Re: [PATCH v2] builtin/ident: add new 'ident' command

[Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>]

Jeff King <peff@peff.net> writes:

> On Mon, Aug 31, 2026 at 11:59:06PM +0000, Andrew Pleeter via GitGitGadget wrote:
>
>> While existing plumbing commands like 'git var' and 'git config' expose
>> individual pieces of identity and configuration, discovering what identity
>> and signing key will actually be attached to a new commit requires multiple
>> independent queries and manual correlation. 'git config' only reads raw
>> values without performing environment overrides or GECOS detection, while
>> 'git var' returns full ident strings with timestamps without exposing
>> commit signing status.
>
> This is just my gut reaction, but: would it be simpler to teach git var
> to provide those broken-down pieces than to introduce a whole new
> command?

We long timers among our reviewer base already expressed the same
sentiment.

> My main feeling on suggesting this is that:
>
>   1. We already have a lot of commands, and this one feels very
>      specialized.
>
>   2. Most of these suggestions could make git-var better for reading
>      idents _and_ for reading its other variables.

And you said it the best among our responses, I think.

Thanks.