ref which would be the index of the
superproject! That implies that you do not need to 'git add' the
submodule to the superproject, but have it done automatically.
Signed-off-by: Stefan Beller <sbeller@xxxxxxxxxx>
---
cache.h | 2 ++
refs/files-backend.c | 10 ++++++++++
submodule.c | 40 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
3 files changed, 52 insertions(+)
diff --git a/cache.h b/cache.h
index 71fe092644..4f79d23202 100644
--- a/cache.h
+++ b/cache.h
@@ -2029,4 +2029,6 @@ void sleep_millisec(int millisec);
*/
void safe_create_dir(const char *dir, int share);
+extern int read_external_symref(struct strbuf *from, struct strbuf *out);
+
#endif /* CACHE_H */
diff --git a/refs/files-backend.c b/refs/files-backend.c
index 0404f2c233..f56f7b87ce 100644
--- a/refs/files-backend.c
+++ b/refs/files-backend.c
@@ -713,6 +713,16 @@ static int files_read_raw_ref(struct ref_store *ref_store,
goto out;
}
+ if (starts_with(buf, "repo:")) {
+ if (read_external_symref(&sb_contents, referent)) {
+ *type |= REF_ISBROKEN;
+ ret = -1;
+ goto out;
+ }
+ *type |= REF_ISSYMREF;
+ ret = 0;
+ }
+
/*
* Please note that FETCH_HEAD has additional
* data after the sha.
diff --git a/submodule.c b/submodule.c
index da2b484879..7297f90485 100644
--- a/submodule.c
+++ b/submodule.c
@@ -2037,3 +2037,43 @@ int submodule_to_gitdir(struct strbuf *buf, const char *submodule)
cleanup:
return ret;
}
+
+int read_external_symref(struct strbuf *from, struct strbuf *out)
+{
+ struct child_process cp = CHILD_PROCESS_INIT;
+ const char *repo, *gitlink;
+ int hint, code;
+ struct strbuf **split = strbuf_split(from, 0);
+ struct strbuf cmd_out = STRBUF_INIT;
+
+ if (!split[0] || !split[1])
+ return -1;
+
+ repo = split[0]->buf + 5; /* skip 'repo:' */
+ gitlink = split[1]->buf;
+
+ argv_array_pushl(&cp.args,
+ "ignored-first-arg",
+ "-C", repo,
+ "ls-tree", "-z", "HEAD", "--", gitlink, NULL);
+
+ /*
+ * 17 accounts for '160000 commit ',
+ * the \t before path and trailing \0.
+ */
+ hint = 17 + GIT_SHA1_HEXSZ + split[1]->len;
+ code = capture_command(&cp, &cmd_out, hint);
+
+ strbuf_release(split[0]);
+ strbuf_release(split[1]);
+
+ if (!code) {
+ strbuf_reset(out);
+ strbuf_add(out, cmd_out.buf + strlen("160000 commit "),
+ GIT_SHA1_HEXSZ);
+ } else
+ return -1;
+
+ return 0;
+}
+
--
2.13.2.695.g117ddefdb4
