Re: `Git Status`-like output for two local branches

[Jeff King <peff@peff.net>]

On Sat, Sep 05, 2009 at 04:58:36PM +0200, demerphq wrote:

> It would be useful in for instance prompt status line. At $work we
> have a number of people using a prompt that includes the result of
> parsing git-status, but something --left-right-count would be much
> nicer, and if i understand it, more efficient (although maybe im
> wrong). In the prompt they use a number of different unicode arrows to
> show what has happened, with a Y type thing for diverged.

Well, if they are using the other bits of "git status" then it may not
be that inefficient compared to a "--left-right-count".

However, it sounds like they are not actually interested in the count,
but just the two bits of information: is A ahead of B, and is B ahead of
A (and then displaying one of four symbols as a result).

And getting that information is even more efficient than just a count,
because you don't have to traverse all of the commits. Though you do
still have to find the merge base, so I'm not sure how much you would be
saving in practice.

A "--left-right-count" does feel like an odd option to "git log" or "git
rev-list", as you are no longer logging or listing anything. In a way,
it makes more sense to me as a special output format of "git
merge-base".

Anyway, I think your example sounds like a reasonable application.
Personally, I do not use a git-enhanced prompt, so it is not my itch to
scratch (and I think a plumbing patch would only make sense if it was a
stepping stone to an actual application, which means somebody needs to
write the actual application).

-Peff