When running scheduled maintenance via `git maintenance start`, we
acquire a lockfile to ensure that no other scheduled maintenance task is
running in the repository concurrently. If so, we do provide an error to
the user hinting that another process seems to be running in this repo.
There are two important cases why such a lockfile may exist:
- An actual git-maintenance(1) process is still running in this
repository.
- An earlier process may have crashed or was interrupted part way
through and has left a stale lockfile behind.
In c95547a394 (builtin/gc: fix crash when running `git maintenance
start`, 2024-10-10), we have fixed an issue where git-maintenance(1)
would crash with the "start" subcommand, and the underlying bug causes
the second scenario to trigger quite often now.
Most users don't know how to get out of that situation again though.
Ideally, we'd be removing the stale lock for our users automatically.
But in the context of repository maintenance this is rather risky, as it
can easily run for hours or even days. So finding a clear point where we
know that the old process has exited is basically impossible.
We have the same issue in other subsystems, e.g. when locking refs. Our
lockfile interfaces thus provide the `unable_to_lock_message()` function
for exactly this purpose: it provides a nice hint to the user that
explains what is going on and how to get out of that situation again by
manually removing the file.
Adapt git-maintenance(1) to print a similar hint. While we could use the
above function, we can provide a bit more context as we know exactly
what kind of process would create the lockfile.
Reported-by: Miguel Rincon Barahona <mrincon@gitlab.com>
Reported-by: Kev Kloss <kkloss@gitlab.com>
Signed-off-by: Patrick Steinhardt <ps@pks.im>
Signed-off-by: Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>
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.txt to get started, then see
Documentation/giteveryday.txt for a useful minimum set of commands, and
Documentation/git-<commandname>.txt 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.txt
(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