Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, has recently expressed his frustration with the misuse of Git tags, revealing that he finds empty lines or “garbage” tags in commits to be particularly bothersome. In a series of posts on the Linux Kernel Mailing List (LKML), Torvalds shared his thoughts after merging a new runtime verifier into the mainline Linux kernel.
Torvalds is known for his straightforward and often blunt style of communication, which he used in this instance to emphasize his displeasure at the way tags are being handled within the Git ecosystem. In particular, he took issue with “squash commits” and “managed merges” because they result in commits that exhibit poor or failed use of Git tags.
In his own words, Torvalds expressed that commits and messages need to be clear and concise, with meaningful tags that convey the purpose of the changes effectively. He lamented the prevalence of “garbage” tags that fail to communicate valuable information and insisted that such tags are more of a disruption than an aid.
“These tags tell absolutely nothing, and make it impossible for someone who comes along later to understand what changes were actually made,” he wrote. “Somebody really did put in effort to get a tag into the history, but it’s just a complete wasted effort because that person didn’t know what the tagging rules were.”
Torvalds was especially critical of the practice of leaving comments or incomplete information within the code tags, noting that such inconsistencies make version control harder for developers who come along later.
The frustration emerges as Torvalds continues to guide the development of Linux, which itself relies on Git, the popular version control system created by Linus Torvalds. Git is designed to track changes in source code during software development and is widely used by developers around the world.
Torvalds reminded the Linux community of the importance of conformity in version control. Using well-structured tags and slightly clearer messages in commits, he emphasized, can make the collaborative process more coherent and productive. His comments underscored the necessity for developers to adhere to guidelines and maintain discipline when contributing to the codebase.
Torvalds wasn’t just expressing frustration; he also provided guidance on how to use tags effectively:
- Ensure that tags are meaningful and clearly describe the commit.
- Avoid single-line messages; provide enough context so future developers can understand the changes.
- Be consistent with tagging to streamline version control across projects.
As the Linux kernel continues to evolve, Torvalds’ insights serve as a reminder to developers about the importance of maintaining high standards in software development practices. His emphasis on clarity and order helps strengthen the overall integrity of the Linux kernel and ensures that contributions are both valuable and understandable for other developers.
The ongoing evolution of the Linux kernel requires sustaining meticulous coding practices and consistent adherence to version control standards. Torvalds’ remarks reflect a plea for developers to commit thoughtfully, ensuring that every line of code and every commit contributes meaningfully to the kernel’s robustness and maintainability.
What are your thoughts on this? I’d love to hear about your own experiences in the comments below.