The feature proposal of adding a command interface to cat-file was first
discussed in [A]. In [B], Taylor expressed the need for a fuller proposal
before moving forward with a new flag. An RFC was created [C] and the idea
was discussed more thoroughly, and overall it seemed like it was headed in
the right direction.

This patch series consolidates the feedback from these different threads.

This patch series has three parts:

 1. preparation patch to rename a variable
 2. adding an enum to keep track of batch modes
 3. logic to handle --batch-command flag, adding contents, info, flush
    commands

Changes since v3 (thanks to Junio's feedback):

 * added cascading logic in batch_options_callback()
 * free memory for queued call input lines
 * do not throw error when flushing an empty queue
 * renamed cmds array to singular queued_cmd
 * fixed flaky test that failed --stress

Changes since v2:

 * added enum to keep track of which batch mode we are in (thanks to Junio's
   feedback)
 * fixed array allocation logic (thanks to Junio's feedback)
 * added code to flush commands when --batch-commands receives an EOF and
   exits (thanks to Phillip's feedback)
 * fixed docs formatting (thanks to Jonathan's feedback)

Changes since v1:

 * simplified "session" mechanism. "flush" will execute all commands that
   were entered in since the last "flush" when in --buffer mode
 * when not in --buffer mode, each command is executed and flushed each time
 * rename cmdmode to transform_mode instead of just mode
 * simplified command parsing logic
 * changed rename of cmdmode to transform_mode
 * clarified verbiage in commit messages

A. https://lore.kernel.org/git/xmqqk0hitnkc.fsf@gitster.g/ B.
https://lore.kernel.org/git/YehomwNiIs0l83W7@nand.local/ C.
https://lore.kernel.org/git/e75ba9ea-fdda-6e9f-4dd6-24190117d93b@gmail.com/

John Cai (3):
  cat-file: rename cmdmode to transform_mode
  cat-file: introduce batch_mode enum to replace print_contents
  cat-file: add --batch-command mode

 Documentation/git-cat-file.txt |  24 ++++
 builtin/cat-file.c             | 159 +++++++++++++++++++++++--
 t/t1006-cat-file.sh            | 211 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-
 3 files changed, 382 insertions(+), 12 deletions(-)

base-commit: 38062e73e009f27ea192d50481fcb5e7b0e9d6eb

Submitted-As: https://lore.kernel.org/git/pull.1212.v4.git.git.1644465706.gitgitgadget@gmail.com
In-Reply-To: https://lore.kernel.org/git/pull.1212.git.git.1643915286.gitgitgadget@gmail.com
In-Reply-To: https://lore.kernel.org/git/pull.1212.v2.git.git.1644251611.gitgitgadget@gmail.com
In-Reply-To: https://lore.kernel.org/git/pull.1212.v3.git.git.1644353884.gitgitgadget@gmail.com