[RFC] Rename git-rm --cached to --index

[RFC] Rename git-rm --cached to --index

[Nico -telmich- Schottelius]

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Hello!

I just re-read the git-rm manpage and recognized git-rm knows about
the --cached option. As in current git we do not talk about the cache,
but about the index, it would imho make sense to rename --cache to
--index in a user friendly way:

- add --index to git-rm
- add --index to manpage of git-rm
- still support --cached in git-rm
- add hint in manpage that --cached is old naming style

I think naming it --index would make life more consistent for new users
of git.

Now I'm interested in your opinion ;-)

Sincerly

Nico

P.S.: As always, please CC me on reply

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Re: [RFC] Rename git-rm --cached to --index

[Junio C Hamano]

Please don't make naming inconsistent.  --index means "do things that
usually affect only work tree also to the index as well", while --cached
means "act only on the index" (study "git apply" for another example).

"git rm" that does not touch work tree but removes only the index entry
should be named --cached.

Re: [RFC] Rename git-rm --cached to --index

[Wincent Colaiuta]

El 29/5/2008, a las 1:25, Junio C Hamano escribió:
> Please don't make naming inconsistent.  --index means "do things that
> usually affect only work tree also to the index as well", while -- 
> cached
> means "act only on the index" (study "git apply" for another example).
>
> "git rm" that does not touch work tree but removes only the index  
> entry
> should be named --cached.

I think this is a bit of an arcane distinction. I wonder if a more  
intuitive scheme might be:

   "--index" as it is now (for "do things that usually affect only  
work tree also to the index as well")

And:

   "--index-only" for "act only on the index"

Although the latter is more characters to type than "--cached", it is  
a hell of a lot less surprising. For the typing-phobic there's always  
completion.

Let the arguments about bikeshed color and breaking people's scripts  
ensue!

Cheers,
Wincent