Re: [PATCH v2] hook: introduce the report hook for git-receive-pack(1)

[Patrick Steinhardt <ps@pks.im>]

On Fri, Aug 21, 2026 at 09:08:12AM -0700, Karthik Nayak wrote:
> Patrick Steinhardt <ps@pks.im> writes:
> > On Fri, Aug 21, 2026 at 03:34:58PM +0200, Karthik Nayak wrote:
[snip]
> >> +repository, but before the pkt-line encoded status report is sent back
> >> +to the client.
> >> +
> >> +The hook receives the complete pkt-line encoded status report on
> >> +standard input. The report begins with an `unpack` line indicating
> >> +whether the object transfer succeeded (`unpack ok` or
> >> +`unpack <error>`), followed by one `ok <refname>` or
> >> +`ng <refname> <reason>` line per ref that was pushed, and is
> >> +terminated by a flush packet.
> >> +
> >> +The hook's standard output entirely replaces the report that is sent
> >> +to the client. The hook must write a valid pkt-line encoded report in
> >> +the same format it received. The hook's stdout is fully buffered by
> >> +`receive-pack` before any data is sent to the client, so the hook's
> >> +exit status is known before the client receives anything.
> >> +
> >> +There are two distinct ways the hook can affect the push outcome:
> >> +
> >> +* To reject individual ref updates while keeping `receive-pack` alive,
> >> +  rewrite the corresponding `ok <refname>` lines to
> >> +  `ng <refname> <reason>` lines in the output and exit with status 0.
> >
> > It's `ng <refname>[ <reason>]`, right? I think the reason itself is
> > optional. We might also want to clarify whether there should be a
> > trailing newline or not.
> >
> 
> You're right, since 'send-pack' will default to 'failed' if there is no
> reason.
> 
> We do say 'terminated by a flush packed'.

We only send the flush packet once donce with all refs though, right?
I was wondering about each individual reference line: are they supposed
to end with a newline or not?

Patrick