diff: restore redirection to /dev/null for diff_from_contents

In --quiet mode, since we produce only an exit code for "something was
changed" and no actual output, we can often get by with just a
tree-level diff. However, certain options require us to actually look at
the file contents (e.g., if we are ignoring whitespace changes). We have
a flag "diff_from_contents" for that, and if it is set we call
diff_flush() on each path.

To avoid producing any output (since we were asked to be --quiet), we
traditionally just redirected the output to /dev/null. That changed in
b55e6d36eb (diff: ensure consistent diff behavior with ignore options,
2025-08-08), which replaced that with a "dry_run" flag. In theory, with
dry_run set, we should produce no output. But it carries a risk of
regression: if we forget to respect dry_run in any of the output paths,
we'll accidentally produce output.

And indeed, there is at least one such regression in that commit, as it
covered only the case where we actually call into xdiff, and not
creation or deletion diffs, where we manually generate the headers. We
even test this case in t4035, but only with diff-tree, which does not
show the bug by default because it does not require diff_from_contents.
But git-diff does, because it allows external diff programs by default
(so we must dig into each diff filepair to decide if it requires running
an external diff that may declare two distinct blobs to actually be the
same).

We should fix all of those code paths to respect dry_run correctly, but
in the meantime we can protect ourselves more fully by restoring the
redirection to /dev/null. This gives us an extra layer of protection
against regressions dues to other code paths we've missed.

Though the original issue was reported with "git diff" (and due to its
default of --ext-diff), I've used "diff-tree -w" in the new test. It
triggers the same issue, but I think the fact that "-w" implies
diff_from_contents is a bit more obvious, and fits in with the rest of
t4035.

Reported-by: Jake Zimmerman <jake@zimmerman.io>
Signed-off-by: Jeff King <peff@peff.net>
Signed-off-by: Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>
2 files changed
tree: b3fc64acf7676fe1e1d45e3520409b5df7210169
  1. .github/
  2. bin-wrappers/
  3. block-sha1/
  4. builtin/
  5. ci/
  6. compat/
  7. compiler-tricks/
  8. contrib/
  9. Documentation/
  10. ewah/
  11. git-gui/
  12. gitk-git/
  13. gitweb/
  14. mergetools/
  15. negotiator/
  16. oss-fuzz/
  17. perl/
  18. po/
  19. refs/
  20. reftable/
  21. sha1/
  22. sha1dc/
  23. sha256/
  24. subprojects/
  25. t/
  26. templates/
  27. trace2/
  28. xdiff/
  29. .cirrus.yml
  30. .clang-format
  31. .editorconfig
  32. .gitattributes
  33. .gitignore
  34. .gitlab-ci.yml
  35. .gitmodules
  36. .mailmap
  37. .tsan-suppressions
  38. abspath.c
  39. abspath.h
  40. aclocal.m4
  41. add-interactive.c
  42. add-interactive.h
  43. add-patch.c
  44. advice.c
  45. advice.h
  46. alias.c
  47. alias.h
  48. alloc.c
  49. alloc.h
  50. apply.c
  51. apply.h
  52. archive-tar.c
  53. archive-zip.c
  54. archive.c
  55. archive.h
  56. attr.c
  57. attr.h
  58. banned.h
  59. base85.c
  60. base85.h
  61. bisect.c
  62. bisect.h
  63. blame.c
  64. blame.h
  65. blob.c
  66. blob.h
  67. bloom.c
  68. bloom.h
  69. branch.c
  70. branch.h
  71. builtin.h
  72. bulk-checkin.c
  73. bulk-checkin.h
  74. bundle-uri.c
  75. bundle-uri.h
  76. bundle.c
  77. bundle.h
  78. cache-tree.c
  79. cache-tree.h
  80. cbtree.c
  81. cbtree.h
  82. chdir-notify.c
  83. chdir-notify.h
  84. check-builtins.sh
  85. checkout.c
  86. checkout.h
  87. chunk-format.c
  88. chunk-format.h
  89. CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
  90. color.c
  91. color.h
  92. column.c
  93. column.h
  94. combine-diff.c
  95. command-list.txt
  96. commit-graph.c
  97. commit-graph.h
  98. commit-reach.c
  99. commit-reach.h
  100. commit-slab-decl.h
  101. commit-slab-impl.h
  102. commit-slab.h
  103. commit.c
  104. commit.h
  105. common-exit.c
  106. common-init.c
  107. common-init.h
  108. common-main.c
  109. config.c
  110. config.h
  111. config.mak.dev
  112. config.mak.in
  113. config.mak.uname
  114. configure.ac
  115. connect.c
  116. connect.h
  117. connected.c
  118. connected.h
  119. convert.c
  120. convert.h
  121. copy.c
  122. copy.h
  123. COPYING
  124. credential.c
  125. credential.h
  126. csum-file.c
  127. csum-file.h
  128. ctype.c
  129. daemon.c
  130. date.c
  131. date.h
  132. decorate.c
  133. decorate.h
  134. delta-islands.c
  135. delta-islands.h
  136. delta.h
  137. detect-compiler
  138. diagnose.c
  139. diagnose.h
  140. diff-delta.c
  141. diff-lib.c
  142. diff-merges.c
  143. diff-merges.h
  144. diff-no-index.c
  145. diff.c
  146. diff.h
  147. diffcore-break.c
  148. diffcore-delta.c
  149. diffcore-order.c
  150. diffcore-pickaxe.c
  151. diffcore-rename.c
  152. diffcore-rotate.c
  153. diffcore.h
  154. dir-iterator.c
  155. dir-iterator.h
  156. dir.c
  157. dir.h
  158. editor.c
  159. editor.h
  160. entry.c
  161. entry.h
  162. environment.c
  163. environment.h
  164. exec-cmd.c
  165. exec-cmd.h
  166. fetch-negotiator.c
  167. fetch-negotiator.h
  168. fetch-pack.c
  169. fetch-pack.h
  170. fmt-merge-msg.c
  171. fmt-merge-msg.h
  172. fsck.c
  173. fsck.h
  174. fsmonitor--daemon.h
  175. fsmonitor-ipc.c
  176. fsmonitor-ipc.h
  177. fsmonitor-ll.h
  178. fsmonitor-path-utils.h
  179. fsmonitor-settings.c
  180. fsmonitor-settings.h
  181. fsmonitor.c
  182. fsmonitor.h
  183. generate-cmdlist.sh
  184. generate-configlist.sh
  185. generate-hooklist.sh
  186. generate-perl.sh
  187. generate-python.sh
  188. generate-script.sh
  189. gettext.c
  190. gettext.h
  191. git-archimport.perl
  192. GIT-BUILD-OPTIONS.in
  193. git-compat-util.h
  194. git-curl-compat.h
  195. git-cvsexportcommit.perl
  196. git-cvsimport.perl
  197. git-cvsserver.perl
  198. git-difftool--helper.sh
  199. git-filter-branch.sh
  200. git-instaweb.sh
  201. git-merge-octopus.sh
  202. git-merge-one-file.sh
  203. git-merge-resolve.sh
  204. git-mergetool--lib.sh
  205. git-mergetool.sh
  206. git-p4.py
  207. git-quiltimport.sh
  208. git-request-pull.sh
  209. git-send-email.perl
  210. git-sh-i18n.sh
  211. git-sh-setup.sh
  212. git-submodule.sh
  213. git-svn.perl
  214. GIT-VERSION-FILE.in
  215. GIT-VERSION-GEN
  216. git-web--browse.sh
  217. git-zlib.c
  218. git-zlib.h
  219. git.c
  220. git.rc.in
  221. gpg-interface.c
  222. gpg-interface.h
  223. graph.c
  224. graph.h
  225. grep.c
  226. grep.h
  227. hash-lookup.c
  228. hash-lookup.h
  229. hash.c
  230. hash.h
  231. hashmap.c
  232. hashmap.h
  233. help.c
  234. help.h
  235. hex-ll.c
  236. hex-ll.h
  237. hex.c
  238. hex.h
  239. hook.c
  240. hook.h
  241. http-backend.c
  242. http-fetch.c
  243. http-push.c
  244. http-walker.c
  245. http.c
  246. http.h
  247. ident.c
  248. ident.h
  249. imap-send.c
  250. INSTALL
  251. iterator.h
  252. json-writer.c
  253. json-writer.h
  254. khash.h
  255. kwset.c
  256. kwset.h
  257. levenshtein.c
  258. levenshtein.h
  259. LGPL-2.1
  260. line-log.c
  261. line-log.h
  262. line-range.c
  263. line-range.h
  264. linear-assignment.c
  265. linear-assignment.h
  266. list-objects-filter-options.c
  267. list-objects-filter-options.h
  268. list-objects-filter.c
  269. list-objects-filter.h
  270. list-objects.c
  271. list-objects.h
  272. list.h
  273. lockfile.c
  274. lockfile.h
  275. log-tree.c
  276. log-tree.h
  277. loose.c
  278. loose.h
  279. ls-refs.c
  280. ls-refs.h
  281. mailinfo.c
  282. mailinfo.h
  283. mailmap.c
  284. mailmap.h
  285. Makefile
  286. match-trees.c
  287. match-trees.h
  288. mem-pool.c
  289. mem-pool.h
  290. merge-blobs.c
  291. merge-blobs.h
  292. merge-ll.c
  293. merge-ll.h
  294. merge-ort-wrappers.c
  295. merge-ort-wrappers.h
  296. merge-ort.c
  297. merge-ort.h
  298. merge.c
  299. merge.h
  300. mergesort.h
  301. meson.build
  302. meson_options.txt
  303. midx-write.c
  304. midx.c
  305. midx.h
  306. name-hash.c
  307. name-hash.h
  308. notes-cache.c
  309. notes-cache.h
  310. notes-merge.c
  311. notes-merge.h
  312. notes-utils.c
  313. notes-utils.h
  314. notes.c
  315. notes.h
  316. object-file-convert.c
  317. object-file-convert.h
  318. object-file.c
  319. object-file.h
  320. object-name.c
  321. object-name.h
  322. object.c
  323. object.h
  324. odb.c
  325. odb.h
  326. oid-array.c
  327. oid-array.h
  328. oidmap.c
  329. oidmap.h
  330. oidset.c
  331. oidset.h
  332. oidtree.c
  333. oidtree.h
  334. pack-bitmap-write.c
  335. pack-bitmap.c
  336. pack-bitmap.h
  337. pack-check.c
  338. pack-mtimes.c
  339. pack-mtimes.h
  340. pack-objects.c
  341. pack-objects.h
  342. pack-revindex.c
  343. pack-revindex.h
  344. pack-write.c
  345. pack.h
  346. packfile.c
  347. packfile.h
  348. pager.c
  349. pager.h
  350. parallel-checkout.c
  351. parallel-checkout.h
  352. parse-options-cb.c
  353. parse-options.c
  354. parse-options.h
  355. parse.c
  356. parse.h
  357. patch-delta.c
  358. patch-ids.c
  359. patch-ids.h
  360. path-walk.c
  361. path-walk.h
  362. path.c
  363. path.h
  364. pathspec.c
  365. pathspec.h
  366. pkt-line.c
  367. pkt-line.h
  368. preload-index.c
  369. preload-index.h
  370. pretty.c
  371. pretty.h
  372. prio-queue.c
  373. prio-queue.h
  374. progress.c
  375. progress.h
  376. promisor-remote.c
  377. promisor-remote.h
  378. prompt.c
  379. prompt.h
  380. protocol-caps.c
  381. protocol-caps.h
  382. protocol.c
  383. protocol.h
  384. prune-packed.c
  385. prune-packed.h
  386. pseudo-merge.c
  387. pseudo-merge.h
  388. quote.c
  389. quote.h
  390. range-diff.c
  391. range-diff.h
  392. reachable.c
  393. reachable.h
  394. read-cache-ll.h
  395. read-cache.c
  396. read-cache.h
  397. README.md
  398. rebase-interactive.c
  399. rebase-interactive.h
  400. rebase.c
  401. rebase.h
  402. ref-filter.c
  403. ref-filter.h
  404. reflog-walk.c
  405. reflog-walk.h
  406. reflog.c
  407. reflog.h
  408. refs.c
  409. refs.h
  410. refspec.c
  411. refspec.h
  412. remote-curl.c
  413. remote.c
  414. remote.h
  415. replace-object.c
  416. replace-object.h
  417. repo-settings.c
  418. repo-settings.h
  419. repository.c
  420. repository.h
  421. rerere.c
  422. rerere.h
  423. reset.c
  424. reset.h
  425. resolve-undo.c
  426. resolve-undo.h
  427. revision.c
  428. revision.h
  429. run-command.c
  430. run-command.h
  431. sane-ctype.h
  432. scalar.c
  433. SECURITY.md
  434. send-pack.c
  435. send-pack.h
  436. sequencer.c
  437. sequencer.h
  438. serve.c
  439. serve.h
  440. server-info.c
  441. server-info.h
  442. setup.c
  443. setup.h
  444. sh-i18n--envsubst.c
  445. sha1dc_git.c
  446. sha1dc_git.h
  447. shallow.c
  448. shallow.h
  449. shared.mak
  450. shell.c
  451. shortlog.h
  452. sideband.c
  453. sideband.h
  454. sigchain.c
  455. sigchain.h
  456. simple-ipc.h
  457. sparse-index.c
  458. sparse-index.h
  459. split-index.c
  460. split-index.h
  461. stable-qsort.c
  462. statinfo.c
  463. statinfo.h
  464. strbuf.c
  465. strbuf.h
  466. streaming.c
  467. streaming.h
  468. string-list.c
  469. string-list.h
  470. strmap.c
  471. strmap.h
  472. strvec.c
  473. strvec.h
  474. sub-process.c
  475. sub-process.h
  476. submodule-config.c
  477. submodule-config.h
  478. submodule.c
  479. submodule.h
  480. symlinks.c
  481. symlinks.h
  482. tag.c
  483. tag.h
  484. tar.h
  485. tempfile.c
  486. tempfile.h
  487. thread-utils.c
  488. thread-utils.h
  489. tmp-objdir.c
  490. tmp-objdir.h
  491. trace.c
  492. trace.h
  493. trace2.c
  494. trace2.h
  495. trailer.c
  496. trailer.h
  497. transport-helper.c
  498. transport-internal.h
  499. transport.c
  500. transport.h
  501. tree-diff.c
  502. tree-walk.c
  503. tree-walk.h
  504. tree.c
  505. tree.h
  506. unicode-width.h
  507. unimplemented.sh
  508. unix-socket.c
  509. unix-socket.h
  510. unix-stream-server.c
  511. unix-stream-server.h
  512. unpack-trees.c
  513. unpack-trees.h
  514. upload-pack.c
  515. upload-pack.h
  516. url.c
  517. url.h
  518. urlmatch.c
  519. urlmatch.h
  520. usage.c
  521. userdiff.c
  522. userdiff.h
  523. utf8.c
  524. utf8.h
  525. varint.c
  526. varint.h
  527. version-def.h.in
  528. version.c
  529. version.h
  530. versioncmp.c
  531. versioncmp.h
  532. walker.c
  533. walker.h
  534. wildmatch.c
  535. wildmatch.h
  536. worktree.c
  537. worktree.h
  538. wrapper.c
  539. wrapper.h
  540. write-or-die.c
  541. write-or-die.h
  542. ws.c
  543. ws.h
  544. wt-status.c
  545. wt-status.h
  546. xdiff-interface.c
  547. xdiff-interface.h
README.md

Build status

Git - fast, scalable, distributed revision control system

Git is a fast, scalable, distributed revision control system with an unusually rich command set that provides both high-level operations and full access to internals.

Git is an Open Source project covered by the GNU General Public License version 2 (some parts of it are under different licenses, compatible with the GPLv2). It was originally written by Linus Torvalds with help of a group of hackers around the net.

Please read the file INSTALL for installation instructions.

Many Git online resources are accessible from https://git-scm.com/ including full documentation and Git related tools.

See Documentation/gittutorial.adoc to get started, then see Documentation/giteveryday.adoc for a useful minimum set of commands, and Documentation/git-<commandname>.adoc for documentation of each command. If git has been correctly installed, then the tutorial can also be read with man gittutorial or git help tutorial, and the documentation of each command with man git-<commandname> or git help <commandname>.

CVS users may also want to read Documentation/gitcvs-migration.adoc (man gitcvs-migration or git help cvs-migration if git is installed).

The user discussion and development of Git take place on the Git mailing list -- everyone is welcome to post bug reports, feature requests, comments and patches to git@vger.kernel.org (read Documentation/SubmittingPatches for instructions on patch submission and Documentation/CodingGuidelines).

Those wishing to help with error message, usage and informational message string translations (localization l10) should see po/README.md (a po file is a Portable Object file that holds the translations).

To subscribe to the list, send an email to git+subscribe@vger.kernel.org (see https://subspace.kernel.org/subscribing.html for details). The mailing list archives are available at https://lore.kernel.org/git/, https://marc.info/?l=git and other archival sites.

Issues which are security relevant should be disclosed privately to the Git Security mailing list git-security@googlegroups.com.

The maintainer frequently sends the “What's cooking” reports that list the current status of various development topics to the mailing list. The discussion following them give a good reference for project status, development direction and remaining tasks.

The name “git” was given by Linus Torvalds when he wrote the very first version. He described the tool as “the stupid content tracker” and the name as (depending on your mood):

  • random three-letter combination that is pronounceable, and not actually used by any common UNIX command. The fact that it is a mispronunciation of “get” may or may not be relevant.
  • stupid. contemptible and despicable. simple. Take your pick from the dictionary of slang.
  • “global information tracker”: you're in a good mood, and it actually works for you. Angels sing, and a light suddenly fills the room.
  • “goddamn idiotic truckload of sh*t”: when it breaks