Junio C Hamano <gitster@xxxxxxxxx> writes: > Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason <avarab@xxxxxxxxx> writes: > >> Optional parts are enclosed in square brackets: >> - [<extra>] >> - (Zero or one <extra>.) >> + [<file>...] >> + (Zero or more of <file>.) > > OK. > >> + Use spacing around "|" token(s), but not immediately after opening or >> + before closing a [] or () pair: >> + Do: [-q | --quiet] >> + Don't: [-q|--quiet] >> + >> + Don't use spacing around "|" tokens when they're used to seperate the >> + alternate arguments of an option: >> + Do: --track[=(direct|inherit)] >> + Don't: --track[=(direct | inherit)] >> + > > Hmph, that sounds inconsistent; I would have expected the same use > (or omission) of space around the vertical bar. But if that is the > prevailing style, I won't complain about writing it down. Perhaps in order to avoid "Huh? isn't that inconsistent?" knee-jerk reaction, it may be a good idea to explain the reason why? I am guessing that the difference between the two has something to do with the desire to make it compact when it appears as a "value" for something (signalled after a "=" sign), but (1) I am not sure if you share the reasoning, and more importantly (2) I am failing to come up with a concise way to phrase it. Thanks.