From: "Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget" <gitgitgadget@gmail.com>
To: git@vger.kernel.org
Cc: Phillip Wood <phillip.wood123@gmail.com>,
Elijah Newren <newren@gmail.com>,
Elijah Newren <newren@gmail.com>,
Elijah Newren <newren@gmail.com>
Subject: [PATCH v4 4/5] commit: refuse to amend during conflict resolution
Date: Tue, 01 Sep 2026 22:24:40 +0000 [thread overview]
Message-ID: <e77b34c1cf414839d922d0ce252d4700a313c7bb.1788301481.git.gitgitgadget@gmail.com> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <pull.2389.v4.git.git.1788301481.gitgitgadget@gmail.com>
From: Elijah Newren <newren@gmail.com>
Running `git commit --amend` during conflict resolution is an ugly
foot-gun. For many years, we have rejected amending during conflict
resolution in the middle of
- a merge
- a cherry-pick
However, this was never extended to other operations that can also
produce conflicts:
- an `am` operation
- a revert
- a rebase
Extend it to handle these other cases now.
Extending to `am`, revert, and the apply backend of rebase are fairly
straightforward. However, with the merge backend of rebase we have to
be more careful, since it powers interactive rebases and
- the interactive machinery internally uses `git commit --amend` for
`squash` and `reword` directives
- users are expected to `git commit --amend` after hitting an `edit`
or `break` directive
So, we need to be careful with rebase to only reject amending when doing
conflict resolution.
A few files under the rebase-merge/ directory provide us the necessary
information:
- stopped-sha is written only when the rebase stops and hands control
back to the user, so its presence marks a genuine stop -- as opposed
to the sequencer's own internal `git commit --amend` while applying
a squash, fixup, or reword, during which no stopped-sha exists.
- amend is written only when the rebase stops with HEAD already
pointing at the commit the user is meant to amend: a clean `edit`,
or a fast-forward `reword`. Its absence at a stop therefore means
the commit did not apply, so HEAD is the previously-applied commit
rather than the one being rebased -- exactly the case we refuse.
So for the merge backend we die when stopped-sha exists and amend does
not. This covers a plain conflicted pick as well as a conflicted `edit`
(both leave HEAD on the previously-applied commit), while still allowing
a clean `edit` or `reword` stop and a `break` stop (no stopped-sha).
stopped-sha is unlinked at the start of the resume loop, so a resumed
squash's internal amend is unaffected.
Signed-off-by: Elijah Newren <newren@gmail.com>
---
builtin/commit.c | 27 +++++++---
sequencer.c | 57 +++++++++++++++++++++
sequencer.h | 23 +++++++++
t/t3404-rebase-interactive.sh | 87 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh | 11 +++++
t/t4151-am-abort.sh | 11 +++++
6 files changed, 210 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-)
diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index 9b6eaa3c72..284fc7fdc6 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -1324,15 +1324,30 @@ static int parse_and_validate_options(int argc, const char *argv[],
use_editor = 0;
/* Sanity check options */
- if (amend && !current_head)
- die(_("You have nothing to amend."));
- if (amend && whence != FROM_COMMIT) {
- if (whence == FROM_MERGE)
+ if (amend) {
+ if (!current_head)
+ die(_("You have nothing to amend."));
+ /*
+ * Refuse to amend in the middle of any operation that is
+ * meant to record its result as a new commit on top of HEAD
+ * rather than by rewriting HEAD.
+ */
+ switch (sequencer_ongoing_operation(s->repo, whence)) {
+ case ONGOING_NONE:
+ break;
+ case ONGOING_MERGE:
die(_("You are in the middle of a merge -- cannot amend."));
- else if (is_from_cherry_pick(whence))
+ case ONGOING_CHERRY_PICK:
die(_("You are in the middle of a cherry-pick -- cannot amend."));
- else if (is_from_rebase_now_empty(whence))
+ case ONGOING_REBASE_NOW_EMPTY:
die(_("The now-empty commit has been dropped -- cannot amend."));
+ case ONGOING_REVERT:
+ die(_("You are in the middle of a revert -- cannot amend."));
+ case ONGOING_AM:
+ die(_("You are in the middle of an am session -- cannot amend."));
+ case ONGOING_REBASE_CONFLICT:
+ die(_("You are resolving conflicts during a rebase -- cannot amend."));
+ }
}
if (fixup_message && squash_message)
die(_("options '%s' and '%s' cannot be used together"), "--squash", "--fixup");
diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index d336c309ca..6a28e0dd9a 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -142,6 +142,13 @@ static GIT_PATH_FUNC(rebase_path_author_script, "rebase-merge/author-script")
* command is processed, this file is deleted.
*/
static GIT_PATH_FUNC(rebase_path_amend, "rebase-merge/amend")
+/*
+ * The apply ("am") backend keeps its state in the rebase-apply directory;
+ * the "applying" file within it marks a plain `git am` (as opposed to an
+ * apply-based rebase).
+ */
+static GIT_PATH_FUNC(apply_dir, "rebase-apply")
+static GIT_PATH_FUNC(apply_path_applying, "rebase-apply/applying")
/*
* When we stop at a given patch via the "edit" command, this file contains
* the commit object name of the corresponding patch.
@@ -6966,6 +6973,56 @@ int sequencer_determine_whence(struct repository *r, enum commit_whence *whence)
return 0;
}
+enum ongoing_operation sequencer_ongoing_operation(struct repository *r,
+ enum commit_whence whence)
+{
+ /*
+ * The merge, cherry-pick, and (empty) rebase-pick stops are already
+ * distinguished by 'whence'.
+ */
+ switch (whence) {
+ case FROM_MERGE:
+ return ONGOING_MERGE;
+ case FROM_CHERRY_PICK_SINGLE:
+ case FROM_CHERRY_PICK_MULTI:
+ return ONGOING_CHERRY_PICK;
+ case FROM_REBASE_NOW_EMPTY:
+ return ONGOING_REBASE_NOW_EMPTY;
+ case FROM_COMMIT:
+ break;
+ }
+
+ /*
+ * 'whence' is FROM_COMMIT, but we may still be in the middle of an
+ * operation that records its result on top of HEAD; detect those
+ * from their on-disk state.
+ */
+
+ /* In the middle of a revert? */
+ if (refs_ref_exists(get_main_ref_store(r), "REVERT_HEAD"))
+ return ONGOING_REVERT;
+
+ /* In the middle of an `am`? */
+ if (file_exists(apply_path_applying()))
+ return ONGOING_AM;
+
+ /*
+ * In the middle of a rebase that stopped for conflict resolution?
+ * The apply backend only ever stops for conflicts, so the presence
+ * of its state directory is enough. The merge backend writes
+ * stopped-sha whenever it hands control back to the user, but omits
+ * `amend` unless it stopped with HEAD already pointing at the commit
+ * to be amended (a clean edit/reword stop); its absence therefore
+ * marks a conflicted stop.
+ */
+ if (file_exists(apply_dir()) ||
+ (file_exists(rebase_path_stopped_sha()) &&
+ !file_exists(rebase_path_amend())))
+ return ONGOING_REBASE_CONFLICT;
+
+ return ONGOING_NONE;
+}
+
int sequencer_get_update_refs_state(const char *wt_dir,
struct string_list *refs)
{
diff --git a/sequencer.h b/sequencer.h
index 64a9c7fb1b..fb4a744208 100644
--- a/sequencer.h
+++ b/sequencer.h
@@ -277,6 +277,29 @@ int sequencer_get_last_command(struct repository* r,
enum replay_action *action);
int sequencer_determine_whence(struct repository *r, enum commit_whence *whence);
+/*
+ * An in-progress operation that records its result (often a conflict
+ * resolution) as a new commit on top of HEAD, during which amending
+ * HEAD via "git commit --amend" is almost always a mistake.
+ */
+enum ongoing_operation {
+ ONGOING_NONE = 0,
+ ONGOING_MERGE,
+ ONGOING_CHERRY_PICK,
+ ONGOING_REBASE_NOW_EMPTY,
+ ONGOING_REVERT,
+ ONGOING_AM,
+ ONGOING_REBASE_CONFLICT
+};
+
+/*
+ * Return which in-progress operation, if any, is underway; see enum
+ * ongoing_operation. 'whence' is the origin already computed for the
+ * pending commit.
+ */
+enum ongoing_operation sequencer_ongoing_operation(struct repository *r,
+ enum commit_whence whence);
+
/**
* Append the set of ref-OID pairs that are currently stored for the 'git
* rebase --update-refs' feature if such a rebase is currently happening.
diff --git a/t/t3404-rebase-interactive.sh b/t/t3404-rebase-interactive.sh
index 81f4844950..4e6c3e2f19 100755
--- a/t/t3404-rebase-interactive.sh
+++ b/t/t3404-rebase-interactive.sh
@@ -1883,6 +1883,93 @@ test_expect_success 'correct error message for commit --amend after empty pick'
test_grep "now-empty commit has been dropped -- cannot amend." err
'
+test_expect_success 'commit --amend is refused at a rebase conflict stop' '
+ test_when_finished "git rebase --abort" &&
+ git checkout --detach conflict-branch &&
+ (
+ set_fake_editor &&
+ FAKE_LINES="1 3" &&
+ export FAKE_LINES &&
+ test_must_fail git rebase -i A
+ ) &&
+ test_path_is_file .git/rebase-merge/patch &&
+ test_path_is_missing .git/rebase-merge/amend &&
+ echo resolved >conflict &&
+ git add conflict &&
+ test_must_fail git commit --amend --no-edit 2>err &&
+ test_grep "You are resolving conflicts during a rebase -- cannot amend" err
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'commit --amend is refused when an "edit" pick conflicts' '
+ test_when_finished "git rebase --abort" &&
+ git checkout --detach conflict-branch &&
+ (
+ set_fake_editor &&
+ FAKE_LINES="1 edit 3" &&
+ export FAKE_LINES &&
+ test_must_fail git rebase -i A
+ ) &&
+ test_path_is_file .git/rebase-merge/patch &&
+ test_path_is_missing .git/rebase-merge/amend &&
+ echo resolved >conflict &&
+ git add conflict &&
+ test_must_fail git commit --amend --no-edit 2>err &&
+ test_grep "You are resolving conflicts during a rebase -- cannot amend" err
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'commit --amend is allowed at a rebase edit stop' '
+ test_when_finished "git rebase --abort" &&
+ git checkout --detach no-conflict-branch &&
+ (
+ set_fake_editor &&
+ FAKE_LINES="edit 1 2 3 4" &&
+ export FAKE_LINES &&
+ git rebase -i A
+ ) &&
+ test_path_is_file .git/rebase-merge/amend &&
+ echo tweak >fileJ &&
+ git add fileJ &&
+ git commit --amend --no-edit
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'commit --amend is allowed at a rebase break stop' '
+ test_when_finished "git rebase --abort" &&
+ git checkout --detach no-conflict-branch &&
+ (
+ set_fake_editor &&
+ FAKE_LINES="break 1 2 3 4" &&
+ export FAKE_LINES &&
+ git rebase -i A
+ ) &&
+ test_must_fail git rev-parse --verify REBASE_HEAD &&
+ echo tweak >fileJ &&
+ git add fileJ &&
+ git commit --amend --no-edit
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'commit --amend is refused at an apply-backend conflict stop' '
+ test_when_finished "rm -rf apply-backend" &&
+ test_create_repo apply-backend &&
+ (
+ cd apply-backend &&
+ test_commit base file &&
+ git branch -M mainline &&
+ test_commit upstream file upstream &&
+ git checkout -b side mainline~1 &&
+ test_commit conflicting file side &&
+ test_commit unrelated other &&
+ test_must_fail git rebase --apply mainline &&
+ # the apply backend only ever stops for conflicts, and
+ # leaves HEAD on the previously-applied commit
+ test_path_is_dir .git/rebase-apply &&
+ test_path_is_missing .git/rebase-apply/applying &&
+ echo resolved >file &&
+ git add file &&
+ test_must_fail git commit --amend --no-edit 2>err &&
+ test_grep "You are resolving conflicts during a rebase -- cannot amend" err
+ )
+'
+
test_expect_success 'todo has correct onto hash' '
GIT_SEQUENCE_EDITOR=cat git rebase -i no-conflict-branch~4 no-conflict-branch >actual &&
onto=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD~4) &&
diff --git a/t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh b/t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh
index 44596cb1e8..42de398f76 100755
--- a/t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh
+++ b/t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh
@@ -364,6 +364,17 @@ test_expect_success 'failed revert sets REVERT_HEAD' '
test_cmp_rev picked REVERT_HEAD
'
+test_expect_success 'commit --amend of revert fails' '
+ pristine_detach initial &&
+
+ test_must_fail git revert picked &&
+ echo resolved >foo &&
+ git add foo &&
+ test_must_fail git commit --amend 2>err &&
+
+ test_grep "in the middle of a revert -- cannot amend." err
+'
+
test_expect_success 'successful revert does not set REVERT_HEAD' '
pristine_detach base &&
git revert base &&
diff --git a/t/t4151-am-abort.sh b/t/t4151-am-abort.sh
index 8e1ecf8a68..9313a074b2 100755
--- a/t/t4151-am-abort.sh
+++ b/t/t4151-am-abort.sh
@@ -63,6 +63,17 @@ do
done
+test_expect_success 'commit --amend during a failed am fails' '
+ git reset --hard initial &&
+ cp file-2-expect file-2 &&
+ test_must_fail git am 000[1245]-*.patch &&
+ echo resolved >file-1 &&
+ git add file-1 &&
+ test_must_fail git commit --amend 2>err &&
+ test_grep "in the middle of an am session -- cannot amend." err &&
+ git am --abort
+'
+
test_expect_success 'am -3 --skip removes otherfile-4' '
git reset --hard initial &&
test_must_fail git am -3 0003-*.patch &&
--
gitgitgadget
next prev parent reply other threads:[~2026-09-01 22:24 UTC|newest]
Thread overview: 43+ messages / expand[flat|nested] mbox.gz Atom feed top
2026-08-26 5:21 [PATCH] commit: refuse to amend during conflict resolution Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget
2026-08-26 13:56 ` Phillip Wood
2026-08-27 0:21 ` Elijah Newren
2026-08-26 16:22 ` Junio C Hamano
2026-08-27 0:23 ` Elijah Newren
2026-08-26 16:39 ` Junio C Hamano
2026-08-27 0:24 ` Elijah Newren
2026-08-27 1:02 ` [PATCH v2 0/3] " Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget
2026-08-27 1:02 ` [PATCH v2 1/3] commit: reword the empty-commit rebase errors Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget
2026-08-27 15:19 ` Phillip Wood
2026-08-27 16:54 ` Junio C Hamano
2026-08-28 7:38 ` Elijah Newren
2026-08-27 16:35 ` Junio C Hamano
2026-08-27 16:52 ` Junio C Hamano
2026-08-28 7:38 ` Elijah Newren
2026-08-27 1:02 ` [PATCH v2 2/3] commit: refuse to amend during conflict resolution Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget
2026-08-27 15:19 ` Phillip Wood
2026-08-27 1:02 ` [PATCH v2 3/3] commit: refuse partial commits " Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget
2026-08-27 15:19 ` Phillip Wood
2026-08-27 15:19 ` [PATCH v2 0/3] commit: refuse to amend " Phillip Wood
2026-08-27 16:28 ` Elijah Newren
2026-08-28 7:44 ` [PATCH v3 0/5] " Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget
2026-08-28 7:44 ` [PATCH v3 1/5] commit: clarify FROM_REBASE_PICK and is_from_rebase() names Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget
2026-08-28 15:41 ` Junio C Hamano
2026-08-28 17:27 ` Elijah Newren
2026-08-28 7:44 ` [PATCH v3 2/5] commit: allow a partial commit when a rebase pick becomes empty Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget
2026-08-28 15:46 ` Junio C Hamano
2026-08-28 7:44 ` [PATCH v3 3/5] commit: reword the empty-commit rebase amend error Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget
2026-08-28 15:49 ` Junio C Hamano
2026-08-28 7:44 ` [PATCH v3 4/5] commit: refuse to amend during conflict resolution Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget
2026-08-28 7:44 ` [PATCH v3 5/5] commit: refuse partial commits " Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget
2026-08-28 16:18 ` Junio C Hamano
2026-09-01 22:24 ` [PATCH v4 0/5] commit: refuse to amend " Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget
2026-09-01 22:24 ` [PATCH v4 1/5] commit: clarify FROM_REBASE_PICK and is_from_rebase() names Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget
2026-09-02 15:39 ` Phillip Wood
2026-09-01 22:24 ` [PATCH v4 2/5] commit: allow a partial commit when a rebase pick becomes empty Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget
2026-09-02 15:39 ` Phillip Wood
2026-09-01 22:24 ` [PATCH v4 3/5] commit: reword the empty-commit rebase amend error Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget
2026-09-02 15:39 ` Phillip Wood
2026-09-01 22:24 ` Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget [this message]
2026-09-02 15:39 ` [PATCH v4 4/5] commit: refuse to amend during conflict resolution Phillip Wood
2026-09-01 22:24 ` [PATCH v4 5/5] commit: refuse partial commits " Elijah Newren via GitGitGadget
2026-09-02 15:41 ` [PATCH v4 0/5] commit: refuse to amend " Phillip Wood
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