Re: What exactly does 'needs update' mean?

  ----- Original Message -----
From: Junio C Hamano
Date: 9/25/2010 12:06 AM

Joshua Jensen[off-list ref]  writes:

quoted

  I've come to accept the term 'needs update' when I've forgotten to
stash or commit before certain Git operations.  However, I got
cornered today and was asked to explain what it means.  I had to admit
I don't know.

It came from "you need to run update-index on that path, as you have local
modification in the working tree".

Okay, your description makes sense to me, and I'll be able to explain 
what it means.

I did a Google search before I posted here.  It turns out this phrase is 
*very* confusing to others.  Casual Joes don't use the plumbing commands 
(which I assume git update-index is).  Is there opposition to 
modernizing this turn to make it more clear based on the porcelain 
commands being run?

Thanks.

Josh