[PATCH v3 08/25] lockfile.c: document the various states of lock_file objects

@@ -4,6 +4,57 @@
 #include "cache.h"
 #include "sigchain.h"
 
+/*
+ * File write-locks as used by Git.
+ *
+ * When a file at $FILENAME needs to be written, it is done as
+ * follows:
+ *
+ * 1. Obtain a lock on the file by creating a lockfile at path
+ *    $FILENAME.lock.  The file is opened for read/write using O_CREAT
+ *    and O_EXCL mode to ensure that it doesn't already exist.  Such a
+ *    lock file is respected by writers *but not by readers*.
+ *
+ *    Usually, if $FILENAME is a symlink, then it is resolved, and the
+ *    file ultimately pointed to is the one that is locked and later
+ *    replaced.  However, if LOCK_NODEREF is used, then $FILENAME
+ *    itself is locked and later replaced, even if it is a symlink.
+ *
+ * 2. Write the new file contents to the lockfile.
+ *
+ * 3. Move the lockfile to its final destination using rename(2).
+ *
+ * Instead of (3), the change can be rolled back by deleting lockfile.
+ *
+ * This module keeps track of all locked files in lock_file_list.
+ * When the first file is locked, it registers an atexit(3) handler;
+ * when the program exits, the handler rolls back any files that have
+ * been locked but were never committed or rolled back.
+ *
+ * A lock_file object can be in several states:
+ *
+ * - Uninitialized.  In this state the object's on_list field must be
+ *   zero but the rest of its contents need not be initialized.  As
+ *   soon as the object is used in any way, it is irrevocably
+ *   registered in the lock_file_list, and on_list is set.
+ *
+ * - Locked, lockfile open (after hold_lock_file_for_update() or
+ *   hold_lock_file_for_append()).  In this state, the lockfile
+ *   exists, filename holds the filename of the lockfile, fd holds a
+ *   file descriptor open for writing to the lockfile, and owner holds
+ *   the PID of the process that locked the file.
+ *
+ * - Locked, lockfile closed (after close_lock_file()).  Same as the
+ *   previous state, except that the lockfile is closed and fd is -1.
+ *
+ * - Unlocked (after commit_lock_file(), rollback_lock_file(), or a
+ *   failed attempt to lock).  In this state, filename[0] == '\0' and
+ *   fd is -1.  The object is left registered in the lock_file_list,
+ *   and on_list is set.
+ *
+ * See Documentation/api-lockfile.txt for more information.
+ */
+
 static struct lock_file *lock_file_list;
 static const char *alternate_index_output;