Re: Mercurial vs. git (Re: hurd-web/hurd/translator/unionmount.mdwn)

[Arne Babenhauserheide]

Hi, 

Am Sonntag, 13. September 2009 18:26:42 schrieb Sergiu Ivanov:
> I remember your long discussion about Mercurial vs. git, but I don't
> remember all the details, because I didn't understand a lot at those
> times.  However, it has just occurred to me that I should start
> familiarizing with Mercurial by reading that discussion, because in
> this way I could reference things with respect to git, which I already
> know.  In this way I'll the explanation ``why git is great'', too :-)

I'd rather just read the last few posts, else you'll still be reading fulltime 
next week :)
We wrapped up the discussion there. 
 
> Hm, immutable history frightens me -- my usual programming loop is
> like ``think->try->think again'', and during the third phase I often
> run into the necessity of changing what I have already done.  Thus
> git-reset is one of my favourites :-)

I think "git reset" is the equivalent to "hg rollback" which reverts the last 
transaction. 

It's the only history changing operation in the standard commands, and I guess 
that the reason is that it's used very often. 

I for one tend to do 
$ hg ci -m "did it"
$ (think, find a typo, curse mentally)
$ hg roll
$ hg ci -m "did it" (OK, in fact that's hit the up arrow twice and follow up 
with enter :) ). 
$ (smile, think again... :) )

That whole loop shows up as one commit, too (since the last commit is the last 
transaction). 

"hg rollback" can also be used to undo pulling from someone, since it just 
reverts the last change to the history. 
 
> Do I understand it right, then, that when you don't activate any
> extensions, Mercurial allows only a basic set of operations which are
> guaranteed to keep things safe?

Jupp, excepting "hg rollback" (which can only undo the last operation). 
 
> I see :-)
> 
> Good luck with learning and passing the exam! :-)

Many thanks! 
 
> BTW, I like the news idea a lot, since it keeps the Hurd web-site
> regularly updated.  I, for instance, have the habit of looking at the
> ``last updated'' date on any new site I arrive on to assess the level
> of activity in the project.

I do the same - that's why I got the idea of posting the news :) 

Back in the "OS and networking" informatics course, our prof told us to gathe 
rinformation about the difference between the Hurd and Linux. I realized back 
then that I wasn't able to find out if the Hurd had recent activity in under 
an hour of searching.  

Some time later I decided to amend that situation, first by working on the 
wiki (and nagging ;) - Thomas did the brunt work of switching to ikiwiki), and 
now by writing the news. 

It can't be that the biggest vision for a really free kernel (I know of) is 
deemed inactive, simply because the website isn't updated... especially when 
writing is something I enjoy. 

Best wishes, 
Arne

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Unpolitisch sein
heißt politisch sein, 
ohne es zu merken. 
- Arne (http://draketo.de)
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