[RFC/PATCH,1/5] Makefile: move long inline shell loops in "install" into helper

Commit Message

Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason Nov. 2, 2018, 10:37 p.m. UTC

Move a 37 line for-loop mess out of "install" and into a helper
script. This started out fairly innocent but over the years has grown
into a hard-to-maintain monster, and my recent ad874608d8 ("Makefile:
optionally symlink libexec/git-core binaries to bin/git", 2018-03-13)
certainly didn't help.

The shell code is ported pretty much as-is (with getopts added), it'll
be fixed & prettified in subsequent commits.

Signed-off-by: Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason <[e-mail]>
---
 Makefile         | 52 ++++++++--------------------
 install_programs | 89 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 2 files changed, 103 insertions(+), 38 deletions(-)
 create mode 100755 install_programs

Comments

Eric Sunshine Nov. 4, 2018, 1:09 a.m. UTC | #1

'sb/filenames-with-dashes'On Fri, Nov 2, 2018 at 6:38 PM Ævar Arnfjörð
Bjarmason <[e-mail]> wrote:
> Move a 37 line for-loop mess out of "install" and into a helper
> script. This started out fairly innocent but over the years has grown
> into a hard-to-maintain monster, and my recent ad874608d8 ("Makefile:
> optionally symlink libexec/git-core binaries to bin/git", 2018-03-13)
> certainly didn't help.
>
> The shell code is ported pretty much as-is (with getopts added), it'll
> be fixed & prettified in subsequent commits.
>
> Signed-off-by: Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason <[e-mail]>
> ---
>  install_programs | 89 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Pure nitpick: Earlier this year, Stefan made an effort[1] to eradicate
filenames with underscores and replace them with hyphenated filenames.
Perhaps name this "install-programs", instead.

[1]: sb/filenames-with-dashes

> diff --git a/install_programs b/install_programs
> @@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
> +while test $# != 0
> +do
> +       case "$1" in
> +       --X=*)
> +               X="${1#--X=}"
> +               ;;
> +       --RM=*)
> +               RM="${1#--RM=}"
> +               ;;
> +       --bindir=*)
> +               bindir="${1#--bindir=}"
> +               ;;

Is the intention that the user might have X, RM, 'bindir', etc.
already in the environment, and the switches in this script merely
override those values? Or is the intention that X, RM, 'bindir, etc.
should all start out unset? If the latter, perhaps start the script
with an initialization block which clears all these variables first:

    X=
    RM=
    bindir=
    ...

Johannes Schindelin Nov. 12, 2018, 2:03 p.m. UTC | #2

Hi,

On Fri, 2 Nov 2018, Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason wrote:

> Move a 37 line for-loop mess out of "install" and into a helper
> script. This started out fairly innocent but over the years has grown
> into a hard-to-maintain monster, and my recent ad874608d8 ("Makefile:
> optionally symlink libexec/git-core binaries to bin/git", 2018-03-13)
> certainly didn't help.
> 
> The shell code is ported pretty much as-is (with getopts added), it'll
> be fixed & prettified in subsequent commits.
> 
> Signed-off-by: Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason <[e-mail]>
> ---
>  Makefile         | 52 ++++++++--------------------
>  install_programs | 89 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>  2 files changed, 103 insertions(+), 38 deletions(-)
>  create mode 100755 install_programs
> 
> diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
> index bbfbb4292d..aa6ca1fa68 100644
> --- a/Makefile
> +++ b/Makefile
> @@ -2808,44 +2808,20 @@ endif
>  	bindir=$$(cd '$(DESTDIR_SQ)$(bindir_SQ)' && pwd) && \
>  	execdir=$$(cd '$(DESTDIR_SQ)$(gitexec_instdir_SQ)' && pwd) && \
>  	destdir_from_execdir_SQ=$$(echo '$(gitexecdir_relative_SQ)' | sed -e 's|[^/][^/]*|..|g') && \
> -	{ test "$$bindir/" = "$$execdir/" || \
> -	  for p in git$X $(filter $(install_bindir_programs),$(ALL_PROGRAMS)); do \
> -		$(RM) "$$execdir/$$p" && \
> -		test -n "$(INSTALL_SYMLINKS)" && \
> -		ln -s "$$destdir_from_execdir_SQ/$(bindir_relative_SQ)/$$p" "$$execdir/$$p" || \
> -		{ test -z "$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)$(NO_CROSS_DIRECTORY_HARDLINKS)" && \
> -		  ln "$$bindir/$$p" "$$execdir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
> -		  cp "$$bindir/$$p" "$$execdir/$$p" || exit; } \
> -	  done; \
> -	} && \
> -	for p in $(filter $(install_bindir_programs),$(BUILT_INS)); do \
> -		$(RM) "$$bindir/$$p" && \
> -		test -n "$(INSTALL_SYMLINKS)" && \
> -		ln -s "git$X" "$$bindir/$$p" || \
> -		{ test -z "$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)" && \
> -		  ln "$$bindir/git$X" "$$bindir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
> -		  ln -s "git$X" "$$bindir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
> -		  cp "$$bindir/git$X" "$$bindir/$$p" || exit; } \
> -	done && \
> -	for p in $(BUILT_INS); do \
> -		$(RM) "$$execdir/$$p" && \
> -		test -n "$(INSTALL_SYMLINKS)" && \
> -		ln -s "$$destdir_from_execdir_SQ/$(bindir_relative_SQ)/git$X" "$$execdir/$$p" || \
> -		{ test -z "$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)" && \
> -		  ln "$$execdir/git$X" "$$execdir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
> -		  ln -s "git$X" "$$execdir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
> -		  cp "$$execdir/git$X" "$$execdir/$$p" || exit; } \
> -	done && \
> -	remote_curl_aliases="$(REMOTE_CURL_ALIASES)" && \
> -	for p in $$remote_curl_aliases; do \
> -		$(RM) "$$execdir/$$p" && \
> -		test -n "$(INSTALL_SYMLINKS)" && \
> -		ln -s "git-remote-http$X" "$$execdir/$$p" || \
> -		{ test -z "$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)" && \
> -		  ln "$$execdir/git-remote-http$X" "$$execdir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
> -		  ln -s "git-remote-http$X" "$$execdir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
> -		  cp "$$execdir/git-remote-http$X" "$$execdir/$$p" || exit; } \
> -	done && \

This indeed looks like a mess...

> +	./install_programs \
> +		--X="$$X" \
> +		--RM="$(RM)" \
> +		--bindir="$$bindir" \
> +		--bindir-relative="$(bindir_relative_SQ)" \
> +		--execdir="$$execdir" \
> +		--destdir-from-execdir="$$destdir_from_execdir_SQ" \
> +		--flag-install-symlinks="$(INSTALL_SYMLINKS)" \
> +		--flag-no-install-hardlinks="$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)" \
> +		--flag-no-cross-directory-hardlinks="$(NO_CROSS_DIRECTORY_HARDLINKS)" \
> +		--list-bindir-standalone="git$X $(filter $(install_bindir_programs),$(ALL_PROGRAMS))" \
> +		--list-bindir-git-dashed="$(filter $(install_bindir_programs),$(BUILT_INS))" \
> +		--list-execdir-git-dashed="$(BUILT_INS)" \
> +		--list-execdir-curl-aliases="$(REMOTE_CURL_ALIASES)" && \
>  	./check_bindir "z$$bindir" "z$$execdir" "$$bindir/git-add$X"
>  
>  .PHONY: install-gitweb install-doc install-man install-man-perl install-html install-info install-pdf
> diff --git a/install_programs b/install_programs
> new file mode 100755
> index 0000000000..e287108112
> --- /dev/null
> +++ b/install_programs
> @@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
> +#!/bin/sh
> +
> +while test $# != 0
> +do
> +	case "$1" in
> +	--X=*)
> +		X="${1#--X=}"
> +		;;
> +	--RM=*)
> +		RM="${1#--RM=}"
> +		;;
> +	--bindir=*)
> +		bindir="${1#--bindir=}"
> +		;;
> +	--bindir-relative=*)
> +		bindir_relative="${1#--bindir-relative=}"
> +		;;
> +	--execdir=*)
> +		execdir="${1#--execdir=}"
> +		;;
> +	--destdir-from-execdir=*)
> +		destdir_from_execdir="${1#--destdir-from-execdir=}"
> +		;;
> +	--flag-install-symlinks=*)
> +		INSTALL_SYMLINKS="${1#--flag-install-symlinks=}"
> +		;;
> +	--flag-no-install-hardlinks=*)
> +		NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS="${1#--flag-no-install-hardlinks=}"
> +		;;
> +	--flag-no-cross-directory-hardlinks=*)
> +		NO_CROSS_DIRECTORY_HARDLINKS="${1#--flag-no-cross-directory-hardlinks=}"
> +		;;
> +	--list-bindir-standalone=*)
> +		list_bindir_standalone="${1#--list-bindir-standalone=}"
> +		;;
> +	--list-bindir-git-dashed=*)
> +		list_bindir_git_dashed="${1#--list-bindir-git-dashed=}"
> +		;;
> +	--list-execdir-git-dashed=*)
> +		list_execdir_git_dashed="${1#--list-execdir-git-dashed=}"
> +		;;
> +	--list-execdir-curl-aliases=*)
> +		list_execdir_curl_aliases="${1#--list-execdir-curl-aliases=}"
> +		;;
> +
> +	*)
> +		echo "Unknown option $1"
> +		exit 1
> +		;;
> +	esac
> +	shift
> +done &&
> +{ test "$bindir/" = "$execdir/" ||
> +  for p in $list_bindir_standalone; do
> +	$RM "$execdir/$p" &&
> +	test -n "$INSTALL_SYMLINKS" &&
> +	ln -s "$destdir_from_execdir/$bindir_relative/$p" "$execdir/$p" ||
> +	{ test -z "$NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS$NO_CROSS_DIRECTORY_HARDLINKS" &&
> +	  ln "$bindir/$p" "$execdir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
> +	  cp "$bindir/$p" "$execdir/$p" || exit; }
> +  done;
> +} &&
> +for p in $list_bindir_git_dashed; do
> +	$RM "$bindir/$p" &&
> +	test -n "$INSTALL_SYMLINKS" &&
> +	ln -s "git$X" "$bindir/$p" ||
> +	{ test -z "$NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS" &&
> +	  ln "$bindir/git$X" "$bindir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
> +	  ln -s "git$X" "$bindir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
> +	  cp "$bindir/git$X" "$bindir/$p" || exit; }
> +done &&
> +for p in $list_execdir_git_dashed; do
> +	$RM "$execdir/$p" &&
> +	test -n "$INSTALL_SYMLINKS" &&
> +	ln -s "$destdir_from_execdir/$bindir_relative/git$X" "$execdir/$p" ||
> +	{ test -z "$NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS" &&
> +	  ln "$execdir/git$X" "$execdir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
> +	  ln -s "git$X" "$execdir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
> +	  cp "$execdir/git$X" "$execdir/$p" || exit; }
> +done &&
> +for p in $list_execdir_curl_aliases; do
> +	$RM "$execdir/$p" &&
> +	test -n "$INSTALL_SYMLINKS" &&
> +	ln -s "git-remote-http$X" "$execdir/$p" ||
> +	{ test -z "$NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS" &&
> +	  ln "$execdir/git-remote-http$X" "$execdir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
> +	  ln -s "git-remote-http$X" "$execdir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
> +	  cp "$execdir/git-remote-http$X" "$execdir/$p" || exit; }
> +done

... but so does this. I would be very surprised if these four very
similar-looking constructs could not be refactored into a single shell
script that is then called four times with different parameters.

Something like

	#!/bin/sh

	from=
	while case "$1" in
	--no-hardlinks)
		NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS=t
		;;
	--from=*)
		from="${1#*=}"
		;;
	*)
		break
		;;
	esac; do
		shift
	done

	test $# -gt 3 || {
		echo "Usage: $0 [--no-hardlinks] <from-dir> <to-dir> <file>..." >&2
		exit 1
	}

	fromdir="$1"
	todir="$2"
	shift
	shift

	for p in "$@"
	do
		$RM "$todir/$p" &&
		test -n "$INSTALL_SYMLINKS" &&
		ln -s "$fromdir/${from:-$p}" "$todir/$p" ||
		{ test -z "$NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS" &&
		  ln "$fromdir/${from:-$p}" "$todir/$p" ||
		  ln -s "$fromdir/${from:-$p}" "$todir/$p" ||
		  cp "$fromdir/${from:-$p}" "$todir/$p" || exit; }
	done

and then calling it using

	test "$bindir/" = "$execdir/" ||
	link-or-copy ${NO_CROSS_DIRECTORY_HARDLINKS:+--no-hardlinks} \
		"$bindir" "$execdir" $list_bindir_standalone
	link-or-copy --from=git$X "$bindir" "$bindir" $list_bindir_git_dashed
	link-or-copy --from=git$X "$bindir" "$execdir" $list_bindir_git_dashed
	link-or-copy --from=git-remote-http$X "$bindir" "$execdir" $list_execdir_curl_aliases

That would at least DRY up this mess a bit.

Ciao,
Dscho

> -- 
> 2.19.1.930.g4563a0d9d0
> 
>

Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason Nov. 12, 2018, 2:42 p.m. UTC | #3

On Mon, Nov 12 2018, Johannes Schindelin wrote:

> Hi,
>
> On Fri, 2 Nov 2018, Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason wrote:
>
>> Move a 37 line for-loop mess out of "install" and into a helper
>> script. This started out fairly innocent but over the years has grown
>> into a hard-to-maintain monster, and my recent ad874608d8 ("Makefile:
>> optionally symlink libexec/git-core binaries to bin/git", 2018-03-13)
>> certainly didn't help.
>>
>> The shell code is ported pretty much as-is (with getopts added), it'll
>> be fixed & prettified in subsequent commits.
>>
>> Signed-off-by: Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason <[e-mail]>
>> ---
>>  Makefile         | 52 ++++++++--------------------
>>  install_programs | 89 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>>  2 files changed, 103 insertions(+), 38 deletions(-)
>>  create mode 100755 install_programs
>>
>> diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
>> index bbfbb4292d..aa6ca1fa68 100644
>> --- a/Makefile
>> +++ b/Makefile
>> @@ -2808,44 +2808,20 @@ endif
>>  	bindir=$$(cd '$(DESTDIR_SQ)$(bindir_SQ)' && pwd) && \
>>  	execdir=$$(cd '$(DESTDIR_SQ)$(gitexec_instdir_SQ)' && pwd) && \
>>  	destdir_from_execdir_SQ=$$(echo '$(gitexecdir_relative_SQ)' | sed -e 's|[^/][^/]*|..|g') && \
>> -	{ test "$$bindir/" = "$$execdir/" || \
>> -	  for p in git$X $(filter $(install_bindir_programs),$(ALL_PROGRAMS)); do \
>> -		$(RM) "$$execdir/$$p" && \
>> -		test -n "$(INSTALL_SYMLINKS)" && \
>> -		ln -s "$$destdir_from_execdir_SQ/$(bindir_relative_SQ)/$$p" "$$execdir/$$p" || \
>> -		{ test -z "$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)$(NO_CROSS_DIRECTORY_HARDLINKS)" && \
>> -		  ln "$$bindir/$$p" "$$execdir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
>> -		  cp "$$bindir/$$p" "$$execdir/$$p" || exit; } \
>> -	  done; \
>> -	} && \
>> -	for p in $(filter $(install_bindir_programs),$(BUILT_INS)); do \
>> -		$(RM) "$$bindir/$$p" && \
>> -		test -n "$(INSTALL_SYMLINKS)" && \
>> -		ln -s "git$X" "$$bindir/$$p" || \
>> -		{ test -z "$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)" && \
>> -		  ln "$$bindir/git$X" "$$bindir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
>> -		  ln -s "git$X" "$$bindir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
>> -		  cp "$$bindir/git$X" "$$bindir/$$p" || exit; } \
>> -	done && \
>> -	for p in $(BUILT_INS); do \
>> -		$(RM) "$$execdir/$$p" && \
>> -		test -n "$(INSTALL_SYMLINKS)" && \
>> -		ln -s "$$destdir_from_execdir_SQ/$(bindir_relative_SQ)/git$X" "$$execdir/$$p" || \
>> -		{ test -z "$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)" && \
>> -		  ln "$$execdir/git$X" "$$execdir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
>> -		  ln -s "git$X" "$$execdir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
>> -		  cp "$$execdir/git$X" "$$execdir/$$p" || exit; } \
>> -	done && \
>> -	remote_curl_aliases="$(REMOTE_CURL_ALIASES)" && \
>> -	for p in $$remote_curl_aliases; do \
>> -		$(RM) "$$execdir/$$p" && \
>> -		test -n "$(INSTALL_SYMLINKS)" && \
>> -		ln -s "git-remote-http$X" "$$execdir/$$p" || \
>> -		{ test -z "$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)" && \
>> -		  ln "$$execdir/git-remote-http$X" "$$execdir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
>> -		  ln -s "git-remote-http$X" "$$execdir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
>> -		  cp "$$execdir/git-remote-http$X" "$$execdir/$$p" || exit; } \
>> -	done && \
>
> This indeed looks like a mess...
>
>> +	./install_programs \
>> +		--X="$$X" \
>> +		--RM="$(RM)" \
>> +		--bindir="$$bindir" \
>> +		--bindir-relative="$(bindir_relative_SQ)" \
>> +		--execdir="$$execdir" \
>> +		--destdir-from-execdir="$$destdir_from_execdir_SQ" \
>> +		--flag-install-symlinks="$(INSTALL_SYMLINKS)" \
>> +		--flag-no-install-hardlinks="$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)" \
>> +		--flag-no-cross-directory-hardlinks="$(NO_CROSS_DIRECTORY_HARDLINKS)" \
>> +		--list-bindir-standalone="git$X $(filter $(install_bindir_programs),$(ALL_PROGRAMS))" \
>> +		--list-bindir-git-dashed="$(filter $(install_bindir_programs),$(BUILT_INS))" \
>> +		--list-execdir-git-dashed="$(BUILT_INS)" \
>> +		--list-execdir-curl-aliases="$(REMOTE_CURL_ALIASES)" && \
>>  	./check_bindir "z$$bindir" "z$$execdir" "$$bindir/git-add$X"
>>
>>  .PHONY: install-gitweb install-doc install-man install-man-perl install-html install-info install-pdf
>> diff --git a/install_programs b/install_programs
>> new file mode 100755
>> index 0000000000..e287108112
>> --- /dev/null
>> +++ b/install_programs
>> @@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
>> +#!/bin/sh
>> +
>> +while test $# != 0
>> +do
>> +	case "$1" in
>> +	--X=*)
>> +		X="${1#--X=}"
>> +		;;
>> +	--RM=*)
>> +		RM="${1#--RM=}"
>> +		;;
>> +	--bindir=*)
>> +		bindir="${1#--bindir=}"
>> +		;;
>> +	--bindir-relative=*)
>> +		bindir_relative="${1#--bindir-relative=}"
>> +		;;
>> +	--execdir=*)
>> +		execdir="${1#--execdir=}"
>> +		;;
>> +	--destdir-from-execdir=*)
>> +		destdir_from_execdir="${1#--destdir-from-execdir=}"
>> +		;;
>> +	--flag-install-symlinks=*)
>> +		INSTALL_SYMLINKS="${1#--flag-install-symlinks=}"
>> +		;;
>> +	--flag-no-install-hardlinks=*)
>> +		NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS="${1#--flag-no-install-hardlinks=}"
>> +		;;
>> +	--flag-no-cross-directory-hardlinks=*)
>> +		NO_CROSS_DIRECTORY_HARDLINKS="${1#--flag-no-cross-directory-hardlinks=}"
>> +		;;
>> +	--list-bindir-standalone=*)
>> +		list_bindir_standalone="${1#--list-bindir-standalone=}"
>> +		;;
>> +	--list-bindir-git-dashed=*)
>> +		list_bindir_git_dashed="${1#--list-bindir-git-dashed=}"
>> +		;;
>> +	--list-execdir-git-dashed=*)
>> +		list_execdir_git_dashed="${1#--list-execdir-git-dashed=}"
>> +		;;
>> +	--list-execdir-curl-aliases=*)
>> +		list_execdir_curl_aliases="${1#--list-execdir-curl-aliases=}"
>> +		;;
>> +
>> +	*)
>> +		echo "Unknown option $1"
>> +		exit 1
>> +		;;
>> +	esac
>> +	shift
>> +done &&
>> +{ test "$bindir/" = "$execdir/" ||
>> +  for p in $list_bindir_standalone; do
>> +	$RM "$execdir/$p" &&
>> +	test -n "$INSTALL_SYMLINKS" &&
>> +	ln -s "$destdir_from_execdir/$bindir_relative/$p" "$execdir/$p" ||
>> +	{ test -z "$NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS$NO_CROSS_DIRECTORY_HARDLINKS" &&
>> +	  ln "$bindir/$p" "$execdir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
>> +	  cp "$bindir/$p" "$execdir/$p" || exit; }
>> +  done;
>> +} &&
>> +for p in $list_bindir_git_dashed; do
>> +	$RM "$bindir/$p" &&
>> +	test -n "$INSTALL_SYMLINKS" &&
>> +	ln -s "git$X" "$bindir/$p" ||
>> +	{ test -z "$NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS" &&
>> +	  ln "$bindir/git$X" "$bindir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
>> +	  ln -s "git$X" "$bindir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
>> +	  cp "$bindir/git$X" "$bindir/$p" || exit; }
>> +done &&
>> +for p in $list_execdir_git_dashed; do
>> +	$RM "$execdir/$p" &&
>> +	test -n "$INSTALL_SYMLINKS" &&
>> +	ln -s "$destdir_from_execdir/$bindir_relative/git$X" "$execdir/$p" ||
>> +	{ test -z "$NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS" &&
>> +	  ln "$execdir/git$X" "$execdir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
>> +	  ln -s "git$X" "$execdir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
>> +	  cp "$execdir/git$X" "$execdir/$p" || exit; }
>> +done &&
>> +for p in $list_execdir_curl_aliases; do
>> +	$RM "$execdir/$p" &&
>> +	test -n "$INSTALL_SYMLINKS" &&
>> +	ln -s "git-remote-http$X" "$execdir/$p" ||
>> +	{ test -z "$NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS" &&
>> +	  ln "$execdir/git-remote-http$X" "$execdir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
>> +	  ln -s "git-remote-http$X" "$execdir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
>> +	  cp "$execdir/git-remote-http$X" "$execdir/$p" || exit; }
>> +done
>
> ... but so does this. I would be very surprised if these four very
> similar-looking constructs could not be refactored into a single shell
> script that is then called four times with different parameters.
>
> Something like
>
> 	#!/bin/sh
>
> 	from=
> 	while case "$1" in
> 	--no-hardlinks)
> 		NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS=t
> 		;;
> 	--from=*)
> 		from="${1#*=}"
> 		;;
> 	*)
> 		break
> 		;;
> 	esac; do
> 		shift
> 	done
>
> 	test $# -gt 3 || {
> 		echo "Usage: $0 [--no-hardlinks] <from-dir> <to-dir> <file>..." >&2
> 		exit 1
> 	}
>
> 	fromdir="$1"
> 	todir="$2"
> 	shift
> 	shift
>
> 	for p in "$@"
> 	do
> 		$RM "$todir/$p" &&
> 		test -n "$INSTALL_SYMLINKS" &&
> 		ln -s "$fromdir/${from:-$p}" "$todir/$p" ||
> 		{ test -z "$NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS" &&
> 		  ln "$fromdir/${from:-$p}" "$todir/$p" ||
> 		  ln -s "$fromdir/${from:-$p}" "$todir/$p" ||
> 		  cp "$fromdir/${from:-$p}" "$todir/$p" || exit; }
> 	done
>
> and then calling it using
>
> 	test "$bindir/" = "$execdir/" ||
> 	link-or-copy ${NO_CROSS_DIRECTORY_HARDLINKS:+--no-hardlinks} \
> 		"$bindir" "$execdir" $list_bindir_standalone
> 	link-or-copy --from=git$X "$bindir" "$bindir" $list_bindir_git_dashed
> 	link-or-copy --from=git$X "$bindir" "$execdir" $list_bindir_git_dashed
> 	link-or-copy --from=git-remote-http$X "$bindir" "$execdir" $list_execdir_curl_aliases
>
> That would at least DRY up this mess a bit.

I'll try for a non-RFC re-submission of this which won't have the 5/5
NO_INSTALL_BUILTIN_EXECDIR_ALIASES (for now) which'll hopefully be ready
for inclusion.

I tried to fold up some of these special cases into one thing before,
but managing the exceptions gets messier to read in my opinion than just
having some duplication.

But more to the point, between your suggestion and Junio's to do all of
this with some make construct: Yeah we should make it awesome, but I
think a logical first step for a patch series like this is to just as-is
use the existing logic we have now with some minor fixes for bugs.

We can refactor this later, I'm mainly interested in moving this over to
a *.sh first so that process is less of a mess, fixing some minor bugs,
and not getting a first iteration of improvements stuck on a much bigger
review for "I rewrote the way the whole install process works" series.

Johannes Schindelin Nov. 12, 2018, 4:32 p.m. UTC | #4

Hi Ævar,

On Mon, 12 Nov 2018, Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason wrote:

> On Mon, Nov 12 2018, Johannes Schindelin wrote:
> 
> > On Fri, 2 Nov 2018, Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason wrote:
> >
> >> Move a 37 line for-loop mess out of "install" and into a helper
> >> script. This started out fairly innocent but over the years has grown
> >> into a hard-to-maintain monster, and my recent ad874608d8 ("Makefile:
> >> optionally symlink libexec/git-core binaries to bin/git", 2018-03-13)
> >> certainly didn't help.
> >>
> >> The shell code is ported pretty much as-is (with getopts added), it'll
> >> be fixed & prettified in subsequent commits.
> >>
> >> Signed-off-by: Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason <[e-mail]>
> >> ---
> >>  Makefile         | 52 ++++++++--------------------
> >>  install_programs | 89 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> >>  2 files changed, 103 insertions(+), 38 deletions(-)
> >>  create mode 100755 install_programs
> >>
> >> diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
> >> index bbfbb4292d..aa6ca1fa68 100644
> >> --- a/Makefile
> >> +++ b/Makefile
> >> @@ -2808,44 +2808,20 @@ endif
> >>  	bindir=$$(cd '$(DESTDIR_SQ)$(bindir_SQ)' && pwd) && \
> >>  	execdir=$$(cd '$(DESTDIR_SQ)$(gitexec_instdir_SQ)' && pwd) && \
> >>  	destdir_from_execdir_SQ=$$(echo '$(gitexecdir_relative_SQ)' | sed -e 's|[^/][^/]*|..|g') && \
> >> -	{ test "$$bindir/" = "$$execdir/" || \
> >> -	  for p in git$X $(filter $(install_bindir_programs),$(ALL_PROGRAMS)); do \
> >> -		$(RM) "$$execdir/$$p" && \
> >> -		test -n "$(INSTALL_SYMLINKS)" && \
> >> -		ln -s "$$destdir_from_execdir_SQ/$(bindir_relative_SQ)/$$p" "$$execdir/$$p" || \
> >> -		{ test -z "$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)$(NO_CROSS_DIRECTORY_HARDLINKS)" && \
> >> -		  ln "$$bindir/$$p" "$$execdir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
> >> -		  cp "$$bindir/$$p" "$$execdir/$$p" || exit; } \
> >> -	  done; \
> >> -	} && \
> >> -	for p in $(filter $(install_bindir_programs),$(BUILT_INS)); do \
> >> -		$(RM) "$$bindir/$$p" && \
> >> -		test -n "$(INSTALL_SYMLINKS)" && \
> >> -		ln -s "git$X" "$$bindir/$$p" || \
> >> -		{ test -z "$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)" && \
> >> -		  ln "$$bindir/git$X" "$$bindir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
> >> -		  ln -s "git$X" "$$bindir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
> >> -		  cp "$$bindir/git$X" "$$bindir/$$p" || exit; } \
> >> -	done && \
> >> -	for p in $(BUILT_INS); do \
> >> -		$(RM) "$$execdir/$$p" && \
> >> -		test -n "$(INSTALL_SYMLINKS)" && \
> >> -		ln -s "$$destdir_from_execdir_SQ/$(bindir_relative_SQ)/git$X" "$$execdir/$$p" || \
> >> -		{ test -z "$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)" && \
> >> -		  ln "$$execdir/git$X" "$$execdir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
> >> -		  ln -s "git$X" "$$execdir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
> >> -		  cp "$$execdir/git$X" "$$execdir/$$p" || exit; } \
> >> -	done && \
> >> -	remote_curl_aliases="$(REMOTE_CURL_ALIASES)" && \
> >> -	for p in $$remote_curl_aliases; do \
> >> -		$(RM) "$$execdir/$$p" && \
> >> -		test -n "$(INSTALL_SYMLINKS)" && \
> >> -		ln -s "git-remote-http$X" "$$execdir/$$p" || \
> >> -		{ test -z "$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)" && \
> >> -		  ln "$$execdir/git-remote-http$X" "$$execdir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
> >> -		  ln -s "git-remote-http$X" "$$execdir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
> >> -		  cp "$$execdir/git-remote-http$X" "$$execdir/$$p" || exit; } \
> >> -	done && \
> >
> > This indeed looks like a mess...
> >
> >> +	./install_programs \
> >> +		--X="$$X" \
> >> +		--RM="$(RM)" \
> >> +		--bindir="$$bindir" \
> >> +		--bindir-relative="$(bindir_relative_SQ)" \
> >> +		--execdir="$$execdir" \
> >> +		--destdir-from-execdir="$$destdir_from_execdir_SQ" \
> >> +		--flag-install-symlinks="$(INSTALL_SYMLINKS)" \
> >> +		--flag-no-install-hardlinks="$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)" \
> >> +		--flag-no-cross-directory-hardlinks="$(NO_CROSS_DIRECTORY_HARDLINKS)" \
> >> +		--list-bindir-standalone="git$X $(filter $(install_bindir_programs),$(ALL_PROGRAMS))" \
> >> +		--list-bindir-git-dashed="$(filter $(install_bindir_programs),$(BUILT_INS))" \
> >> +		--list-execdir-git-dashed="$(BUILT_INS)" \
> >> +		--list-execdir-curl-aliases="$(REMOTE_CURL_ALIASES)" && \
> >>  	./check_bindir "z$$bindir" "z$$execdir" "$$bindir/git-add$X"
> >>
> >>  .PHONY: install-gitweb install-doc install-man install-man-perl install-html install-info install-pdf
> >> diff --git a/install_programs b/install_programs
> >> new file mode 100755
> >> index 0000000000..e287108112
> >> --- /dev/null
> >> +++ b/install_programs
> >> @@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
> >> +#!/bin/sh
> >> +
> >> +while test $# != 0
> >> +do
> >> +	case "$1" in
> >> +	--X=*)
> >> +		X="${1#--X=}"
> >> +		;;
> >> +	--RM=*)
> >> +		RM="${1#--RM=}"
> >> +		;;
> >> +	--bindir=*)
> >> +		bindir="${1#--bindir=}"
> >> +		;;
> >> +	--bindir-relative=*)
> >> +		bindir_relative="${1#--bindir-relative=}"
> >> +		;;
> >> +	--execdir=*)
> >> +		execdir="${1#--execdir=}"
> >> +		;;
> >> +	--destdir-from-execdir=*)
> >> +		destdir_from_execdir="${1#--destdir-from-execdir=}"
> >> +		;;
> >> +	--flag-install-symlinks=*)
> >> +		INSTALL_SYMLINKS="${1#--flag-install-symlinks=}"
> >> +		;;
> >> +	--flag-no-install-hardlinks=*)
> >> +		NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS="${1#--flag-no-install-hardlinks=}"
> >> +		;;
> >> +	--flag-no-cross-directory-hardlinks=*)
> >> +		NO_CROSS_DIRECTORY_HARDLINKS="${1#--flag-no-cross-directory-hardlinks=}"
> >> +		;;
> >> +	--list-bindir-standalone=*)
> >> +		list_bindir_standalone="${1#--list-bindir-standalone=}"
> >> +		;;
> >> +	--list-bindir-git-dashed=*)
> >> +		list_bindir_git_dashed="${1#--list-bindir-git-dashed=}"
> >> +		;;
> >> +	--list-execdir-git-dashed=*)
> >> +		list_execdir_git_dashed="${1#--list-execdir-git-dashed=}"
> >> +		;;
> >> +	--list-execdir-curl-aliases=*)
> >> +		list_execdir_curl_aliases="${1#--list-execdir-curl-aliases=}"
> >> +		;;
> >> +
> >> +	*)
> >> +		echo "Unknown option $1"
> >> +		exit 1
> >> +		;;
> >> +	esac
> >> +	shift
> >> +done &&
> >> +{ test "$bindir/" = "$execdir/" ||
> >> +  for p in $list_bindir_standalone; do
> >> +	$RM "$execdir/$p" &&
> >> +	test -n "$INSTALL_SYMLINKS" &&
> >> +	ln -s "$destdir_from_execdir/$bindir_relative/$p" "$execdir/$p" ||
> >> +	{ test -z "$NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS$NO_CROSS_DIRECTORY_HARDLINKS" &&
> >> +	  ln "$bindir/$p" "$execdir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
> >> +	  cp "$bindir/$p" "$execdir/$p" || exit; }
> >> +  done;
> >> +} &&
> >> +for p in $list_bindir_git_dashed; do
> >> +	$RM "$bindir/$p" &&
> >> +	test -n "$INSTALL_SYMLINKS" &&
> >> +	ln -s "git$X" "$bindir/$p" ||
> >> +	{ test -z "$NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS" &&
> >> +	  ln "$bindir/git$X" "$bindir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
> >> +	  ln -s "git$X" "$bindir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
> >> +	  cp "$bindir/git$X" "$bindir/$p" || exit; }
> >> +done &&
> >> +for p in $list_execdir_git_dashed; do
> >> +	$RM "$execdir/$p" &&
> >> +	test -n "$INSTALL_SYMLINKS" &&
> >> +	ln -s "$destdir_from_execdir/$bindir_relative/git$X" "$execdir/$p" ||
> >> +	{ test -z "$NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS" &&
> >> +	  ln "$execdir/git$X" "$execdir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
> >> +	  ln -s "git$X" "$execdir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
> >> +	  cp "$execdir/git$X" "$execdir/$p" || exit; }
> >> +done &&
> >> +for p in $list_execdir_curl_aliases; do
> >> +	$RM "$execdir/$p" &&
> >> +	test -n "$INSTALL_SYMLINKS" &&
> >> +	ln -s "git-remote-http$X" "$execdir/$p" ||
> >> +	{ test -z "$NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS" &&
> >> +	  ln "$execdir/git-remote-http$X" "$execdir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
> >> +	  ln -s "git-remote-http$X" "$execdir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
> >> +	  cp "$execdir/git-remote-http$X" "$execdir/$p" || exit; }
> >> +done
> >
> > ... but so does this. I would be very surprised if these four very
> > similar-looking constructs could not be refactored into a single shell
> > script that is then called four times with different parameters.
> >
> > Something like
> >
> > 	#!/bin/sh
> >
> > 	from=
> > 	while case "$1" in
> > 	--no-hardlinks)
> > 		NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS=t
> > 		;;
> > 	--from=*)
> > 		from="${1#*=}"
> > 		;;
> > 	*)
> > 		break
> > 		;;
> > 	esac; do
> > 		shift
> > 	done
> >
> > 	test $# -gt 3 || {
> > 		echo "Usage: $0 [--no-hardlinks] <from-dir> <to-dir> <file>..." >&2
> > 		exit 1
> > 	}
> >
> > 	fromdir="$1"
> > 	todir="$2"
> > 	shift
> > 	shift
> >
> > 	for p in "$@"
> > 	do
> > 		$RM "$todir/$p" &&
> > 		test -n "$INSTALL_SYMLINKS" &&
> > 		ln -s "$fromdir/${from:-$p}" "$todir/$p" ||
> > 		{ test -z "$NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS" &&
> > 		  ln "$fromdir/${from:-$p}" "$todir/$p" ||
> > 		  ln -s "$fromdir/${from:-$p}" "$todir/$p" ||
> > 		  cp "$fromdir/${from:-$p}" "$todir/$p" || exit; }
> > 	done
> >
> > and then calling it using
> >
> > 	test "$bindir/" = "$execdir/" ||
> > 	link-or-copy ${NO_CROSS_DIRECTORY_HARDLINKS:+--no-hardlinks} \
> > 		"$bindir" "$execdir" $list_bindir_standalone
> > 	link-or-copy --from=git$X "$bindir" "$bindir" $list_bindir_git_dashed
> > 	link-or-copy --from=git$X "$bindir" "$execdir" $list_bindir_git_dashed
> > 	link-or-copy --from=git-remote-http$X "$bindir" "$execdir" $list_execdir_curl_aliases
> >
> > That would at least DRY up this mess a bit.
> 
> I'll try for a non-RFC re-submission of this which won't have the 5/5
> NO_INSTALL_BUILTIN_EXECDIR_ALIASES (for now) which'll hopefully be ready
> for inclusion.
> 
> I tried to fold up some of these special cases into one thing before,
> but managing the exceptions gets messier to read in my opinion than just
> having some duplication.
> 
> But more to the point, between your suggestion and Junio's to do all of
> this with some make construct: Yeah we should make it awesome, but I
> think a logical first step for a patch series like this is to just as-is
> use the existing logic we have now with some minor fixes for bugs.
> 
> We can refactor this later, I'm mainly interested in moving this over to
> a *.sh first so that process is less of a mess, fixing some minor bugs,
> and not getting a first iteration of improvements stuck on a much bigger
> review for "I rewrote the way the whole install process works" series.

Did you seen any mistake in my version? Because if you didn't, then it
would be unfortunate to leave this technical debt unaddressed. Just moving
the mess really does nothing to address it, and my version should be
almost there to actually do address the mess.

Ciao,
Dscho

Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason Nov. 16, 2018, 10:32 a.m. UTC | #5

On Mon, Nov 12 2018, Johannes Schindelin wrote:

> Hi Ævar,
>
> On Mon, 12 Nov 2018, Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason wrote:
>
>> On Mon, Nov 12 2018, Johannes Schindelin wrote:
>>
>> > On Fri, 2 Nov 2018, Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason wrote:
>> >
>> >> Move a 37 line for-loop mess out of "install" and into a helper
>> >> script. This started out fairly innocent but over the years has grown
>> >> into a hard-to-maintain monster, and my recent ad874608d8 ("Makefile:
>> >> optionally symlink libexec/git-core binaries to bin/git", 2018-03-13)
>> >> certainly didn't help.
>> >>
>> >> The shell code is ported pretty much as-is (with getopts added), it'll
>> >> be fixed & prettified in subsequent commits.
>> >>
>> >> Signed-off-by: Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason <[e-mail]>
>> >> ---
>> >>  Makefile         | 52 ++++++++--------------------
>> >>  install_programs | 89 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>> >>  2 files changed, 103 insertions(+), 38 deletions(-)
>> >>  create mode 100755 install_programs
>> >>
>> >> diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
>> >> index bbfbb4292d..aa6ca1fa68 100644
>> >> --- a/Makefile
>> >> +++ b/Makefile
>> >> @@ -2808,44 +2808,20 @@ endif
>> >>  	bindir=$$(cd '$(DESTDIR_SQ)$(bindir_SQ)' && pwd) && \
>> >>  	execdir=$$(cd '$(DESTDIR_SQ)$(gitexec_instdir_SQ)' && pwd) && \
>> >>  	destdir_from_execdir_SQ=$$(echo '$(gitexecdir_relative_SQ)' | sed -e 's|[^/][^/]*|..|g') && \
>> >> -	{ test "$$bindir/" = "$$execdir/" || \
>> >> -	  for p in git$X $(filter $(install_bindir_programs),$(ALL_PROGRAMS)); do \
>> >> -		$(RM) "$$execdir/$$p" && \
>> >> -		test -n "$(INSTALL_SYMLINKS)" && \
>> >> -		ln -s "$$destdir_from_execdir_SQ/$(bindir_relative_SQ)/$$p" "$$execdir/$$p" || \
>> >> -		{ test -z "$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)$(NO_CROSS_DIRECTORY_HARDLINKS)" && \
>> >> -		  ln "$$bindir/$$p" "$$execdir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
>> >> -		  cp "$$bindir/$$p" "$$execdir/$$p" || exit; } \
>> >> -	  done; \
>> >> -	} && \
>> >> -	for p in $(filter $(install_bindir_programs),$(BUILT_INS)); do \
>> >> -		$(RM) "$$bindir/$$p" && \
>> >> -		test -n "$(INSTALL_SYMLINKS)" && \
>> >> -		ln -s "git$X" "$$bindir/$$p" || \
>> >> -		{ test -z "$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)" && \
>> >> -		  ln "$$bindir/git$X" "$$bindir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
>> >> -		  ln -s "git$X" "$$bindir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
>> >> -		  cp "$$bindir/git$X" "$$bindir/$$p" || exit; } \
>> >> -	done && \
>> >> -	for p in $(BUILT_INS); do \
>> >> -		$(RM) "$$execdir/$$p" && \
>> >> -		test -n "$(INSTALL_SYMLINKS)" && \
>> >> -		ln -s "$$destdir_from_execdir_SQ/$(bindir_relative_SQ)/git$X" "$$execdir/$$p" || \
>> >> -		{ test -z "$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)" && \
>> >> -		  ln "$$execdir/git$X" "$$execdir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
>> >> -		  ln -s "git$X" "$$execdir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
>> >> -		  cp "$$execdir/git$X" "$$execdir/$$p" || exit; } \
>> >> -	done && \
>> >> -	remote_curl_aliases="$(REMOTE_CURL_ALIASES)" && \
>> >> -	for p in $$remote_curl_aliases; do \
>> >> -		$(RM) "$$execdir/$$p" && \
>> >> -		test -n "$(INSTALL_SYMLINKS)" && \
>> >> -		ln -s "git-remote-http$X" "$$execdir/$$p" || \
>> >> -		{ test -z "$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)" && \
>> >> -		  ln "$$execdir/git-remote-http$X" "$$execdir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
>> >> -		  ln -s "git-remote-http$X" "$$execdir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
>> >> -		  cp "$$execdir/git-remote-http$X" "$$execdir/$$p" || exit; } \
>> >> -	done && \
>> >
>> > This indeed looks like a mess...
>> >
>> >> +	./install_programs \
>> >> +		--X="$$X" \
>> >> +		--RM="$(RM)" \
>> >> +		--bindir="$$bindir" \
>> >> +		--bindir-relative="$(bindir_relative_SQ)" \
>> >> +		--execdir="$$execdir" \
>> >> +		--destdir-from-execdir="$$destdir_from_execdir_SQ" \
>> >> +		--flag-install-symlinks="$(INSTALL_SYMLINKS)" \
>> >> +		--flag-no-install-hardlinks="$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)" \
>> >> +		--flag-no-cross-directory-hardlinks="$(NO_CROSS_DIRECTORY_HARDLINKS)" \
>> >> +		--list-bindir-standalone="git$X $(filter $(install_bindir_programs),$(ALL_PROGRAMS))" \
>> >> +		--list-bindir-git-dashed="$(filter $(install_bindir_programs),$(BUILT_INS))" \
>> >> +		--list-execdir-git-dashed="$(BUILT_INS)" \
>> >> +		--list-execdir-curl-aliases="$(REMOTE_CURL_ALIASES)" && \
>> >>  	./check_bindir "z$$bindir" "z$$execdir" "$$bindir/git-add$X"
>> >>
>> >>  .PHONY: install-gitweb install-doc install-man install-man-perl install-html install-info install-pdf
>> >> diff --git a/install_programs b/install_programs
>> >> new file mode 100755
>> >> index 0000000000..e287108112
>> >> --- /dev/null
>> >> +++ b/install_programs
>> >> @@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
>> >> +#!/bin/sh
>> >> +
>> >> +while test $# != 0
>> >> +do
>> >> +	case "$1" in
>> >> +	--X=*)
>> >> +		X="${1#--X=}"
>> >> +		;;
>> >> +	--RM=*)
>> >> +		RM="${1#--RM=}"
>> >> +		;;
>> >> +	--bindir=*)
>> >> +		bindir="${1#--bindir=}"
>> >> +		;;
>> >> +	--bindir-relative=*)
>> >> +		bindir_relative="${1#--bindir-relative=}"
>> >> +		;;
>> >> +	--execdir=*)
>> >> +		execdir="${1#--execdir=}"
>> >> +		;;
>> >> +	--destdir-from-execdir=*)
>> >> +		destdir_from_execdir="${1#--destdir-from-execdir=}"
>> >> +		;;
>> >> +	--flag-install-symlinks=*)
>> >> +		INSTALL_SYMLINKS="${1#--flag-install-symlinks=}"
>> >> +		;;
>> >> +	--flag-no-install-hardlinks=*)
>> >> +		NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS="${1#--flag-no-install-hardlinks=}"
>> >> +		;;
>> >> +	--flag-no-cross-directory-hardlinks=*)
>> >> +		NO_CROSS_DIRECTORY_HARDLINKS="${1#--flag-no-cross-directory-hardlinks=}"
>> >> +		;;
>> >> +	--list-bindir-standalone=*)
>> >> +		list_bindir_standalone="${1#--list-bindir-standalone=}"
>> >> +		;;
>> >> +	--list-bindir-git-dashed=*)
>> >> +		list_bindir_git_dashed="${1#--list-bindir-git-dashed=}"
>> >> +		;;
>> >> +	--list-execdir-git-dashed=*)
>> >> +		list_execdir_git_dashed="${1#--list-execdir-git-dashed=}"
>> >> +		;;
>> >> +	--list-execdir-curl-aliases=*)
>> >> +		list_execdir_curl_aliases="${1#--list-execdir-curl-aliases=}"
>> >> +		;;
>> >> +
>> >> +	*)
>> >> +		echo "Unknown option $1"
>> >> +		exit 1
>> >> +		;;
>> >> +	esac
>> >> +	shift
>> >> +done &&
>> >> +{ test "$bindir/" = "$execdir/" ||
>> >> +  for p in $list_bindir_standalone; do
>> >> +	$RM "$execdir/$p" &&
>> >> +	test -n "$INSTALL_SYMLINKS" &&
>> >> +	ln -s "$destdir_from_execdir/$bindir_relative/$p" "$execdir/$p" ||
>> >> +	{ test -z "$NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS$NO_CROSS_DIRECTORY_HARDLINKS" &&
>> >> +	  ln "$bindir/$p" "$execdir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
>> >> +	  cp "$bindir/$p" "$execdir/$p" || exit; }
>> >> +  done;
>> >> +} &&
>> >> +for p in $list_bindir_git_dashed; do
>> >> +	$RM "$bindir/$p" &&
>> >> +	test -n "$INSTALL_SYMLINKS" &&
>> >> +	ln -s "git$X" "$bindir/$p" ||
>> >> +	{ test -z "$NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS" &&
>> >> +	  ln "$bindir/git$X" "$bindir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
>> >> +	  ln -s "git$X" "$bindir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
>> >> +	  cp "$bindir/git$X" "$bindir/$p" || exit; }
>> >> +done &&
>> >> +for p in $list_execdir_git_dashed; do
>> >> +	$RM "$execdir/$p" &&
>> >> +	test -n "$INSTALL_SYMLINKS" &&
>> >> +	ln -s "$destdir_from_execdir/$bindir_relative/git$X" "$execdir/$p" ||
>> >> +	{ test -z "$NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS" &&
>> >> +	  ln "$execdir/git$X" "$execdir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
>> >> +	  ln -s "git$X" "$execdir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
>> >> +	  cp "$execdir/git$X" "$execdir/$p" || exit; }
>> >> +done &&
>> >> +for p in $list_execdir_curl_aliases; do
>> >> +	$RM "$execdir/$p" &&
>> >> +	test -n "$INSTALL_SYMLINKS" &&
>> >> +	ln -s "git-remote-http$X" "$execdir/$p" ||
>> >> +	{ test -z "$NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS" &&
>> >> +	  ln "$execdir/git-remote-http$X" "$execdir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
>> >> +	  ln -s "git-remote-http$X" "$execdir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
>> >> +	  cp "$execdir/git-remote-http$X" "$execdir/$p" || exit; }
>> >> +done
>> >
>> > ... but so does this. I would be very surprised if these four very
>> > similar-looking constructs could not be refactored into a single shell
>> > script that is then called four times with different parameters.
>> >
>> > Something like
>> >
>> > 	#!/bin/sh
>> >
>> > 	from=
>> > 	while case "$1" in
>> > 	--no-hardlinks)
>> > 		NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS=t
>> > 		;;
>> > 	--from=*)
>> > 		from="${1#*=}"
>> > 		;;
>> > 	*)
>> > 		break
>> > 		;;
>> > 	esac; do
>> > 		shift
>> > 	done
>> >
>> > 	test $# -gt 3 || {
>> > 		echo "Usage: $0 [--no-hardlinks] <from-dir> <to-dir> <file>..." >&2
>> > 		exit 1
>> > 	}
>> >
>> > 	fromdir="$1"
>> > 	todir="$2"
>> > 	shift
>> > 	shift
>> >
>> > 	for p in "$@"
>> > 	do
>> > 		$RM "$todir/$p" &&
>> > 		test -n "$INSTALL_SYMLINKS" &&
>> > 		ln -s "$fromdir/${from:-$p}" "$todir/$p" ||
>> > 		{ test -z "$NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS" &&
>> > 		  ln "$fromdir/${from:-$p}" "$todir/$p" ||
>> > 		  ln -s "$fromdir/${from:-$p}" "$todir/$p" ||
>> > 		  cp "$fromdir/${from:-$p}" "$todir/$p" || exit; }
>> > 	done
>> >
>> > and then calling it using
>> >
>> > 	test "$bindir/" = "$execdir/" ||
>> > 	link-or-copy ${NO_CROSS_DIRECTORY_HARDLINKS:+--no-hardlinks} \
>> > 		"$bindir" "$execdir" $list_bindir_standalone
>> > 	link-or-copy --from=git$X "$bindir" "$bindir" $list_bindir_git_dashed
>> > 	link-or-copy --from=git$X "$bindir" "$execdir" $list_bindir_git_dashed
>> > 	link-or-copy --from=git-remote-http$X "$bindir" "$execdir" $list_execdir_curl_aliases
>> >
>> > That would at least DRY up this mess a bit.
>>
>> I'll try for a non-RFC re-submission of this which won't have the 5/5
>> NO_INSTALL_BUILTIN_EXECDIR_ALIASES (for now) which'll hopefully be ready
>> for inclusion.
>>
>> I tried to fold up some of these special cases into one thing before,
>> but managing the exceptions gets messier to read in my opinion than just
>> having some duplication.
>>
>> But more to the point, between your suggestion and Junio's to do all of
>> this with some make construct: Yeah we should make it awesome, but I
>> think a logical first step for a patch series like this is to just as-is
>> use the existing logic we have now with some minor fixes for bugs.
>>
>> We can refactor this later, I'm mainly interested in moving this over to
>> a *.sh first so that process is less of a mess, fixing some minor bugs,
>> and not getting a first iteration of improvements stuck on a much bigger
>> review for "I rewrote the way the whole install process works" series.
>
> Did you seen any mistake in my version? Because if you didn't, then it
> would be unfortunate to leave this technical debt unaddressed. Just moving
> the mess really does nothing to address it, and my version should be
> almost there to actually do address the mess.

It's not that I found some bug, and I'm not saying it should be left
unaddressed. Just pointing out that saying "let's make this even better
while we're at it" can make perfect the enemy of the good, particularly
in this case since we have no tests for this build procedure and there's
a myriad of option combinations that need to be tested.

Patch

diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index bbfbb4292d..aa6ca1fa68 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -2808,44 +2808,20 @@  endif
 	bindir=$$(cd '$(DESTDIR_SQ)$(bindir_SQ)' && pwd) && \
 	execdir=$$(cd '$(DESTDIR_SQ)$(gitexec_instdir_SQ)' && pwd) && \
 	destdir_from_execdir_SQ=$$(echo '$(gitexecdir_relative_SQ)' | sed -e 's|[^/][^/]*|..|g') && \
-	{ test "$$bindir/" = "$$execdir/" || \
-	  for p in git$X $(filter $(install_bindir_programs),$(ALL_PROGRAMS)); do \
-		$(RM) "$$execdir/$$p" && \
-		test -n "$(INSTALL_SYMLINKS)" && \
-		ln -s "$$destdir_from_execdir_SQ/$(bindir_relative_SQ)/$$p" "$$execdir/$$p" || \
-		{ test -z "$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)$(NO_CROSS_DIRECTORY_HARDLINKS)" && \
-		  ln "$$bindir/$$p" "$$execdir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
-		  cp "$$bindir/$$p" "$$execdir/$$p" || exit; } \
-	  done; \
-	} && \
-	for p in $(filter $(install_bindir_programs),$(BUILT_INS)); do \
-		$(RM) "$$bindir/$$p" && \
-		test -n "$(INSTALL_SYMLINKS)" && \
-		ln -s "git$X" "$$bindir/$$p" || \
-		{ test -z "$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)" && \
-		  ln "$$bindir/git$X" "$$bindir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
-		  ln -s "git$X" "$$bindir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
-		  cp "$$bindir/git$X" "$$bindir/$$p" || exit; } \
-	done && \
-	for p in $(BUILT_INS); do \
-		$(RM) "$$execdir/$$p" && \
-		test -n "$(INSTALL_SYMLINKS)" && \
-		ln -s "$$destdir_from_execdir_SQ/$(bindir_relative_SQ)/git$X" "$$execdir/$$p" || \
-		{ test -z "$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)" && \
-		  ln "$$execdir/git$X" "$$execdir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
-		  ln -s "git$X" "$$execdir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
-		  cp "$$execdir/git$X" "$$execdir/$$p" || exit; } \
-	done && \
-	remote_curl_aliases="$(REMOTE_CURL_ALIASES)" && \
-	for p in $$remote_curl_aliases; do \
-		$(RM) "$$execdir/$$p" && \
-		test -n "$(INSTALL_SYMLINKS)" && \
-		ln -s "git-remote-http$X" "$$execdir/$$p" || \
-		{ test -z "$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)" && \
-		  ln "$$execdir/git-remote-http$X" "$$execdir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
-		  ln -s "git-remote-http$X" "$$execdir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
-		  cp "$$execdir/git-remote-http$X" "$$execdir/$$p" || exit; } \
-	done && \
+	./install_programs \
+		--X="$$X" \
+		--RM="$(RM)" \
+		--bindir="$$bindir" \
+		--bindir-relative="$(bindir_relative_SQ)" \
+		--execdir="$$execdir" \
+		--destdir-from-execdir="$$destdir_from_execdir_SQ" \
+		--flag-install-symlinks="$(INSTALL_SYMLINKS)" \
+		--flag-no-install-hardlinks="$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)" \
+		--flag-no-cross-directory-hardlinks="$(NO_CROSS_DIRECTORY_HARDLINKS)" \
+		--list-bindir-standalone="git$X $(filter $(install_bindir_programs),$(ALL_PROGRAMS))" \
+		--list-bindir-git-dashed="$(filter $(install_bindir_programs),$(BUILT_INS))" \
+		--list-execdir-git-dashed="$(BUILT_INS)" \
+		--list-execdir-curl-aliases="$(REMOTE_CURL_ALIASES)" && \
 	./check_bindir "z$$bindir" "z$$execdir" "$$bindir/git-add$X"
 
 .PHONY: install-gitweb install-doc install-man install-man-perl install-html install-info install-pdf
diff --git a/install_programs b/install_programs
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..e287108112
--- /dev/null
+++ b/install_programs
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@ 
+#!/bin/sh
+
+while test $# != 0
+do
+	case "$1" in
+	--X=*)
+		X="${1#--X=}"
+		;;
+	--RM=*)
+		RM="${1#--RM=}"
+		;;
+	--bindir=*)
+		bindir="${1#--bindir=}"
+		;;
+	--bindir-relative=*)
+		bindir_relative="${1#--bindir-relative=}"
+		;;
+	--execdir=*)
+		execdir="${1#--execdir=}"
+		;;
+	--destdir-from-execdir=*)
+		destdir_from_execdir="${1#--destdir-from-execdir=}"
+		;;
+	--flag-install-symlinks=*)
+		INSTALL_SYMLINKS="${1#--flag-install-symlinks=}"
+		;;
+	--flag-no-install-hardlinks=*)
+		NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS="${1#--flag-no-install-hardlinks=}"
+		;;
+	--flag-no-cross-directory-hardlinks=*)
+		NO_CROSS_DIRECTORY_HARDLINKS="${1#--flag-no-cross-directory-hardlinks=}"
+		;;
+	--list-bindir-standalone=*)
+		list_bindir_standalone="${1#--list-bindir-standalone=}"
+		;;
+	--list-bindir-git-dashed=*)
+		list_bindir_git_dashed="${1#--list-bindir-git-dashed=}"
+		;;
+	--list-execdir-git-dashed=*)
+		list_execdir_git_dashed="${1#--list-execdir-git-dashed=}"
+		;;
+	--list-execdir-curl-aliases=*)
+		list_execdir_curl_aliases="${1#--list-execdir-curl-aliases=}"
+		;;
+
+	*)
+		echo "Unknown option $1"
+		exit 1
+		;;
+	esac
+	shift
+done &&
+{ test "$bindir/" = "$execdir/" ||
+  for p in $list_bindir_standalone; do
+	$RM "$execdir/$p" &&
+	test -n "$INSTALL_SYMLINKS" &&
+	ln -s "$destdir_from_execdir/$bindir_relative/$p" "$execdir/$p" ||
+	{ test -z "$NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS$NO_CROSS_DIRECTORY_HARDLINKS" &&
+	  ln "$bindir/$p" "$execdir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
+	  cp "$bindir/$p" "$execdir/$p" || exit; }
+  done;
+} &&
+for p in $list_bindir_git_dashed; do
+	$RM "$bindir/$p" &&
+	test -n "$INSTALL_SYMLINKS" &&
+	ln -s "git$X" "$bindir/$p" ||
+	{ test -z "$NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS" &&
+	  ln "$bindir/git$X" "$bindir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
+	  ln -s "git$X" "$bindir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
+	  cp "$bindir/git$X" "$bindir/$p" || exit; }
+done &&
+for p in $list_execdir_git_dashed; do
+	$RM "$execdir/$p" &&
+	test -n "$INSTALL_SYMLINKS" &&
+	ln -s "$destdir_from_execdir/$bindir_relative/git$X" "$execdir/$p" ||
+	{ test -z "$NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS" &&
+	  ln "$execdir/git$X" "$execdir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
+	  ln -s "git$X" "$execdir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
+	  cp "$execdir/git$X" "$execdir/$p" || exit; }
+done &&
+for p in $list_execdir_curl_aliases; do
+	$RM "$execdir/$p" &&
+	test -n "$INSTALL_SYMLINKS" &&
+	ln -s "git-remote-http$X" "$execdir/$p" ||
+	{ test -z "$NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS" &&
+	  ln "$execdir/git-remote-http$X" "$execdir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
+	  ln -s "git-remote-http$X" "$execdir/$p" 2>/dev/null ||
+	  cp "$execdir/git-remote-http$X" "$execdir/$p" || exit; }
+done