Re: [PATCH v4] archive: describe compression level option

Eric Sunshine [off-list ref] writes:

quoted

+-<digit>::
+       Regulate compression level using the specified <digit>. Higher
+       values enables smaller size at the expense of slower time.

s/enables/enable/

A couple notes:

"slower time" is an unusual way to convey the concept; perhaps say it
takes "more time".

I think it was mentioned earlier in this thread that higher
compression level does not necessarily mean better compression, though
that is certainly the intent; it only means that the tool will "try
harder" to make the result smaller. Perhaps it's worth using more
exact phrasing (or perhaps it doesn't matter and that's getting too
much into the weeds).

quoted

+       Supported values are from `-0` (store-only) to `-9` (best ratio).
+       Default is `-6` if isn't specified.

s/if isn't/if it isn't/
...or...
s/if isn't/if not/

Sounds all sensible.

In summary, perhaps something like this?  I still have "-9 (best
ratio)" which does not say it is merely the intent and not
guarantee, but the resulting text read a bit funny with "best ratio"
replaced with "try hardest".

----- >8 --------- >8 --------- >8 --------- >8 --------- >8 -----
From: Bagas Sanjaya <redacted>
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2021 13:45:44 +0700
Subject: [PATCH] archive: describe compression level option

Describe the only <extra> option in `git archive`, that is the compression
level option. Previously this option is only described for zip backend;
add description also for tar backend.

Signed-off-by: Bagas Sanjaya <redacted>
Helped-by: Eric Sunshine [off-list ref]
Signed-off-by: Junio C Hamano <redacted>
---
$ git range-diff --word-diff @{1}...
1:  c27c11dc35 ! 1:  63e8b48637 archive: describe compression level option
    @@ Metadata
     ## Commit message ##
        archive: describe compression level option
    
        Describe the only [-extra-]{+<extra>+} option in `git archive`, that is the compression
        level option. Previously this option is only described for zip backend;
        add description also for tar backend.
    
    @@ Documentation/git-archive.txt: BACKEND EXTRA OPTIONS
    -	Highest and slowest compression level.  You can specify any
    -	number from 1 to 9 to adjust compression speed and ratio.
    +-<digit>::
    +	[-Regulate-]{+Specify+} compression [-level using the specified <digit>. Higher-]
    [-+-]{+level.  Larger+} values [-enables smaller size at-]{+allows+} the [-expense of slower time.-]{+command+}
    +	{+to spend more time to compress to smaller size.+}  Supported
{+++}	values are from `-0` (store-only) to `-9` (best ratio).
    +	Default is `-6` if [-isn't specified.-]{+not given.+}
     
    +tar
    +~~~

 Documentation/git-archive.txt | 17 ++++++++++++-----
 1 file changed, 12 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)

diff --git a/Documentation/git-archive.txt b/Documentation/git-archive.txt
index 9f8172828d..fea2e84fdf 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-archive.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-archive.txt

@@ -93,12 +93,19 @@ BACKEND EXTRA OPTIONS
 
 zip
 ~~~
--0::
-	Store the files instead of deflating them.
--9::
-	Highest and slowest compression level.  You can specify any
-	number from 1 to 9 to adjust compression speed and ratio.
+-<digit>::
+	Specify compression level.  Larger values allows the command
+	to spend more time to compress to smaller size.  Supported
+	values are from `-0` (store-only) to `-9` (best ratio).
+	Default is `-6` if not given.
 
+tar
+~~~
+-<number>::
+	Specify compression level. The value will be passed to the
+	compression command configured in `tar.<format>.command`. See
+	manual page of the configured command for the list of supported
+	levels and the default level if this option isn't specified.
 
 CONFIGURATION
 -------------

-- 
2.33.1-943-g0f03e78e89

On Sat, Oct 23, 2021 at 5:13 PM Junio C Hamano [off-list ref] wrote:

Eric Sunshine [off-list ref] writes:

quoted

quoted

+-<digit>::
+       Regulate compression level using the specified <digit>. Higher
+       values enables smaller size at the expense of slower time.

s/enables/enable/

A couple notes:

"slower time" is an unusual way to convey the concept; perhaps say it
takes "more time".
[...]

quoted

+       Supported values are from `-0` (store-only) to `-9` (best ratio).
+       Default is `-6` if isn't specified.

s/if isn't/if it isn't/
...or...
s/if isn't/if not/

Sounds all sensible.

In summary, perhaps something like this?  I still have "-9 (best
ratio)" which does not say it is merely the intent and not
guarantee, but the resulting text read a bit funny with "best ratio"
replaced with "try hardest".

This version looks fine. Thanks.