On Wed, Mar 20, 2019 at 09:38:57AM +0900, Junio C Hamano wrote: > "git log -p --first-parent" that requires "-m" to show the single > ball of wax diff for a merge is a separate matter. When the user > explicitly says "log --first-parent", it is a clear indication that > the user does not want to see individual steps of how side branches > built what each merge brings into the mainline. From that point of > view, ever sice I introduced "--first-parent" traversal, I've been > wondering what the true downside would be if we turned "-m" on > automatically when these two options are used without "-m". Sort of a drive-by two cents, but I have often wondered the same thing. I cannot think of a time when I wanted "--first-parent" without "-m" (unless I was not viewing diffs at all). (And I agree with everything else you said :) ). -Peff