Repository Reference Rollup (was Re: Repository referencing in command lines)

[Vincent LADEUIL]

>>>>> "Denys" == Denys Duchier <duchier at ps.uni-sb.de> writes:

    Denys> "Matthew D. Fuller" <fullermd at over-yonder.net> writes:
    >>> Which is why I suggest the
    >>> "repo:<repo_url>:<branch_name>" syntax in the first place
    >>> 8-}

    Denys> I don't get where repo:<repo_url>:<branch_name> is any
    Denys> different from <repo_url>/<branch_name>

8-/ Because  both <repo_url> and <branch_name> can  contain '/' ?
Because  ':'  can disambiguate  in  that  case  (and make  things
clearer for both user and the programmer ) ?

    >> Second assumption: There are times where it would be
    >> useful (almost requisite, for human factors) to refer to a
    >> repository branch by its branch name, without giving a
    >> full path to the repository.

    Denys> Fine, then all you need is a notation for this special
    Denys> case; a notation that means: "this is a branch name, I
    Denys> am omitting the repo url, figure it out somehow."

    Denys> Here is a suggestion:

    Denys> 	.../<branch_name>

    Denys> Notice the .../ prefix.  It says to bzr: figure it out
    Denys> by applying the "well-defined-figuring-it-out"
    Denys> algorithm; and it is easy to type ;-)

And easy  to confuse with other paths  representations (which you
admit  yourself  by  adding  "Notice  the .../  prefix"  :)  (and
::<branch_name> is  also easy to type and  two characters shorter
if you want to count :-)

    Vincent (very surprised to disagree with Denys...)