Re: js/init-defaultbranch-advice, was Re: What's cooking in git.git (Dec 2020, #01; Tue, 8)

[Johannes Schindelin <Johannes.Schindelin@gmx.de>]

Hi Junio,

On Wed, 9 Dec 2020, Junio C Hamano wrote:

> Johannes Schindelin <Johannes.Schindelin@gmx.de> writes:
>
> > On Tue, 8 Dec 2020, Junio C Hamano wrote:
> >
> >> * js/init-defaultbranch-advice (2020-11-24) 4 commits
> >>  - init: provide useful advice about init.defaultBranch
> >>  - get_default_branch_name(): prepare for showing some advice
> >>  - branch -m: allow renaming a yet-unborn branch
> >>  - init: document `init.defaultBranch` better
> >>
> >>  Our users are going to be trained to prepare for future change of
> >>  init.defaultBranch configuration variable.
> >>
> >>  Expecting a reroll.
> >>  cf. <xmqq8saqjx2n.fsf@gitster.c.googlers.com>
> >>  I think a new advice.defaultBranchName is a bad idea.
> >
> > Unfortunately, this objection is news to me. Why would it be anything but
> > a legitimate interest to say "yeah, whatever, Git, just use the default
> > branch name, I'm fine with it"?
>
> Message sent on Nov 24 is a news to you now?

I did not understand your message as a strong objection back then, and I
am still somewhat puzzled by the reaction.

> Anyway, I do not think those users who said "I'm fine with it" would be
> fine when the switchover happens outside their control.

As of September 29th, Git for Windows' installer asks users to specify
their preferences:

	Adjusting the name of the initial branch in new repositories

	What would you like Git to name the initial branch after
	"git init"?

	[ ] Let Git decide

	    Let Git use its default branch name (currently: "master")
	    for the initial branch in newly created repositories.
	    The Git project intends to change this default to a more
	    inclusive name in the near future.

	[ ] Override the default branch name for new repositories

	    NEW! Many teams already renamed their default branches;
	    common choices are "main", "trunk" and "development".
	    Specify the name "git init" should use for the initial
	    branch:

	    __________________________

Obviously, I have no idea how many users chose the first option because we
do not collect any usage data in the Git for Windows project. However,
anecdotal data suggests that most users go with the first one, not caring
one iota and simply going with what Git decides for them.

> If they are truly fine, we could invent init.defaultBranch=:random
> that chooses a random branch name and point HEAD at it, and make
> that the default.  Those who are fine do not really care what name
> the initial branch gets would be fine with that as well, but you
> would agree that it is an absurd alternative, no?  I find it equally
> absurd to say "switch to a new name any time without telling me, I
> am fine with it".

I guess that most users trust us to make sane decisions, and a random name
would not constitute such a thing.

But since you seem to care that much, I will re-roll this patch, and move
the advice.defaultBranchName patch into the Windows-specific patches, to
allow for silencing that warning when users chose the "Let Git decide"
option above.

Ciao,
Dscho