[PATCH] add -p: introduce 'w' command to view hunk with --word-diff
From: Javier Bassi <hidden>
Date: 2026-05-06 23:58:25
Subsystem:
documentation, the rest · Maintainers:
Jonathan Corbet, Linus Torvalds
When using `git add --patch`, reviewing changes in long lines can be difficult with the default line-based diff. This is particularly noticeable in formats such as JSONP, CSV, LaTeX, Markdown, or other plain text where small inline edits can be hard to spot. Added `w - print the current hunk with word-diff` during hunk selection to re-display the current hunk using `--word-diff`. This provides a clearer inline view of changes without modifying the hunk or affecting how patches are applied or staged. Signed-off-by: Javier Bassi <redacted> --- Documentation/git-add.adoc | 1 + add-patch.c | 105 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++- t/t3701-add-interactive.sh | 59 +++++++++++++-------- 3 files changed, 142 insertions(+), 23 deletions(-)
diff --git a/Documentation/git-add.adoc b/Documentation/git-add.adoc
index 941135dc63..d2ee1cf9a9 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-add.adoc
+++ b/Documentation/git-add.adoc@@ -351,6 +351,7 @@ patch:: K - go to the previous hunk, roll over at the top s - split the current hunk into smaller hunks e - manually edit the current hunk + w - print the current hunk with word-diff p - print the current hunk P - print the current hunk using the pager ? - print help
diff --git a/add-patch.c b/add-patch.c
index f27edcbe8d..0364f4bc97 100644
--- a/add-patch.c
+++ b/add-patch.c@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ #include "commit.h" #include "config.h" #include "diff.h" +#include "diffcore.h" #include "editor.h" #include "environment.h" #include "gettext.h"
@@ -1508,6 +1509,105 @@ static void summarize_hunk(struct add_p_state *s, struct hunk *hunk, strbuf_complete_line(out); } +static void trim_trailing_lf(struct strbuf *buf) +{ + if (buf->len && buf->buf[buf->len - 1] == '\n') + strbuf_setlen(buf, buf->len - 1); +} + +static void add_word_diff_line(struct strbuf *old, struct strbuf *new, + const char *line, size_t len, char marker) +{ + if (marker == '-' || marker == '+' || *line == ' ') { + line++; + len--; + } + + if (marker != '+') + strbuf_add(old, line, len); + if (marker != '-') + strbuf_add(new, line, len); +} + +static void build_word_diff_files(struct add_p_state *s, struct hunk *hunk, + struct strbuf *old, struct strbuf *new) +{ + size_t i; + char last_marker = '\0'; + + for (i = hunk->start; i < hunk->end; i = find_next_line(&s->plain, i)) { + size_t next = find_next_line(&s->plain, i); + char marker = normalize_marker(s->plain.buf + i); + + if (marker == '\\') { + if (last_marker != '+') + trim_trailing_lf(old); + if (last_marker != '-') + trim_trailing_lf(new); + continue; + } + + if (marker != ' ' && marker != '-' && marker != '+') + BUG("unhandled diff marker: '%c'", marker); + + add_word_diff_line(old, new, s->plain.buf + i, next - i, + marker); + last_marker = marker; + } +} + +static struct diff_filespec *word_diff_filespec(struct repository *r, + const char *name, + struct strbuf *buf) +{ + struct diff_filespec *spec = alloc_filespec(name); + size_t size; + + fill_filespec(spec, null_oid(r->hash_algo), 0, 0100644); + spec->data = strbuf_detach(buf, &size); + spec->size = size; + spec->should_free = 1; + spec->is_stdin = 1; + + return spec; +} + +static void show_hunk_word_diff(struct add_p_state *s, struct hunk *hunk, + int colored) +{ + struct hunk_header *header = &hunk->header; + struct strbuf old = STRBUF_INIT, new = STRBUF_INIT; + struct diff_options opts; + struct diff_queue_struct queue; + + if (!header->old_offset && !header->new_offset) { + strbuf_reset(&s->buf); + render_hunk(s, hunk, 0, colored, &s->buf); + fputs(s->buf.buf, stdout); + return; + } + + build_word_diff_files(s, hunk, &old, &new); + + repo_diff_setup(s->r, &opts); + opts.output_format = DIFF_FORMAT_PATCH; + opts.use_color = colored ? s->cfg.use_color_diff : GIT_COLOR_NEVER; + opts.word_diff = DIFF_WORDS_PLAIN; + opts.context = header->old_count > header->new_count ? + header->old_count : header->new_count; + opts.flags.suppress_diff_headers = 1; + diff_setup_done(&opts); + + memcpy(&queue, &diff_queued_diff, sizeof(diff_queued_diff)); + diff_queue_init(&diff_queued_diff); + diff_queue(&diff_queued_diff, + word_diff_filespec(s->r, "a", &old), + word_diff_filespec(s->r, "b", &new)); + diffcore_std(&opts); + diff_flush(&opts); + memcpy(&diff_queued_diff, &queue, sizeof(diff_queued_diff)); +} + #define DISPLAY_HUNKS_LINES 20 static size_t display_hunks(struct add_p_state *s, struct file_diff *file_diff, size_t start_index)
@@ -1540,6 +1640,7 @@ N_("j - go to the next undecided hunk, roll over at the bottom\n" "/ - search for a hunk matching the given regex\n" "s - split the current hunk into smaller hunks\n" "e - manually edit the current hunk\n" + "w - print the current hunk with word-diff\n" "p - print the current hunk\n" "P - print the current hunk using the pager\n" "> - go to the next file, roll over at the bottom\n"
@@ -1731,7 +1832,7 @@ static size_t patch_update_file(struct add_p_state *s, permitted |= ALLOW_GOTO_PREVIOUS_FILE; strbuf_addstr(&s->buf, ",<"); } - strbuf_addstr(&s->buf, ",p,P"); + strbuf_addstr(&s->buf, ",w,p,P"); } if (file_diff->deleted) prompt_mode_type = PROMPT_DELETION;
@@ -1953,6 +2054,8 @@ static size_t patch_update_file(struct add_p_state *s, hunk->use = USE_HUNK; goto soft_increment; } + } else if (s->answer.buf[0] == 'w') { + show_hunk_word_diff(s, hunk, colored); } else if (ch == 'p') { rendered_hunk_index = -1; use_pager = (s->answer.buf[0] == 'P') ? 1 : 0;
diff --git a/t/t3701-add-interactive.sh b/t/t3701-add-interactive.sh
index 6e120a4001..e1ce98d62b 100755
--- a/t/t3701-add-interactive.sh
+++ b/t/t3701-add-interactive.sh@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ test_expect_success 'unknown command' ' git add -N command && git diff command >expect && cat >>expect <<-EOF && - (1/1) Stage addition [y,n,q,a,d,e,p,P,?]? Unknown command ${SQ}W${SQ} (use ${SQ}?${SQ} for help) - (1/1) Stage addition [y,n,q,a,d,e,p,P,?]?$SP + (1/1) Stage addition [y,n,q,a,d,e,w,p,P,?]? Unknown command ${SQ}W${SQ} (use ${SQ}?${SQ} for help) + (1/1) Stage addition [y,n,q,a,d,e,w,p,P,?]?$SP EOF git add -p -- command <command >actual 2>&1 && test_cmp expect actual
@@ -332,9 +332,9 @@ test_expect_success 'different prompts for mode change/deleted' ' git -c core.filemode=true add -p >actual && sed -n "s/^\(([0-9/]*) Stage .*?\).*/\1/p" actual >actual.filtered && cat >expect <<-\EOF && - (1/1) Stage deletion [y,n,q,a,d,p,P,?]? - (1/2) Stage mode change [y,n,q,a,d,k,K,j,J,g,/,p,P,?]? - (2/2) Stage this hunk [y,n,q,a,d,K,J,g,/,e,p,P,?]? + (1/1) Stage deletion [y,n,q,a,d,w,p,P,?]? + (1/2) Stage mode change [y,n,q,a,d,k,K,j,J,g,/,w,p,P,?]? + (2/2) Stage this hunk [y,n,q,a,d,K,J,g,/,e,w,p,P,?]? EOF test_cmp expect actual.filtered '
@@ -521,13 +521,13 @@ test_expect_success 'split hunk setup' ' test_expect_success 'goto hunk 1 with "g 1"' ' test_when_finished "git reset" && tr _ " " >expect <<-EOF && - (2/2) Stage this hunk [y,n,q,a,d,K,J,g,/,e,p,P,?]? + 1: -1,2 +1,3 +15 + (2/2) Stage this hunk [y,n,q,a,d,K,J,g,/,e,w,p,P,?]? + 1: -1,2 +1,3 +15 _ 2: -2,4 +3,8 +21 go to which hunk? @@ -1,2 +1,3 @@ _10 +15 _20 - (1/2) Stage this hunk (was: y) [y,n,q,a,d,k,K,j,J,g,/,e,p,P,?]?_ + (1/2) Stage this hunk (was: y) [y,n,q,a,d,k,K,j,J,g,/,e,w,p,P,?]?_ EOF test_write_lines s y g 1 | git add -p >actual && tail -n 7 <actual >actual.trimmed &&
@@ -540,7 +540,7 @@ test_expect_success 'goto hunk 1 with "g1"' ' _10 +15 _20 - (1/2) Stage this hunk (was: y) [y,n,q,a,d,k,K,j,J,g,/,e,p,P,?]?_ + (1/2) Stage this hunk (was: y) [y,n,q,a,d,k,K,j,J,g,/,e,w,p,P,?]?_ EOF test_write_lines s y g1 | git add -p >actual && tail -n 4 <actual >actual.trimmed &&
@@ -550,11 +550,11 @@ test_expect_success 'goto hunk 1 with "g1"' ' test_expect_success 'navigate to hunk via regex /pattern' ' test_when_finished "git reset" && tr _ " " >expect <<-EOF && - (2/2) Stage this hunk [y,n,q,a,d,K,J,g,/,e,p,P,?]? @@ -1,2 +1,3 @@ + (2/2) Stage this hunk [y,n,q,a,d,K,J,g,/,e,w,p,P,?]? @@ -1,2 +1,3 @@ _10 +15 _20 - (1/2) Stage this hunk (was: y) [y,n,q,a,d,k,K,j,J,g,/,e,p,P,?]?_ + (1/2) Stage this hunk (was: y) [y,n,q,a,d,k,K,j,J,g,/,e,w,p,P,?]?_ EOF test_write_lines s y /1,2 | git add -p >actual && tail -n 5 <actual >actual.trimmed &&
@@ -567,7 +567,7 @@ test_expect_success 'navigate to hunk via regex / pattern' ' _10 +15 _20 - (1/2) Stage this hunk (was: y) [y,n,q,a,d,k,K,j,J,g,/,e,p,P,?]?_ + (1/2) Stage this hunk (was: y) [y,n,q,a,d,k,K,j,J,g,/,e,w,p,P,?]?_ EOF test_write_lines s y / 1,2 | git add -p >actual && tail -n 4 <actual >actual.trimmed &&
@@ -579,27 +579,42 @@ test_expect_success 'print again the hunk' ' tr _ " " >expect <<-EOF && +15 20 - (1/2) Stage this hunk (was: y) [y,n,q,a,d,k,K,j,J,g,/,e,p,P,?]? @@ -1,2 +1,3 @@ + (1/2) Stage this hunk (was: y) [y,n,q,a,d,k,K,j,J,g,/,e,w,p,P,?]? @@ -1,2 +1,3 @@ 10 +15 20 - (1/2) Stage this hunk (was: y) [y,n,q,a,d,k,K,j,J,g,/,e,p,P,?]?_ + (1/2) Stage this hunk (was: y) [y,n,q,a,d,k,K,j,J,g,/,e,w,p,P,?]?_ EOF test_write_lines s y g 1 p | git add -p >actual && tail -n 7 <actual >actual.trimmed && test_cmp expect actual.trimmed ' +test_expect_success 'print hunk with word-diff' ' + test_when_finished "rm -rf word-diff-repo" && + git init word-diff-repo && + ( + cd word-diff-repo && + test_write_lines "alpha old beta" context >word-diff && + git add word-diff && + git commit -m word-diff && + test_write_lines "alpha new beta" context >word-diff && + test_write_lines w n | git add -p word-diff >actual && + test_grep "alpha \\[-old-\\]{+new+} beta" actual && + git diff --cached --exit-code + ) +' + test_expect_success TTY 'print again the hunk (PAGER)' ' test_when_finished "git reset" && cat >expect <<-EOF && <GREEN>+<RESET><GREEN>15<RESET> 20<RESET> - <BOLD;BLUE>(1/2) Stage this hunk (was: y) [y,n,q,a,d,k,K,j,J,g,/,e,p,P,?]? <RESET>PAGER <CYAN>@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@<RESET> + <BOLD;BLUE>(1/2) Stage this hunk (was: y) [y,n,q,a,d,k,K,j,J,g,/,e,w,p,P,?]? <RESET>PAGER <CYAN>@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@<RESET> PAGER 10<RESET> PAGER <GREEN>+<RESET><GREEN>15<RESET> PAGER 20<RESET> - <BOLD;BLUE>(1/2) Stage this hunk (was: y) [y,n,q,a,d,k,K,j,J,g,/,e,p,P,?]? <RESET> + <BOLD;BLUE>(1/2) Stage this hunk (was: y) [y,n,q,a,d,k,K,j,J,g,/,e,w,p,P,?]? <RESET> EOF test_write_lines s y g 1 P | (
@@ -796,21 +811,21 @@ test_expect_success 'colors can be overridden' ' <BLUE>+<RESET><BLUE>new<RESET> <CYAN> more-context<RESET> <BLUE>+<RESET><BLUE>another-one<RESET> - <YELLOW>(1/1) Stage this hunk [y,n,q,a,d,s,e,p,P,?]? <RESET><BOLD>Split into 2 hunks.<RESET> + <YELLOW>(1/1) Stage this hunk [y,n,q,a,d,s,e,w,p,P,?]? <RESET><BOLD>Split into 2 hunks.<RESET> <MAGENTA>@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@<RESET> <CYAN> context<RESET> <BOLD>-old<RESET> <BLUE>+<RESET><BLUE>new<RESET> <CYAN> more-context<RESET> - <YELLOW>(1/2) Stage this hunk [y,n,q,a,d,k,K,j,J,g,/,e,p,P,?]? <RESET><MAGENTA>@@ -3 +3,2 @@<RESET> + <YELLOW>(1/2) Stage this hunk [y,n,q,a,d,k,K,j,J,g,/,e,w,p,P,?]? <RESET><MAGENTA>@@ -3 +3,2 @@<RESET> <CYAN> more-context<RESET> <BLUE>+<RESET><BLUE>another-one<RESET> - <YELLOW>(2/2) Stage this hunk [y,n,q,a,d,K,J,g,/,e,p,P,?]? <RESET><MAGENTA>@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@<RESET> + <YELLOW>(2/2) Stage this hunk [y,n,q,a,d,K,J,g,/,e,w,p,P,?]? <RESET><MAGENTA>@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@<RESET> <CYAN> context<RESET> <BOLD>-old<RESET> <BLUE>+new<RESET> <CYAN> more-context<RESET> - <YELLOW>(1/2) Stage this hunk (was: y) [y,n,q,a,d,k,K,j,J,g,/,e,p,P,?]? <RESET> + <YELLOW>(1/2) Stage this hunk (was: y) [y,n,q,a,d,k,K,j,J,g,/,e,w,p,P,?]? <RESET> EOF test_cmp expect actual '
@@ -1424,9 +1439,9 @@ test_expect_success 'invalid option s is rejected' ' test_write_lines j s q | git add -p >out && sed -ne "s/ @@.*//" -e "s/ \$//" -e "/^(/p" <out >actual && cat >expect <<-EOF && - (1/2) Stage this hunk [y,n,q,a,d,k,K,j,J,g,/,s,e,p,P,?]? - (2/2) Stage this hunk [y,n,q,a,d,k,K,j,J,g,/,e,p,P,?]? Sorry, cannot split this hunk - (2/2) Stage this hunk [y,n,q,a,d,k,K,j,J,g,/,e,p,P,?]? + (1/2) Stage this hunk [y,n,q,a,d,k,K,j,J,g,/,s,e,w,p,P,?]? + (2/2) Stage this hunk [y,n,q,a,d,k,K,j,J,g,/,e,w,p,P,?]? Sorry, cannot split this hunk + (2/2) Stage this hunk [y,n,q,a,d,k,K,j,J,g,/,e,w,p,P,?]? EOF test_cmp expect actual '
--
2.54.0