Re: vc-dir default directory: repository root?

[Dmitry Gutov]

On 01/19/2015 05:47 PM, Dan Nicolaescu wrote:

> CVS does not work on the root level.
> Even in SVN, it's ok and desirable to just look at a subdirectory.

Isn't that an implementation detail, as far as the current discussion is 
concerned? Git can also show only the status of files in a subdirectory, 
if you ask it.

> vc-dir has used the current directory since the beginning, I haven't
> seen any request to change it until now, it doesn't seem like changing
> the default behavior after so many years when there were no requests to
> do it is a good idea just because someone sent a patch to change it.

You've missed http://debbugs.gnu.org/12492, then. This patch also 
constitutes one request, obviously.

And you shouldn't forget that VC is not the most popular VCS package 
among advanced Emacs users, Magit is. We're playing catch-up.

> vc-hg displays the "Root" in the vc-dir header.  The intention with that
> was to make it a button that would display vc-dir on the top level
> directory.
> All backends (especially vc-git) should implement that Root header and
> implement a button for it...

That's an awkward proposal. To have to open vc-dir, then move my hand to 
the mouse, or point to the button, then push it...

Root is a good default, so vc-dir buffer for it should be easier to 
create than for a subdirectory.