From: Ivan Tse <ivan.tse1@xxxxxxxxx> The TRANSACTION_NAME_CONFLICT error code refers to a failure to create a ref due to a name conflict with another ref. An example of this is a directory/file conflict such as ref names A/B and A. "git fetch" uses this error code to more accurately describe the error by recommending to the user that they try running "git remote prune" to remove any old refs that are deleted by the remote which would clear up any directory/file conflicts. This helpful error message is not displayed when the conflicted ref is stored in packed refs. This change fixes this by ensuring error return code consistency in `lock_raw_ref`. Signed-off-by: Ivan Tse <ivan.tse1@xxxxxxxxx> --- refs: return conflict error when checking packed refs I wanted to provide extra context around the error message I'm referring to so it's clear what I'm trying to achieve. First, let's get into a directory/file conflict situation: git branch dir_file_conflict git push origin dir_file_conflict git update-ref -d refs/remotes/origin/dir_file_conflict git update-ref -d refs/heads/dir_file_conflict git update-ref refs/remotes/origin/dir_file_conflict/file master From above, the remote origin has a dir_file_conflict ref name and the local repository has a dir_file_conflict/file ref name for the remote. This situation can occur if dir_file_conflict/file used to exist and but was later deleted in the remote. Then when we git fetch: yolo10[master] $ git fetch error: cannot lock ref 'refs/remotes/origin/dir_file_conflict': 'refs/remotes/origin/dir_file_conflict/file' exists; cannot create 'refs/remotes/origin/dir_file_conflict' From github.com:ivantsepp/yolo10 ! [new branch] dir_file_conflict -> origin/dir_file_conflict (unable to update local ref) error: some local refs could not be updated; try running 'git remote prune origin' to remove any old, conflicting branches We get the helpful error message to run git remote prune origin to remove old, conflicting branches. However, when the ref is stored in packed refs: yolo10[master] $ git pack-refs --all yolo10[master] $ git fetch error: cannot lock ref 'refs/remotes/origin/dir_file_conflict': 'refs/remotes/origin/dir_file_conflict/file' exists; cannot create 'refs/remotes/origin/dir_file_conflict' From github.com:ivantsepp/yolo10 ! [new branch] dir_file_conflict -> origin/dir_file_conflict (unable to update local ref) The helpful message is not there! I believe this error message should show up regardless of how the ref is stored (loose vs packed-refs). I attempted to track down the necessary change to make this happen and it seems like a straightforward change. I hope I didn't overlook anything! Published-As: https://github.com/gitgitgadget/git/releases/tag/pr-git-1716%2Fivantsepp%2Freturn_name_conflict_error_for_packed_refs-v1 Fetch-It-Via: git fetch https://github.com/gitgitgadget/git pr-git-1716/ivantsepp/return_name_conflict_error_for_packed_refs-v1 Pull-Request: https://github.com/git/git/pull/1716 refs/files-backend.c | 4 +++- 1 file changed, 3 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/refs/files-backend.c b/refs/files-backend.c index a098d14ea00..97473f377d1 100644 --- a/refs/files-backend.c +++ b/refs/files-backend.c @@ -794,8 +794,10 @@ static int lock_raw_ref(struct files_ref_store *refs, */ if (refs_verify_refname_available( refs->packed_ref_store, refname, - extras, NULL, err)) + extras, NULL, err)) { + ret = TRANSACTION_NAME_CONFLICT; goto error_return; + } } ret = 0; base-commit: 786a3e4b8d754d2b14b1208b98eeb0a554ef19a8 -- gitgitgadget