From: Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2014 18:32:18 +0000 (-0800)
Subject: Merge branch 'ap/path-max'
X-Git-Tag: v1.9-rc0~40
X-Git-Url: https://git.lorimer.id.au/gitweb.git/diff_plain/273c54f82ca6bfd1f05be3bf8961c55ba60f16e5?hp=fc2b6214542a46f97d7067b2f7df530ed37737a7

Merge branch 'ap/path-max'

* ap/path-max:
Prevent buffer overflows when path is too long
---

diff --git a/Documentation/RelNotes/1.8.5.2.txt b/Documentation/RelNotes/1.8.5.2.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3ac4984f10
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Documentation/RelNotes/1.8.5.2.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+Git v1.8.5.2 Release Notes
+==========================
+
+Fixes since v1.8.5.1
+--------------------
+
+ * "git diff -- ':(icase)makefile'" was unnecessarily rejected at the
+   command line parser.
+
+ * "git cat-file --batch-check=ok" did not check the existence of
+   the named object.
+
+ * "git am --abort" sometimes complained about not being able to write
+   a tree with an 0{40} object in it.
+
+ * Two processes creating loose objects at the same time could have
+   failed unnecessarily when the name of their new objects started
+   with the same byte value, due to a race condition.
+
+Also contains typofixes, documentation updates and trivial code clean-ups.
diff --git a/Documentation/RelNotes/1.9.txt b/Documentation/RelNotes/1.9.txt
index 7120c220e4..a966ab4887 100644
--- a/Documentation/RelNotes/1.9.txt
+++ b/Documentation/RelNotes/1.9.txt
@@ -84,6 +84,10 @@ Foreign interfaces, subsystems and ports.
 
 UI, Workflows & Features
 
+ * "gitweb" learned to treat ref hierarchies other than refs/heads as
+   if they are additional branch namespaces (e.g. refs/changes/ in
+   Gerrit).
+
  * "git for-each-ref --format=..." learned a few formatting directives;
    e.g. "%(color:red)%(HEAD)%(color:reset) %(refname:short) %(subject)".
 
@@ -105,6 +109,12 @@ UI, Workflows & Features
 
 Performance, Internal Implementation, etc.
 
+ * The deprecated parse-options macro OPT_BOOLEAN has been removed;
+   use OPT_BOOL or OPT_COUNTUP in new code.
+
+ * A few duplicate implementations of prefix/suffix string comparison
+   functions have been unified to starts_with() and ends_with().
+
  * The new PERLLIB_EXTRA makefile variable can be used to specify
    additional directories Perl modules (e.g. the ones necessary to run
    git-svn) are installed on the platform when building.
@@ -131,6 +141,33 @@ Unless otherwise noted, all the fixes since v1.8.5 in the maintenance
 track are contained in this release (see the maintenance releases' notes
 for details).
 
+ * "git mv A B/", when B does not exist as a directory, should error
+   out, but it didn't.
+   (merge c57f628 mm/mv-file-to-no-such-dir-with-slash later to maint).
+
+ * A workaround to an old bug in glibc prior to glibc 2.17 has been
+   retired; this would remove a side effect of the workaround that
+   corrupts system error messages in non-C locales.
+
+ * SSL-related options were not passed correctly to underlying socket
+   layer in "git send-email".
+   (merge 5508f3e tr/send-email-ssl later to maint).
+
+ * "git commit -v" appends the patch to the log message before
+   editing, and then removes the patch when the editor returned
+   control. However, the patch was not stripped correctly when the
+   first modified path was a submodule.
+   (merge 1a72cfd jl/commit-v-strip-marker later to maint).
+
+ * "git fetch --depth=0" was a no-op, and was silently ignored.
+   Diagnose it as an error.
+   (merge 5594bca nd/transport-positive-depth-only later to maint).
+
+ * Remote repository URL expressed in scp-style host:path notation are
+   parsed more carefully (e.g. "foo/bar:baz" is local, "[::1]:/~user" asks
+   to connect to user's home directory on host at address ::1.
+   (merge a2036d7 tb/clone-ssh-with-colon-for-port later to maint).
+
  * "git diff -- ':(icase)makefile'" was unnecessarily rejected at the
    command line parser.
    (merge 887c6c1 nd/magic-pathspec later to maint).
diff --git a/Documentation/git-fetch.txt b/Documentation/git-fetch.txt
index 10657134a8..5809aa4eb9 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-fetch.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-fetch.txt
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@ or from several repositories at once if <group> is given and
 there is a remotes.<group> entry in the configuration file.
 (See linkgit:git-config[1]).
 
+When no remote is specified, by default the `origin` remote will be used,
+unless there's an upstream branch configured for the current branch.
+
 OPTIONS
 -------
 include::fetch-options.txt[]
diff --git a/Documentation/git-pack-objects.txt b/Documentation/git-pack-objects.txt
index d94edcd4b4..cdab9ed503 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-pack-objects.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-pack-objects.txt
@@ -51,8 +51,7 @@ base-name::
 	<base-name> to determine the name of the created file.
 	When this option is used, the two files are written in
 	<base-name>-<SHA-1>.{pack,idx} files.  <SHA-1> is a hash
-	of the sorted object names to make the resulting filename
-	based on the pack content, and written to the standard
+	based on the pack content and is written to the standard
 	output of the command.
 
 --stdout::
diff --git a/Documentation/git-push.txt b/Documentation/git-push.txt
index 9eec740910..2b7f4f939f 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-push.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-push.txt
@@ -56,8 +56,13 @@ it can be any arbitrary "SHA-1 expression", such as `master~4` or
 +
 The <dst> tells which ref on the remote side is updated with this
 push. Arbitrary expressions cannot be used here, an actual ref must
-be named. If `:`<dst> is omitted, the same ref as <src> will be
-updated.
+be named.
+If `git push [<repository>]` without any `<refspec>` argument is set to
+update some ref at the destination with `<src>` with
+`remote.<repository>.push` configuration variable, `:<dst>` part can
+be omitted---such a push will update a ref that `<src>` normally updates
+without any `<refspec>` on the command line.  Otherwise, missing
+`:<dst>` means to update the same ref as the `<src>`.
 +
 The object referenced by <src> is used to update the <dst> reference
 on the remote side.  By default this is only allowed if <dst> is not
diff --git a/Documentation/git-rebase.txt b/Documentation/git-rebase.txt
index 94e07fdab5..2889be6bdc 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-rebase.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-rebase.txt
@@ -324,6 +324,16 @@ fresh commits so it can be remerged successfully without needing to "revert
 the reversion" (see the
 link:howto/revert-a-faulty-merge.html[revert-a-faulty-merge How-To] for details).
 
+--fork-point::
+--no-fork-point::
+	Use 'git merge-base --fork-point' to find a better common ancestor
+	between `upstream` and `branch` when calculating which commits have
+	have been introduced by `branch` (see linkgit:git-merge-base[1]).
++
+If no non-option arguments are given on the command line, then the default is
+`--fork-point @{u}` otherwise the `upstream` argument is interpreted literally
+unless the `--fork-point` option is specified.
+
 --ignore-whitespace::
 --whitespace=<option>::
 	These flag are passed to the 'git apply' program
diff --git a/Documentation/git-replace.txt b/Documentation/git-replace.txt
index f373ab48d4..0a02f70657 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-replace.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-replace.txt
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ SYNOPSIS
 [verse]
 'git replace' [-f] <object> <replacement>
 'git replace' -d <object>...
-'git replace' -l [<pattern>]
+'git replace' [--format=<format>] [-l [<pattern>]]
 
 DESCRIPTION
 -----------
@@ -70,6 +70,23 @@ OPTIONS
 	Typing "git replace" without arguments, also lists all replace
 	refs.
 
+--format=<format>::
+	When listing, use the specified <format>, which can be one of
+	'short', 'medium' and 'long'. When omitted, the format
+	defaults to 'short'.
+
+FORMATS
+-------
+
+The following format are available:
+
+* 'short':
+	<replaced sha1>
+* 'medium':
+	<replaced sha1> -> <replacement sha1>
+* 'long':
+	<replaced sha1> (<replaced type>) -> <replacement sha1> (<replacement type>)
+
 CREATING REPLACEMENT OBJECTS
 ----------------------------
 
diff --git a/Documentation/git.txt b/Documentation/git.txt
index 4448ce2704..aec372646f 100644
--- a/Documentation/git.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git.txt
@@ -43,9 +43,10 @@ unreleased) version of Git, that is available from 'master'
 branch of the `git.git` repository.
 Documentation for older releases are available here:
 
-* link:v1.8.5.1/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.5.1]
+* link:v1.8.5.2/git.html[documentation for release 1.8.5.2]
 
 * release notes for
+  link:RelNotes/1.8.5.2.txt[1.8.5.2],
   link:RelNotes/1.8.5.1.txt[1.8.5.1],
   link:RelNotes/1.8.5.txt[1.8.5].
 
@@ -806,6 +807,15 @@ temporary file --- it is removed when 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' exits.
 +
 For a path that is unmerged, 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called with 1
 parameter, <path>.
++
+For each path 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF' is called, two environment variables,
+'GIT_DIFF_PATH_COUNTER' and 'GIT_DIFF_PATH_TOTAL' are set.
+
+'GIT_DIFF_PATH_COUNTER'::
+	A 1-based counter incremented by one for every path.
+
+'GIT_DIFF_PATH_TOTAL'::
+	The total number of paths.
 
 other
 ~~~~~
diff --git a/Documentation/gitignore.txt b/Documentation/gitignore.txt
index f971960512..205e80ef88 100644
--- a/Documentation/gitignore.txt
+++ b/Documentation/gitignore.txt
@@ -79,8 +79,10 @@ PATTERN FORMAT
 
  - An optional prefix "`!`" which negates the pattern; any
    matching file excluded by a previous pattern will become
-   included again.  If a negated pattern matches, this will
-   override lower precedence patterns sources.
+   included again. It is not possible to re-include a file if a parent
+   directory of that file is excluded. Git doesn't list excluded
+   directories for performance reasons, so any patterns on contained
+   files have no effect, no matter where they are defined.
    Put a backslash ("`\`") in front of the first "`!`" for patterns
    that begin with a literal "`!`", for example, "`\!important!.txt`".
 
@@ -182,6 +184,19 @@ Another example:
 The second .gitignore prevents Git from ignoring
 `arch/foo/kernel/vmlinux.lds.S`.
 
+Example to exclude everything except a specific directory `foo/bar`
+(note the `/*` - without the slash, the wildcard would also exclude
+everything within `foo/bar`):
+
+--------------------------------------------------------------
+    $ cat .gitignore
+    # exclude everything except directory foo/bar
+    /*
+    !/foo
+    /foo/*
+    !/foo/bar
+--------------------------------------------------------------
+
 SEE ALSO
 --------
 linkgit:git-rm[1],
diff --git a/Documentation/gitmodules.txt b/Documentation/gitmodules.txt
index f7be93f631..347a9f76ee 100644
--- a/Documentation/gitmodules.txt
+++ b/Documentation/gitmodules.txt
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ submodule.<name>.url::
 	linkgit:git-clone[1] or (if it begins with ./ or ../) a location
 	relative to the superproject's origin repository.
 
+In addition, there are a number of optional keys:
+
 submodule.<name>.update::
 	Defines what to do when the submodule is updated by the superproject.
 	If 'checkout' (the default), the new commit specified in the
diff --git a/Documentation/gitweb.conf.txt b/Documentation/gitweb.conf.txt
index e2113d93c9..db4154f9d5 100644
--- a/Documentation/gitweb.conf.txt
+++ b/Documentation/gitweb.conf.txt
@@ -849,6 +849,43 @@ time zones in the form of "+/-HHMM", such as "+0200".
 +
 Project specific override is not supported.
 
+extra-branch-refs::
+	List of additional directories under "refs" which are going to
+	be used as branch refs. For example if you have a gerrit setup
+	where all branches under refs/heads/ are official,
+	push-after-review ones and branches under refs/sandbox/,
+	refs/wip and refs/other are user ones where permissions are
+	much wider, then you might want to set this variable as
+	follows:
++
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+$feature{'extra-branch-refs'}{'default'} =
+	['sandbox', 'wip', 'other'];
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
++
+This feature can be configured on per-repository basis after setting
+$feature{'extra-branch-refs'}{'override'} to true, via repository's
+`gitweb.extraBranchRefs` configuration variable, which contains a
+space separated list of refs. An example:
++
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+[gitweb]
+	extraBranchRefs = sandbox wip other
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
++
+The gitweb.extraBranchRefs is actually a multi-valued configuration
+variable, so following example is also correct and the result is the
+same as of the snippet above:
++
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+[gitweb]
+	extraBranchRefs = sandbox
+	extraBranchRefs = wip other
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
++
+It is an error to specify a ref that does not pass "git check-ref-format"
+scrutiny. Duplicated values are filtered.
+
 
 EXAMPLES
 --------
diff --git a/Documentation/glossary-content.txt b/Documentation/glossary-content.txt
index aa1c8880dd..378306f581 100644
--- a/Documentation/glossary-content.txt
+++ b/Documentation/glossary-content.txt
@@ -323,24 +323,26 @@ including Documentation/chapter_1/figure_1.jpg.
 A pathspec that begins with a colon `:` has special meaning.  In the
 short form, the leading colon `:` is followed by zero or more "magic
 signature" letters (which optionally is terminated by another colon `:`),
-and the remainder is the pattern to match against the path. The optional
-colon that terminates the "magic signature" can be omitted if the pattern
-begins with a character that cannot be a "magic signature" and is not a
-colon.
+and the remainder is the pattern to match against the path.
+The "magic signature" consists of ASCII symbols that are neither
+alphanumeric, glob, regex special charaters nor colon.
+The optional colon that terminates the "magic signature" can be
+omitted if the pattern begins with a character that does not belong to
+"magic signature" symbol set and is not a colon.
 +
 In the long form, the leading colon `:` is followed by a open
 parenthesis `(`, a comma-separated list of zero or more "magic words",
 and a close parentheses `)`, and the remainder is the pattern to match
 against the path.
 +
-The "magic signature" consists of an ASCII symbol that is not
-alphanumeric.
+A pathspec with only a colon means "there is no pathspec". This form
+should not be combined with other pathspec.
 +
 --
-top `/`;;
-	The magic word `top` (mnemonic: `/`) makes the pattern match
-	from the root of the working tree, even when you are running
-	the command from inside a subdirectory.
+top;;
+	The magic word `top` (magic signature: `/`) makes the pattern
+	match from the root of the working tree, even when you are
+	running the command from inside a subdirectory.
 
 literal;;
 	Wildcards in the pattern such as `*` or `?` are treated
@@ -377,14 +379,12 @@ full pathname may have special meaning:
  - Other consecutive asterisks are considered invalid.
 +
 Glob magic is incompatible with literal magic.
+
+exclude;;
+	After a path matches any non-exclude pathspec, it will be run
+	through all exclude pathspec (magic signature: `!`). If it
+	matches, the path is ignored.
 --
-+
-Currently only the slash `/` is recognized as the "magic signature",
-but it is envisioned that we will support more types of magic in later
-versions of Git.
-+
-A pathspec with only a colon means "there is no pathspec". This form
-should not be combined with other pathspec.
 
 [[def_parent]]parent::
 	A <<def_commit_object,commit object>> contains a (possibly empty) list
diff --git a/Documentation/merge-strategies.txt b/Documentation/merge-strategies.txt
index 49a9a7d53f..fb6e593e7c 100644
--- a/Documentation/merge-strategies.txt
+++ b/Documentation/merge-strategies.txt
@@ -113,3 +113,11 @@ subtree::
 	match the tree structure of A, instead of reading the trees at
 	the same level. This adjustment is also done to the common
 	ancestor tree.
+
+With the strategies that use 3-way merge (including the default, 'recursive'),
+if a change is made on both branches, but later reverted on one of the
+branches, that change will be present in the merged result; some people find
+this behavior confusing.  It occurs because only the heads and the merge base
+are considered when performing a merge, not the individual commits.  The merge
+algorithm therefore considers the reverted change as no change at all, and
+substitutes the changed version instead.
diff --git a/abspath.c b/abspath.c
index 9c908e395b..ca33558a91 100644
--- a/abspath.c
+++ b/abspath.c
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ static const char *real_path_internal(const char *path, int die_on_error)
 error_out:
 	free(last_elem);
 	if (*cwd && chdir(cwd))
-		die_errno ("Could not change back to '%s'", cwd);
+		die_errno("Could not change back to '%s'", cwd);
 
 	return retval;
 }
diff --git a/alias.c b/alias.c
index 9938f03c25..5efc3d6986 100644
--- a/alias.c
+++ b/alias.c
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ static char *alias_val;
 
 static int alias_lookup_cb(const char *k, const char *v, void *cb)
 {
-	if (!prefixcmp(k, "alias.") && !strcmp(k + 6, alias_key)) {
+	if (starts_with(k, "alias.") && !strcmp(k + 6, alias_key)) {
 		if (!v)
 			return config_error_nonbool(k);
 		alias_val = xstrdup(v);
diff --git a/attr.c b/attr.c
index 0e774c6f22..8d13d70e80 100644
--- a/attr.c
+++ b/attr.c
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ static struct match_attr *parse_attr_line(const char *line, const char *src,
 	name = cp;
 	namelen = strcspn(name, blank);
 	if (strlen(ATTRIBUTE_MACRO_PREFIX) < namelen &&
-	    !prefixcmp(name, ATTRIBUTE_MACRO_PREFIX)) {
+	    starts_with(name, ATTRIBUTE_MACRO_PREFIX)) {
 		if (!macro_ok) {
 			fprintf(stderr, "%s not allowed: %s:%d\n",
 				name, src, lineno);
diff --git a/bisect.c b/bisect.c
index 1e46a4f50e..37200b41f1 100644
--- a/bisect.c
+++ b/bisect.c
@@ -406,9 +406,9 @@ static int register_ref(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
 	if (!strcmp(refname, "bad")) {
 		current_bad_sha1 = xmalloc(20);
 		hashcpy(current_bad_sha1, sha1);
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(refname, "good-")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(refname, "good-")) {
 		sha1_array_append(&good_revs, sha1);
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(refname, "skip-")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(refname, "skip-")) {
 		sha1_array_append(&skipped_revs, sha1);
 	}
 
diff --git a/branch.c b/branch.c
index 9e6c68edaf..723a36bc54 100644
--- a/branch.c
+++ b/branch.c
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ static int should_setup_rebase(const char *origin)
 void install_branch_config(int flag, const char *local, const char *origin, const char *remote)
 {
 	const char *shortname = remote + 11;
-	int remote_is_branch = !prefixcmp(remote, "refs/heads/");
+	int remote_is_branch = starts_with(remote, "refs/heads/");
 	struct strbuf key = STRBUF_INIT;
 	int rebasing = should_setup_rebase(origin);
 
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ void create_branch(const char *head,
 		break;
 	case 1:
 		/* Unique completion -- good, only if it is a real branch */
-		if (prefixcmp(real_ref, "refs/heads/") &&
+		if (!starts_with(real_ref, "refs/heads/") &&
 		    validate_remote_tracking_branch(real_ref)) {
 			if (explicit_tracking)
 				die(_(upstream_not_branch), start_name);
diff --git a/builtin/add.c b/builtin/add.c
index 226f758869..0df73ae735 100644
--- a/builtin/add.c
+++ b/builtin/add.c
@@ -540,10 +540,13 @@ int cmd_add(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			       PATHSPEC_FROMTOP |
 			       PATHSPEC_LITERAL |
 			       PATHSPEC_GLOB |
-			       PATHSPEC_ICASE);
+			       PATHSPEC_ICASE |
+			       PATHSPEC_EXCLUDE);
 
 		for (i = 0; i < pathspec.nr; i++) {
 			const char *path = pathspec.items[i].match;
+			if (pathspec.items[i].magic & PATHSPEC_EXCLUDE)
+				continue;
 			if (!seen[i] &&
 			    ((pathspec.items[i].magic &
 			      (PATHSPEC_GLOB | PATHSPEC_ICASE)) ||
diff --git a/builtin/apply.c b/builtin/apply.c
index ef32e4f624..b0d0986226 100644
--- a/builtin/apply.c
+++ b/builtin/apply.c
@@ -1409,10 +1409,10 @@ static void recount_diff(const char *line, int size, struct fragment *fragment)
 		case '\\':
 			continue;
 		case '@':
-			ret = size < 3 || prefixcmp(line, "@@ ");
+			ret = size < 3 || !starts_with(line, "@@ ");
 			break;
 		case 'd':
-			ret = size < 5 || prefixcmp(line, "diff ");
+			ret = size < 5 || !starts_with(line, "diff ");
 			break;
 		default:
 			ret = -1;
@@ -1798,11 +1798,11 @@ static struct fragment *parse_binary_hunk(char **buf_p,
 
 	*status_p = 0;
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(buffer, "delta ")) {
+	if (starts_with(buffer, "delta ")) {
 		patch_method = BINARY_DELTA_DEFLATED;
 		origlen = strtoul(buffer + 6, NULL, 10);
 	}
-	else if (!prefixcmp(buffer, "literal ")) {
+	else if (starts_with(buffer, "literal ")) {
 		patch_method = BINARY_LITERAL_DEFLATED;
 		origlen = strtoul(buffer + 8, NULL, 10);
 	}
@@ -3627,12 +3627,12 @@ static int preimage_sha1_in_gitlink_patch(struct patch *p, unsigned char sha1[20
 	    hunk->oldpos == 1 && hunk->oldlines == 1 &&
 	    /* does preimage begin with the heading? */
 	    (preimage = memchr(hunk->patch, '\n', hunk->size)) != NULL &&
-	    !prefixcmp(++preimage, heading) &&
+	    starts_with(++preimage, heading) &&
 	    /* does it record full SHA-1? */
 	    !get_sha1_hex(preimage + sizeof(heading) - 1, sha1) &&
 	    preimage[sizeof(heading) + 40 - 1] == '\n' &&
 	    /* does the abbreviated name on the index line agree with it? */
-	    !prefixcmp(preimage + sizeof(heading) - 1, p->old_sha1_prefix))
+	    starts_with(preimage + sizeof(heading) - 1, p->old_sha1_prefix))
 		return 0; /* it all looks fine */
 
 	/* we may have full object name on the index line */
diff --git a/builtin/archive.c b/builtin/archive.c
index 49178f159e..a1e3b940c2 100644
--- a/builtin/archive.c
+++ b/builtin/archive.c
@@ -57,9 +57,9 @@ static int run_remote_archiver(int argc, const char **argv,
 	if (!buf)
 		die(_("git archive: expected ACK/NAK, got EOF"));
 	if (strcmp(buf, "ACK")) {
-		if (!prefixcmp(buf, "NACK "))
+		if (starts_with(buf, "NACK "))
 			die(_("git archive: NACK %s"), buf + 5);
-		if (!prefixcmp(buf, "ERR "))
+		if (starts_with(buf, "ERR "))
 			die(_("remote error: %s"), buf + 4);
 		die(_("git archive: protocol error"));
 	}
diff --git a/builtin/branch.c b/builtin/branch.c
index 636a16ea4e..b4d771673e 100644
--- a/builtin/branch.c
+++ b/builtin/branch.c
@@ -81,13 +81,13 @@ static int parse_branch_color_slot(const char *var, int ofs)
 
 static int git_branch_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 {
-	if (!prefixcmp(var, "column."))
+	if (starts_with(var, "column."))
 		return git_column_config(var, value, "branch", &colopts);
 	if (!strcmp(var, "color.branch")) {
 		branch_use_color = git_config_colorbool(var, value);
 		return 0;
 	}
-	if (!prefixcmp(var, "color.branch.")) {
+	if (starts_with(var, "color.branch.")) {
 		int slot = parse_branch_color_slot(var, 13);
 		if (slot < 0)
 			return 0;
@@ -868,7 +868,7 @@ int cmd_branch(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (!strcmp(head, "HEAD")) {
 		detached = 1;
 	} else {
-		if (prefixcmp(head, "refs/heads/"))
+		if (!starts_with(head, "refs/heads/"))
 			die(_("HEAD not found below refs/heads!"));
 		head += 11;
 	}
diff --git a/builtin/cat-file.c b/builtin/cat-file.c
index b2ca775a80..f12071adc4 100644
--- a/builtin/cat-file.c
+++ b/builtin/cat-file.c
@@ -193,25 +193,28 @@ static size_t expand_format(struct strbuf *sb, const char *start, void *data)
 	return end - start + 1;
 }
 
-static void print_object_or_die(int fd, const unsigned char *sha1,
-				enum object_type type, unsigned long size)
+static void print_object_or_die(int fd, struct expand_data *data)
 {
-	if (type == OBJ_BLOB) {
+	const unsigned char *sha1 = data->sha1;
+
+	assert(data->info.typep);
+
+	if (data->type == OBJ_BLOB) {
 		if (stream_blob_to_fd(fd, sha1, NULL, 0) < 0)
 			die("unable to stream %s to stdout", sha1_to_hex(sha1));
 	}
 	else {
-		enum object_type rtype;
-		unsigned long rsize;
+		enum object_type type;
+		unsigned long size;
 		void *contents;
 
-		contents = read_sha1_file(sha1, &rtype, &rsize);
+		contents = read_sha1_file(sha1, &type, &size);
 		if (!contents)
 			die("object %s disappeared", sha1_to_hex(sha1));
-		if (rtype != type)
+		if (type != data->type)
 			die("object %s changed type!?", sha1_to_hex(sha1));
-		if (rsize != size)
-			die("object %s change size!?", sha1_to_hex(sha1));
+		if (data->info.sizep && size != data->size)
+			die("object %s changed size!?", sha1_to_hex(sha1));
 
 		write_or_die(fd, contents, size);
 		free(contents);
@@ -238,7 +241,7 @@ static int batch_one_object(const char *obj_name, struct batch_options *opt,
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	if (sha1_object_info_extended(data->sha1, &data->info) < 0) {
+	if (sha1_object_info_extended(data->sha1, &data->info, LOOKUP_REPLACE_OBJECT) < 0) {
 		printf("%s missing\n", obj_name);
 		fflush(stdout);
 		return 0;
@@ -250,7 +253,7 @@ static int batch_one_object(const char *obj_name, struct batch_options *opt,
 	strbuf_release(&buf);
 
 	if (opt->print_contents) {
-		print_object_or_die(1, data->sha1, data->type, data->size);
+		print_object_or_die(1, data);
 		write_or_die(1, "\n", 1);
 	}
 	return 0;
@@ -274,6 +277,13 @@ static int batch_objects(struct batch_options *opt)
 	strbuf_expand(&buf, opt->format, expand_format, &data);
 	data.mark_query = 0;
 
+	/*
+	 * If we are printing out the object, then always fill in the type,
+	 * since we will want to decide whether or not to stream.
+	 */
+	if (opt->print_contents)
+		data.info.typep = &data.type;
+
 	/*
 	 * We are going to call get_sha1 on a potentially very large number of
 	 * objects. In most large cases, these will be actual object sha1s. The
diff --git a/builtin/checkout.c b/builtin/checkout.c
index 904fd715f0..5df3837e31 100644
--- a/builtin/checkout.c
+++ b/builtin/checkout.c
@@ -781,7 +781,7 @@ static int switch_branches(const struct checkout_opts *opts,
 	if (!(flag & REF_ISSYMREF))
 		old.path = NULL;
 
-	if (old.path && !prefixcmp(old.path, "refs/heads/"))
+	if (old.path && starts_with(old.path, "refs/heads/"))
 		old.name = old.path + strlen("refs/heads/");
 
 	if (!new->name) {
@@ -816,7 +816,7 @@ static int git_checkout_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(var, "submodule."))
+	if (starts_with(var, "submodule."))
 		return parse_submodule_config_option(var, value);
 
 	return git_xmerge_config(var, value, NULL);
@@ -1151,9 +1151,9 @@ int cmd_checkout(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		const char *argv0 = argv[0];
 		if (!argc || !strcmp(argv0, "--"))
 			die (_("--track needs a branch name"));
-		if (!prefixcmp(argv0, "refs/"))
+		if (starts_with(argv0, "refs/"))
 			argv0 += 5;
-		if (!prefixcmp(argv0, "remotes/"))
+		if (starts_with(argv0, "remotes/"))
 			argv0 += 8;
 		argv0 = strchr(argv0, '/');
 		if (!argv0 || !argv0[1])
diff --git a/builtin/clean.c b/builtin/clean.c
index 615cd57caf..2f26297142 100644
--- a/builtin/clean.c
+++ b/builtin/clean.c
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ static int parse_clean_color_slot(const char *var)
 
 static int git_clean_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 {
-	if (!prefixcmp(var, "column."))
+	if (starts_with(var, "column."))
 		return git_column_config(var, value, "clean", &colopts);
 
 	/* honors the color.interactive* config variables which also
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ static int git_clean_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 		clean_use_color = git_config_colorbool(var, value);
 		return 0;
 	}
-	if (!prefixcmp(var, "color.interactive.")) {
+	if (starts_with(var, "color.interactive.")) {
 		int slot = parse_clean_color_slot(var +
 						  strlen("color.interactive."));
 		if (slot < 0)
diff --git a/builtin/clone.c b/builtin/clone.c
index 874e0fd0b6..f98f52980d 100644
--- a/builtin/clone.c
+++ b/builtin/clone.c
@@ -508,9 +508,9 @@ static void write_followtags(const struct ref *refs, const char *msg)
 {
 	const struct ref *ref;
 	for (ref = refs; ref; ref = ref->next) {
-		if (prefixcmp(ref->name, "refs/tags/"))
+		if (!starts_with(ref->name, "refs/tags/"))
 			continue;
-		if (!suffixcmp(ref->name, "^{}"))
+		if (ends_with(ref->name, "^{}"))
 			continue;
 		if (!has_sha1_file(ref->old_sha1))
 			continue;
@@ -578,7 +578,7 @@ static void update_remote_refs(const struct ref *refs,
 static void update_head(const struct ref *our, const struct ref *remote,
 			const char *msg)
 {
-	if (our && !prefixcmp(our->name, "refs/heads/")) {
+	if (our && starts_with(our->name, "refs/heads/")) {
 		/* Local default branch link */
 		create_symref("HEAD", our->name, NULL);
 		if (!option_bare) {
@@ -625,7 +625,7 @@ static int checkout(void)
 		if (advice_detached_head)
 			detach_advice(sha1_to_hex(sha1));
 	} else {
-		if (prefixcmp(head, "refs/heads/"))
+		if (!starts_with(head, "refs/heads/"))
 			die(_("HEAD not found below refs/heads!"));
 	}
 	free(head);
@@ -796,6 +796,10 @@ int cmd_clone(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (option_local > 0 && !is_local)
 		warning(_("--local is ignored"));
 
+	/* no need to be strict, transport_set_option() will validate it again */
+	if (option_depth && atoi(option_depth) < 1)
+		die(_("depth %s is not a positive number"), option_depth);
+
 	if (argc == 2)
 		dir = xstrdup(argv[1]);
 	else
diff --git a/builtin/column.c b/builtin/column.c
index e125a55fc9..75818520e1 100644
--- a/builtin/column.c
+++ b/builtin/column.c
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ int cmd_column(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	};
 
 	/* This one is special and must be the first one */
-	if (argc > 1 && !prefixcmp(argv[1], "--command=")) {
+	if (argc > 1 && starts_with(argv[1], "--command=")) {
 		command = argv[1] + 10;
 		git_config(column_config, (void *)command);
 	} else
diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index e89c519192..3767478c6d 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -733,7 +733,7 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 				eol = nl - sb.buf;
 			else
 				eol = sb.len;
-			if (!prefixcmp(sb.buf + previous, "\nConflicts:\n")) {
+			if (starts_with(sb.buf + previous, "\nConflicts:\n")) {
 				ignore_footer = sb.len - previous;
 				break;
 			}
@@ -904,7 +904,7 @@ static int rest_is_empty(struct strbuf *sb, int start)
 			eol = sb->len;
 
 		if (strlen(sign_off_header) <= eol - i &&
-		    !prefixcmp(sb->buf + i, sign_off_header)) {
+		    starts_with(sb->buf + i, sign_off_header)) {
 			i = eol;
 			continue;
 		}
@@ -1183,7 +1183,7 @@ static int git_status_config(const char *k, const char *v, void *cb)
 {
 	struct wt_status *s = cb;
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(k, "column."))
+	if (starts_with(k, "column."))
 		return git_column_config(k, v, "status", &s->colopts);
 	if (!strcmp(k, "status.submodulesummary")) {
 		int is_bool;
@@ -1211,7 +1211,7 @@ static int git_status_config(const char *k, const char *v, void *cb)
 		s->display_comment_prefix = git_config_bool(k, v);
 		return 0;
 	}
-	if (!prefixcmp(k, "status.color.") || !prefixcmp(k, "color.status.")) {
+	if (starts_with(k, "status.color.") || starts_with(k, "color.status.")) {
 		int slot = parse_status_slot(k, 13);
 		if (slot < 0)
 			return 0;
@@ -1377,7 +1377,7 @@ static void print_summary(const char *prefix, const unsigned char *sha1,
 
 	head = resolve_ref_unsafe("HEAD", junk_sha1, 0, NULL);
 	printf("[%s%s ",
-		!prefixcmp(head, "refs/heads/") ?
+		starts_with(head, "refs/heads/") ?
 			head + 11 :
 			!strcmp(head, "HEAD") ?
 				_("detached HEAD") :
@@ -1505,7 +1505,7 @@ int cmd_commit(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
 	struct strbuf author_ident = STRBUF_INIT;
 	const char *index_file, *reflog_msg;
-	char *nl, *p;
+	char *nl;
 	unsigned char sha1[20];
 	struct ref_lock *ref_lock;
 	struct commit_list *parents = NULL, **pptr = &parents;
@@ -1601,11 +1601,8 @@ int cmd_commit(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	}
 
 	/* Truncate the message just before the diff, if any. */
-	if (verbose) {
-		p = strstr(sb.buf, "\ndiff --git ");
-		if (p != NULL)
-			strbuf_setlen(&sb, p - sb.buf + 1);
-	}
+	if (verbose)
+		wt_status_truncate_message_at_cut_line(&sb);
 
 	if (cleanup_mode != CLEANUP_NONE)
 		stripspace(&sb, cleanup_mode == CLEANUP_ALL);
diff --git a/builtin/describe.c b/builtin/describe.c
index 6f62109887..7db43dae1b 100644
--- a/builtin/describe.c
+++ b/builtin/describe.c
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ static void add_to_known_names(const char *path,
 
 static int get_name(const char *path, const unsigned char *sha1, int flag, void *cb_data)
 {
-	int is_tag = !prefixcmp(path, "refs/tags/");
+	int is_tag = starts_with(path, "refs/tags/");
 	unsigned char peeled[20];
 	int is_annotated, prio;
 
diff --git a/builtin/diff.c b/builtin/diff.c
index fe0cc7f1b5..0f247d2400 100644
--- a/builtin/diff.c
+++ b/builtin/diff.c
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@
 #include "submodule.h"
 #include "sha1-array.h"
 
+#define DIFF_NO_INDEX_EXPLICIT 1
+#define DIFF_NO_INDEX_IMPLICIT 2
+
 struct blobinfo {
 	unsigned char sha1[20];
 	const char *name;
@@ -259,7 +262,7 @@ int cmd_diff(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	struct object_array ent = OBJECT_ARRAY_INIT;
 	int blobs = 0, paths = 0;
 	struct blobinfo blob[2];
-	int nongit;
+	int nongit = 0, no_index = 0;
 	int result = 0;
 
 	/*
@@ -285,14 +288,59 @@ int cmd_diff(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	 * Other cases are errors.
 	 */
 
-	prefix = setup_git_directory_gently(&nongit);
-	gitmodules_config();
+	/* Were we asked to do --no-index explicitly? */
+	for (i = 1; i < argc; i++) {
+		if (!strcmp(argv[i], "--")) {
+			i++;
+			break;
+		}
+		if (!strcmp(argv[i], "--no-index"))
+			no_index = DIFF_NO_INDEX_EXPLICIT;
+		if (argv[i][0] != '-')
+			break;
+	}
+
+	if (!no_index)
+		prefix = setup_git_directory_gently(&nongit);
+
+	/*
+	 * Treat git diff with at least one path outside of the
+	 * repo the same as if the command would have been executed
+	 * outside of a git repository.  In this case it behaves
+	 * the same way as "git diff --no-index <a> <b>", which acts
+	 * as a colourful "diff" replacement.
+	 */
+	if (nongit || ((argc == i + 2) &&
+		       (!path_inside_repo(prefix, argv[i]) ||
+			!path_inside_repo(prefix, argv[i + 1]))))
+		no_index = DIFF_NO_INDEX_IMPLICIT;
+
+	if (!no_index)
+		gitmodules_config();
 	git_config(git_diff_ui_config, NULL);
 
 	init_revisions(&rev, prefix);
 
-	/* If this is a no-index diff, just run it and exit there. */
-	diff_no_index(&rev, argc, argv, nongit, prefix);
+	if (no_index && argc != i + 2) {
+		if (no_index == DIFF_NO_INDEX_IMPLICIT) {
+			/*
+			 * There was no --no-index and there were not two
+			 * paths. It is possible that the user intended
+			 * to do an inside-repository operation.
+			 */
+			fprintf(stderr, "Not a git repository\n");
+			fprintf(stderr,
+				"To compare two paths outside a working tree:\n");
+		}
+		/* Give the usage message for non-repository usage and exit. */
+		usagef("git diff %s <path> <path>",
+		       no_index == DIFF_NO_INDEX_EXPLICIT ?
+		       "--no-index" : "[--no-index]");
+
+	}
+	if (no_index)
+		/* If this is a no-index diff, just run it and exit there. */
+		diff_no_index(&rev, argc, argv, prefix);
 
 	/* Otherwise, we are doing the usual "git" diff */
 	rev.diffopt.skip_stat_unmatch = !!diff_auto_refresh_index;
diff --git a/builtin/fast-export.c b/builtin/fast-export.c
index ea6305258d..b8d8a3aaf9 100644
--- a/builtin/fast-export.c
+++ b/builtin/fast-export.c
@@ -476,7 +476,7 @@ static void handle_tag(const char *name, struct tag *tag)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(name, "refs/tags/"))
+	if (starts_with(name, "refs/tags/"))
 		name += 10;
 	printf("tag %s\nfrom :%d\n%.*s%sdata %d\n%.*s\n",
 	       name, tagged_mark,
diff --git a/builtin/fetch-pack.c b/builtin/fetch-pack.c
index c8e858232a..8b8978a252 100644
--- a/builtin/fetch-pack.c
+++ b/builtin/fetch-pack.c
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 static const char fetch_pack_usage[] =
 "git fetch-pack [--all] [--stdin] [--quiet|-q] [--keep|-k] [--thin] "
 "[--include-tag] [--upload-pack=<git-upload-pack>] [--depth=<n>] "
-"[--no-progress] [-v] [<host>:]<directory> [<refs>...]";
+"[--no-progress] [--diag-url] [-v] [<host>:]<directory> [<refs>...]";
 
 static void add_sought_entry_mem(struct ref ***sought, int *nr, int *alloc,
 				 const char *name, int namelen)
@@ -48,11 +48,11 @@ int cmd_fetch_pack(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	for (i = 1; i < argc && *argv[i] == '-'; i++) {
 		const char *arg = argv[i];
 
-		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--upload-pack=")) {
+		if (starts_with(arg, "--upload-pack=")) {
 			args.uploadpack = arg + 14;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--exec=")) {
+		if (starts_with(arg, "--exec=")) {
 			args.uploadpack = arg + 7;
 			continue;
 		}
@@ -81,11 +81,15 @@ int cmd_fetch_pack(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			args.stdin_refs = 1;
 			continue;
 		}
+		if (!strcmp("--diag-url", arg)) {
+			args.diag_url = 1;
+			continue;
+		}
 		if (!strcmp("-v", arg)) {
 			args.verbose = 1;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--depth=")) {
+		if (starts_with(arg, "--depth=")) {
 			args.depth = strtol(arg + 8, NULL, 0);
 			continue;
 		}
@@ -146,10 +150,14 @@ int cmd_fetch_pack(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		fd[0] = 0;
 		fd[1] = 1;
 	} else {
+		int flags = args.verbose ? CONNECT_VERBOSE : 0;
+		if (args.diag_url)
+			flags |= CONNECT_DIAG_URL;
 		conn = git_connect(fd, dest, args.uploadpack,
-				   args.verbose ? CONNECT_VERBOSE : 0);
+				   flags);
+		if (!conn)
+			return args.diag_url ? 0 : 1;
 	}
-
 	get_remote_heads(fd[0], NULL, 0, &ref, 0, NULL);
 
 	ref = fetch_pack(&args, fd, conn, ref, dest,
diff --git a/builtin/fetch.c b/builtin/fetch.c
index 3d978eb58e..1e7d617f46 100644
--- a/builtin/fetch.c
+++ b/builtin/fetch.c
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ static void find_non_local_tags(struct transport *transport,
 
 	for_each_ref(add_existing, &existing_refs);
 	for (ref = transport_get_remote_refs(transport); ref; ref = ref->next) {
-		if (prefixcmp(ref->name, "refs/tags/"))
+		if (!starts_with(ref->name, "refs/tags/"))
 			continue;
 
 		/*
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ static void find_non_local_tags(struct transport *transport,
 		 * to fetch then we can mark the ref entry in the list
 		 * as one to ignore by setting util to NULL.
 		 */
-		if (!suffixcmp(ref->name, "^{}")) {
+		if (ends_with(ref->name, "^{}")) {
 			if (item && !has_sha1_file(ref->old_sha1) &&
 			    !will_fetch(head, ref->old_sha1) &&
 			    !has_sha1_file(item->util) &&
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ static int update_local_ref(struct ref *ref,
 	}
 
 	if (!is_null_sha1(ref->old_sha1) &&
-	    !prefixcmp(ref->name, "refs/tags/")) {
+	    starts_with(ref->name, "refs/tags/")) {
 		int r;
 		r = s_update_ref("updating tag", ref, 0);
 		strbuf_addf(display, "%c %-*s %-*s -> %s%s",
@@ -454,10 +454,10 @@ static int update_local_ref(struct ref *ref,
 		 * more likely to follow a standard layout.
 		 */
 		const char *name = remote_ref ? remote_ref->name : "";
-		if (!prefixcmp(name, "refs/tags/")) {
+		if (starts_with(name, "refs/tags/")) {
 			msg = "storing tag";
 			what = _("[new tag]");
-		} else if (!prefixcmp(name, "refs/heads/")) {
+		} else if (starts_with(name, "refs/heads/")) {
 			msg = "storing head";
 			what = _("[new branch]");
 		} else {
@@ -589,15 +589,15 @@ static int store_updated_refs(const char *raw_url, const char *remote_name,
 				kind = "";
 				what = "";
 			}
-			else if (!prefixcmp(rm->name, "refs/heads/")) {
+			else if (starts_with(rm->name, "refs/heads/")) {
 				kind = "branch";
 				what = rm->name + 11;
 			}
-			else if (!prefixcmp(rm->name, "refs/tags/")) {
+			else if (starts_with(rm->name, "refs/tags/")) {
 				kind = "tag";
 				what = rm->name + 10;
 			}
-			else if (!prefixcmp(rm->name, "refs/remotes/")) {
+			else if (starts_with(rm->name, "refs/remotes/")) {
 				kind = "remote-tracking branch";
 				what = rm->name + 13;
 			}
@@ -896,7 +896,7 @@ static int get_remote_group(const char *key, const char *value, void *priv)
 {
 	struct remote_group_data *g = priv;
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(key, "remotes.") &&
+	if (starts_with(key, "remotes.") &&
 			!strcmp(key + 8, g->name)) {
 		/* split list by white space */
 		int space = strcspn(value, " \t\n");
@@ -1079,6 +1079,10 @@ int cmd_fetch(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		}
 	}
 
+	/* no need to be strict, transport_set_option() will validate it again */
+	if (depth && atoi(depth) < 1)
+		die(_("depth %s is not a positive number"), depth);
+
 	if (recurse_submodules != RECURSE_SUBMODULES_OFF) {
 		if (recurse_submodules_default) {
 			int arg = parse_fetch_recurse_submodules_arg("--recurse-submodules-default", recurse_submodules_default);
diff --git a/builtin/fmt-merge-msg.c b/builtin/fmt-merge-msg.c
index 1c04070869..3906eda877 100644
--- a/builtin/fmt-merge-msg.c
+++ b/builtin/fmt-merge-msg.c
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ static int handle_line(char *line, struct merge_parents *merge_parents)
 	if (len < 43 || line[40] != '\t')
 		return 1;
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(line + 41, "not-for-merge"))
+	if (starts_with(line + 41, "not-for-merge"))
 		return 0;
 
 	if (line[41] != '\t')
@@ -155,16 +155,16 @@ static int handle_line(char *line, struct merge_parents *merge_parents)
 	if (pulling_head) {
 		origin = src;
 		src_data->head_status |= 1;
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(line, "branch ")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(line, "branch ")) {
 		origin_data->is_local_branch = 1;
 		origin = line + 7;
 		string_list_append(&src_data->branch, origin);
 		src_data->head_status |= 2;
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(line, "tag ")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(line, "tag ")) {
 		origin = line;
 		string_list_append(&src_data->tag, origin + 4);
 		src_data->head_status |= 2;
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(line, "remote-tracking branch ")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(line, "remote-tracking branch ")) {
 		origin = line + strlen("remote-tracking branch ");
 		string_list_append(&src_data->r_branch, origin);
 		src_data->head_status |= 2;
@@ -605,7 +605,7 @@ int fmt_merge_msg(struct strbuf *in, struct strbuf *out,
 		resolve_refdup("HEAD", head_sha1, 1, NULL);
 	if (!current_branch)
 		die("No current branch");
-	if (!prefixcmp(current_branch, "refs/heads/"))
+	if (starts_with(current_branch, "refs/heads/"))
 		current_branch += 11;
 
 	find_merge_parents(&merge_parents, in, head_sha1);
diff --git a/builtin/for-each-ref.c b/builtin/for-each-ref.c
index 875bd813d5..51798b48b5 100644
--- a/builtin/for-each-ref.c
+++ b/builtin/for-each-ref.c
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ static struct {
  */
 static const char **used_atom;
 static cmp_type *used_atom_type;
-static int used_atom_cnt, sort_atom_limit, need_tagged, need_symref;
+static int used_atom_cnt, need_tagged, need_symref;
 static int need_color_reset_at_eol;
 
 /*
@@ -453,7 +453,7 @@ static void grab_person(const char *who, struct atom_value *val, int deref, stru
 		if (name[wholen] != 0 &&
 		    strcmp(name + wholen, "name") &&
 		    strcmp(name + wholen, "email") &&
-		    prefixcmp(name + wholen, "date"))
+		    !starts_with(name + wholen, "date"))
 			continue;
 		if (!wholine)
 			wholine = find_wholine(who, wholen, buf, sz);
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ static void grab_person(const char *who, struct atom_value *val, int deref, stru
 			v->s = copy_name(wholine);
 		else if (!strcmp(name + wholen, "email"))
 			v->s = copy_email(wholine);
-		else if (!prefixcmp(name + wholen, "date"))
+		else if (starts_with(name + wholen, "date"))
 			grab_date(wholine, v, name);
 	}
 
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ static void grab_person(const char *who, struct atom_value *val, int deref, stru
 		if (deref)
 			name++;
 
-		if (!prefixcmp(name, "creatordate"))
+		if (starts_with(name, "creatordate"))
 			grab_date(wholine, v, name);
 		else if (!strcmp(name, "creator"))
 			v->s = copy_line(wholine);
@@ -668,13 +668,13 @@ static void populate_value(struct refinfo *ref)
 			name++;
 		}
 
-		if (!prefixcmp(name, "refname"))
+		if (starts_with(name, "refname"))
 			refname = ref->refname;
-		else if (!prefixcmp(name, "symref"))
+		else if (starts_with(name, "symref"))
 			refname = ref->symref ? ref->symref : "";
-		else if (!prefixcmp(name, "upstream")) {
+		else if (starts_with(name, "upstream")) {
 			/* only local branches may have an upstream */
-			if (prefixcmp(ref->refname, "refs/heads/"))
+			if (!starts_with(ref->refname, "refs/heads/"))
 				continue;
 			branch = branch_get(ref->refname + 11);
 
@@ -682,7 +682,7 @@ static void populate_value(struct refinfo *ref)
 			    !branch->merge[0]->dst)
 				continue;
 			refname = branch->merge[0]->dst;
-		} else if (!prefixcmp(name, "color:")) {
+		} else if (starts_with(name, "color:")) {
 			char color[COLOR_MAXLEN] = "";
 
 			color_parse(name + 6, "--format", color);
@@ -725,7 +725,7 @@ static void populate_value(struct refinfo *ref)
 				refname = shorten_unambiguous_ref(refname,
 						      warn_ambiguous_refs);
 			else if (!strcmp(formatp, "track") &&
-				!prefixcmp(name, "upstream")) {
+				 starts_with(name, "upstream")) {
 				char buf[40];
 
 				stat_tracking_info(branch, &num_ours, &num_theirs);
@@ -744,7 +744,7 @@ static void populate_value(struct refinfo *ref)
 				}
 				continue;
 			} else if (!strcmp(formatp, "trackshort") &&
-				!prefixcmp(name, "upstream")) {
+				   starts_with(name, "upstream")) {
 				assert(branch);
 				stat_tracking_info(branch, &num_ours, &num_theirs);
 				if (!num_ours && !num_theirs)
@@ -1105,7 +1105,6 @@ int cmd_for_each_ref(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 
 	if (!sort)
 		sort = default_sort();
-	sort_atom_limit = used_atom_cnt;
 
 	/* for warn_ambiguous_refs */
 	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
diff --git a/builtin/fsck.c b/builtin/fsck.c
index 97ce678c6b..1affdd5e92 100644
--- a/builtin/fsck.c
+++ b/builtin/fsck.c
@@ -442,7 +442,7 @@ static void fsck_dir(int i, char *path)
 			add_sha1_list(sha1, DIRENT_SORT_HINT(de));
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(de->d_name, "tmp_obj_"))
+		if (starts_with(de->d_name, "tmp_obj_"))
 			continue;
 		fprintf(stderr, "bad sha1 file: %s/%s\n", path, de->d_name);
 	}
@@ -484,7 +484,7 @@ static int fsck_handle_reflog(const char *logname, const unsigned char *sha1, in
 
 static int is_branch(const char *refname)
 {
-	return !strcmp(refname, "HEAD") || !prefixcmp(refname, "refs/heads/");
+	return !strcmp(refname, "HEAD") || starts_with(refname, "refs/heads/");
 }
 
 static int fsck_handle_ref(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1, int flag, void *cb_data)
@@ -566,7 +566,7 @@ static int fsck_head_link(void)
 	if (!strcmp(head_points_at, "HEAD"))
 		/* detached HEAD */
 		null_is_error = 1;
-	else if (prefixcmp(head_points_at, "refs/heads/"))
+	else if (!starts_with(head_points_at, "refs/heads/"))
 		return error("HEAD points to something strange (%s)",
 			     head_points_at);
 	if (is_null_sha1(head_sha1)) {
diff --git a/builtin/help.c b/builtin/help.c
index f1e236b912..cc17e670ce 100644
--- a/builtin/help.c
+++ b/builtin/help.c
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ static int check_emacsclient_version(void)
 	 */
 	finish_command(&ec_process);
 
-	if (prefixcmp(buffer.buf, "emacsclient")) {
+	if (!starts_with(buffer.buf, "emacsclient")) {
 		strbuf_release(&buffer);
 		return error(_("Failed to parse emacsclient version."));
 	}
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ static int add_man_viewer_info(const char *var, const char *value)
 
 static int git_help_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 {
-	if (!prefixcmp(var, "column."))
+	if (starts_with(var, "column."))
 		return git_column_config(var, value, "help", &colopts);
 	if (!strcmp(var, "help.format")) {
 		if (!value)
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ static int git_help_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 		add_man_viewer(value);
 		return 0;
 	}
-	if (!prefixcmp(var, "man."))
+	if (starts_with(var, "man."))
 		return add_man_viewer_info(var, value);
 
 	return git_default_config(var, value, cb);
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ static const char *cmd_to_page(const char *git_cmd)
 {
 	if (!git_cmd)
 		return "git";
-	else if (!prefixcmp(git_cmd, "git"))
+	else if (starts_with(git_cmd, "git"))
 		return git_cmd;
 	else if (is_git_command(git_cmd))
 		return prepend("git-", git_cmd);
diff --git a/builtin/index-pack.c b/builtin/index-pack.c
index 9e9eb4b74e..2f37a38fbc 100644
--- a/builtin/index-pack.c
+++ b/builtin/index-pack.c
@@ -1534,9 +1534,9 @@ int cmd_index_pack(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 				stat_only = 1;
 			} else if (!strcmp(arg, "--keep")) {
 				keep_msg = "";
-			} else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--keep=")) {
+			} else if (starts_with(arg, "--keep=")) {
 				keep_msg = arg + 7;
-			} else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--threads=")) {
+			} else if (starts_with(arg, "--threads=")) {
 				char *end;
 				nr_threads = strtoul(arg+10, &end, 0);
 				if (!arg[10] || *end || nr_threads < 0)
@@ -1547,7 +1547,7 @@ int cmd_index_pack(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 						  "ignoring %s"), arg);
 				nr_threads = 1;
 #endif
-			} else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--pack_header=")) {
+			} else if (starts_with(arg, "--pack_header=")) {
 				struct pack_header *hdr;
 				char *c;
 
@@ -1566,7 +1566,7 @@ int cmd_index_pack(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 				if (index_name || (i+1) >= argc)
 					usage(index_pack_usage);
 				index_name = argv[++i];
-			} else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--index-version=")) {
+			} else if (starts_with(arg, "--index-version=")) {
 				char *c;
 				opts.version = strtoul(arg + 16, &c, 10);
 				if (opts.version > 2)
diff --git a/builtin/init-db.c b/builtin/init-db.c
index 78aa3872dd..b3f03cf0d6 100644
--- a/builtin/init-db.c
+++ b/builtin/init-db.c
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ static int create_default_files(const char *template_path)
 		/* allow template config file to override the default */
 		if (log_all_ref_updates == -1)
 		    git_config_set("core.logallrefupdates", "true");
-		if (prefixcmp(git_dir, work_tree) ||
+		if (!starts_with(git_dir, work_tree) ||
 		    strcmp(git_dir + strlen(work_tree), "/.git")) {
 			git_config_set("core.worktree", work_tree);
 		}
diff --git a/builtin/log.c b/builtin/log.c
index b708517a35..b97373da3b 100644
--- a/builtin/log.c
+++ b/builtin/log.c
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ static int git_log_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 		default_show_root = git_config_bool(var, value);
 		return 0;
 	}
-	if (!prefixcmp(var, "color.decorate."))
+	if (starts_with(var, "color.decorate."))
 		return parse_decorate_color_config(var, 15, value);
 	if (!strcmp(var, "log.mailmap")) {
 		use_mailmap_config = git_config_bool(var, value);
@@ -477,7 +477,7 @@ static int show_tag_object(const unsigned char *sha1, struct rev_info *rev)
 		int new_offset = offset + 1;
 		while (new_offset < size && buf[new_offset++] != '\n')
 			; /* do nothing */
-		if (!prefixcmp(buf + offset, "tagger "))
+		if (starts_with(buf + offset, "tagger "))
 			show_tagger(buf + offset + 7,
 				    new_offset - offset - 7, rev);
 		offset = new_offset;
@@ -882,7 +882,7 @@ static char *find_branch_name(struct rev_info *rev)
 	ref = rev->cmdline.rev[positive].name;
 	tip_sha1 = rev->cmdline.rev[positive].item->sha1;
 	if (dwim_ref(ref, strlen(ref), branch_sha1, &full_ref) &&
-	    !prefixcmp(full_ref, "refs/heads/") &&
+	    starts_with(full_ref, "refs/heads/") &&
 	    !hashcmp(tip_sha1, branch_sha1))
 		branch = xstrdup(full_ref + strlen("refs/heads/"));
 	free(full_ref);
@@ -1388,7 +1388,7 @@ int cmd_format_patch(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			unsigned char sha1[20];
 			const char *ref;
 			ref = resolve_ref_unsafe("HEAD", sha1, 1, NULL);
-			if (ref && !prefixcmp(ref, "refs/heads/"))
+			if (ref && starts_with(ref, "refs/heads/"))
 				branch_name = xstrdup(ref + strlen("refs/heads/"));
 			else
 				branch_name = xstrdup(""); /* no branch */
diff --git a/builtin/ls-remote.c b/builtin/ls-remote.c
index 25e83cfe9d..39e5144b9e 100644
--- a/builtin/ls-remote.c
+++ b/builtin/ls-remote.c
@@ -50,11 +50,11 @@ int cmd_ls_remote(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		const char *arg = argv[i];
 
 		if (*arg == '-') {
-			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--upload-pack=")) {
+			if (starts_with(arg, "--upload-pack=")) {
 				uploadpack = arg + 14;
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--exec=")) {
+			if (starts_with(arg, "--exec=")) {
 				uploadpack = arg + 7;
 				continue;
 			}
diff --git a/builtin/mailinfo.c b/builtin/mailinfo.c
index 24a772d8e1..2c3cd8eab7 100644
--- a/builtin/mailinfo.c
+++ b/builtin/mailinfo.c
@@ -328,11 +328,11 @@ static int check_header(const struct strbuf *line,
 	}
 
 	/* for inbody stuff */
-	if (!prefixcmp(line->buf, ">From") && isspace(line->buf[5])) {
+	if (starts_with(line->buf, ">From") && isspace(line->buf[5])) {
 		ret = 1; /* Should this return 0? */
 		goto check_header_out;
 	}
-	if (!prefixcmp(line->buf, "[PATCH]") && isspace(line->buf[7])) {
+	if (starts_with(line->buf, "[PATCH]") && isspace(line->buf[7])) {
 		for (i = 0; header[i]; i++) {
 			if (!memcmp("Subject", header[i], 7)) {
 				handle_header(&hdr_data[i], line);
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ static int is_rfc2822_header(const struct strbuf *line)
 	char *cp = line->buf;
 
 	/* Count mbox From headers as headers */
-	if (!prefixcmp(cp, "From ") || !prefixcmp(cp, ">From "))
+	if (starts_with(cp, "From ") || starts_with(cp, ">From "))
 		return 1;
 
 	while ((ch = *cp++)) {
@@ -671,11 +671,11 @@ static inline int patchbreak(const struct strbuf *line)
 	size_t i;
 
 	/* Beginning of a "diff -" header? */
-	if (!prefixcmp(line->buf, "diff -"))
+	if (starts_with(line->buf, "diff -"))
 		return 1;
 
 	/* CVS "Index: " line? */
-	if (!prefixcmp(line->buf, "Index: "))
+	if (starts_with(line->buf, "Index: "))
 		return 1;
 
 	/*
@@ -685,7 +685,7 @@ static inline int patchbreak(const struct strbuf *line)
 	if (line->len < 4)
 		return 0;
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(line->buf, "---")) {
+	if (starts_with(line->buf, "---")) {
 		/* space followed by a filename? */
 		if (line->buf[3] == ' ' && !isspace(line->buf[4]))
 			return 1;
@@ -986,7 +986,7 @@ static int mailinfo(FILE *in, FILE *out, const char *msg, const char *patch)
 
 static int git_mailinfo_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *unused)
 {
-	if (prefixcmp(var, "mailinfo."))
+	if (!starts_with(var, "mailinfo."))
 		return git_default_config(var, value, unused);
 	if (!strcmp(var, "mailinfo.scissors")) {
 		use_scissors = git_config_bool(var, value);
@@ -1020,7 +1020,7 @@ int cmd_mailinfo(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			metainfo_charset = def_charset;
 		else if (!strcmp(argv[1], "-n"))
 			metainfo_charset = NULL;
-		else if (!prefixcmp(argv[1], "--encoding="))
+		else if (starts_with(argv[1], "--encoding="))
 			metainfo_charset = argv[1] + 11;
 		else if (!strcmp(argv[1], "--scissors"))
 			use_scissors = 1;
diff --git a/builtin/merge-recursive.c b/builtin/merge-recursive.c
index 3a64f5d0bd..a90f28f34d 100644
--- a/builtin/merge-recursive.c
+++ b/builtin/merge-recursive.c
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ int cmd_merge_recursive(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	struct commit *result;
 
 	init_merge_options(&o);
-	if (argv[0] && !suffixcmp(argv[0], "-subtree"))
+	if (argv[0] && ends_with(argv[0], "-subtree"))
 		o.subtree_shift = "";
 
 	if (argc < 4)
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ int cmd_merge_recursive(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	for (i = 1; i < argc; ++i) {
 		const char *arg = argv[i];
 
-		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--")) {
+		if (starts_with(arg, "--")) {
 			if (!arg[2])
 				break;
 			if (parse_merge_opt(&o, arg + 2))
diff --git a/builtin/merge.c b/builtin/merge.c
index 41fb66dec2..4941a6c36a 100644
--- a/builtin/merge.c
+++ b/builtin/merge.c
@@ -446,17 +446,17 @@ static void merge_name(const char *remote, struct strbuf *msg)
 		die(_("'%s' does not point to a commit"), remote);
 
 	if (dwim_ref(remote, strlen(remote), branch_head, &found_ref) > 0) {
-		if (!prefixcmp(found_ref, "refs/heads/")) {
+		if (starts_with(found_ref, "refs/heads/")) {
 			strbuf_addf(msg, "%s\t\tbranch '%s' of .\n",
 				    sha1_to_hex(branch_head), remote);
 			goto cleanup;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(found_ref, "refs/tags/")) {
+		if (starts_with(found_ref, "refs/tags/")) {
 			strbuf_addf(msg, "%s\t\ttag '%s' of .\n",
 				    sha1_to_hex(branch_head), remote);
 			goto cleanup;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(found_ref, "refs/remotes/")) {
+		if (starts_with(found_ref, "refs/remotes/")) {
 			strbuf_addf(msg, "%s\t\tremote-tracking branch '%s' of .\n",
 				    sha1_to_hex(branch_head), remote);
 			goto cleanup;
@@ -570,8 +570,8 @@ static int git_merge_config(const char *k, const char *v, void *cb)
 {
 	int status;
 
-	if (branch && !prefixcmp(k, "branch.") &&
-		!prefixcmp(k + 7, branch) &&
+	if (branch && starts_with(k, "branch.") &&
+		starts_with(k + 7, branch) &&
 		!strcmp(k + 7 + strlen(branch), ".mergeoptions")) {
 		free(branch_mergeoptions);
 		branch_mergeoptions = xstrdup(v);
@@ -1106,7 +1106,7 @@ int cmd_merge(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	 * current branch.
 	 */
 	branch = branch_to_free = resolve_refdup("HEAD", head_sha1, 0, &flag);
-	if (branch && !prefixcmp(branch, "refs/heads/"))
+	if (branch && starts_with(branch, "refs/heads/"))
 		branch += 11;
 	if (!branch || is_null_sha1(head_sha1))
 		head_commit = NULL;
diff --git a/builtin/mv.c b/builtin/mv.c
index 2e0e61b651..08fbc033e4 100644
--- a/builtin/mv.c
+++ b/builtin/mv.c
@@ -16,9 +16,12 @@ static const char * const builtin_mv_usage[] = {
 	NULL
 };
 
+#define DUP_BASENAME 1
+#define KEEP_TRAILING_SLASH 2
+
 static const char **internal_copy_pathspec(const char *prefix,
 					   const char **pathspec,
-					   int count, int base_name)
+					   int count, unsigned flags)
 {
 	int i;
 	const char **result = xmalloc((count + 1) * sizeof(const char *));
@@ -27,11 +30,12 @@ static const char **internal_copy_pathspec(const char *prefix,
 	for (i = 0; i < count; i++) {
 		int length = strlen(result[i]);
 		int to_copy = length;
-		while (to_copy > 0 && is_dir_sep(result[i][to_copy - 1]))
+		while (!(flags & KEEP_TRAILING_SLASH) &&
+		       to_copy > 0 && is_dir_sep(result[i][to_copy - 1]))
 			to_copy--;
-		if (to_copy != length || base_name) {
+		if (to_copy != length || flags & DUP_BASENAME) {
 			char *it = xmemdupz(result[i], to_copy);
-			if (base_name) {
+			if (flags & DUP_BASENAME) {
 				result[i] = xstrdup(basename(it));
 				free(it);
 			} else
@@ -87,16 +91,21 @@ int cmd_mv(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 
 	source = internal_copy_pathspec(prefix, argv, argc, 0);
 	modes = xcalloc(argc, sizeof(enum update_mode));
-	dest_path = internal_copy_pathspec(prefix, argv + argc, 1, 0);
+	/*
+	 * Keep trailing slash, needed to let
+	 * "git mv file no-such-dir/" error out.
+	 */
+	dest_path = internal_copy_pathspec(prefix, argv + argc, 1,
+					   KEEP_TRAILING_SLASH);
 	submodule_gitfile = xcalloc(argc, sizeof(char *));
 
 	if (dest_path[0][0] == '\0')
 		/* special case: "." was normalized to "" */
-		destination = internal_copy_pathspec(dest_path[0], argv, argc, 1);
+		destination = internal_copy_pathspec(dest_path[0], argv, argc, DUP_BASENAME);
 	else if (!lstat(dest_path[0], &st) &&
 			S_ISDIR(st.st_mode)) {
 		dest_path[0] = add_slash(dest_path[0]);
-		destination = internal_copy_pathspec(dest_path[0], argv, argc, 1);
+		destination = internal_copy_pathspec(dest_path[0], argv, argc, DUP_BASENAME);
 	} else {
 		if (argc != 1)
 			die("destination '%s' is not a directory", dest_path[0]);
diff --git a/builtin/name-rev.c b/builtin/name-rev.c
index 23daaa7d99..0b21d7e5b2 100644
--- a/builtin/name-rev.c
+++ b/builtin/name-rev.c
@@ -100,9 +100,9 @@ static const char *name_ref_abbrev(const char *refname, int shorten_unambiguous)
 {
 	if (shorten_unambiguous)
 		refname = shorten_unambiguous_ref(refname, 0);
-	else if (!prefixcmp(refname, "refs/heads/"))
+	else if (starts_with(refname, "refs/heads/"))
 		refname = refname + 11;
-	else if (!prefixcmp(refname, "refs/"))
+	else if (starts_with(refname, "refs/"))
 		refname = refname + 5;
 	return refname;
 }
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ static int name_ref(const char *path, const unsigned char *sha1, int flags, void
 	int can_abbreviate_output = data->tags_only && data->name_only;
 	int deref = 0;
 
-	if (data->tags_only && prefixcmp(path, "refs/tags/"))
+	if (data->tags_only && !starts_with(path, "refs/tags/"))
 		return 0;
 
 	if (data->ref_filter) {
diff --git a/builtin/notes.c b/builtin/notes.c
index d459e23c42..2b24d059b5 100644
--- a/builtin/notes.c
+++ b/builtin/notes.c
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ static struct notes_tree *init_notes_check(const char *subcommand)
 	init_notes(NULL, NULL, NULL, 0);
 	t = &default_notes_tree;
 
-	if (prefixcmp(t->ref, "refs/notes/"))
+	if (!starts_with(t->ref, "refs/notes/"))
 		die("Refusing to %s notes in %s (outside of refs/notes/)",
 		    subcommand, t->ref);
 	return t;
diff --git a/builtin/pack-objects.c b/builtin/pack-objects.c
index 36273dd6f0..dfb4d84caa 100644
--- a/builtin/pack-objects.c
+++ b/builtin/pack-objects.c
@@ -2032,7 +2032,7 @@ static int add_ref_tag(const char *path, const unsigned char *sha1, int flag, vo
 {
 	unsigned char peeled[20];
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(path, "refs/tags/") && /* is a tag? */
+	if (starts_with(path, "refs/tags/") && /* is a tag? */
 	    !peel_ref(path, peeled)        && /* peelable? */
 	    locate_object_entry(peeled))      /* object packed? */
 		add_object_entry(sha1, OBJ_TAG, NULL, 0);
diff --git a/builtin/prune.c b/builtin/prune.c
index 6366917c6d..a85ef54d5a 100644
--- a/builtin/prune.c
+++ b/builtin/prune.c
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ static int prune_dir(int i, char *path)
 			prune_object(path, de->d_name, sha1);
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(de->d_name, "tmp_obj_")) {
+		if (starts_with(de->d_name, "tmp_obj_")) {
 			prune_tmp_object(path, de->d_name);
 			continue;
 		}
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ static void remove_temporary_files(const char *path)
 		return;
 	}
 	while ((de = readdir(dir)) != NULL)
-		if (!prefixcmp(de->d_name, "tmp_"))
+		if (starts_with(de->d_name, "tmp_"))
 			prune_tmp_object(path, de->d_name);
 	closedir(dir);
 }
diff --git a/builtin/push.c b/builtin/push.c
index a73982a308..0e50ddbb01 100644
--- a/builtin/push.c
+++ b/builtin/push.c
@@ -35,35 +35,75 @@ static void add_refspec(const char *ref)
 	refspec[refspec_nr-1] = ref;
 }
 
-static void set_refspecs(const char **refs, int nr)
+static const char *map_refspec(const char *ref,
+			       struct remote *remote, struct ref *local_refs)
 {
+	struct ref *matched = NULL;
+
+	/* Does "ref" uniquely name our ref? */
+	if (count_refspec_match(ref, local_refs, &matched) != 1)
+		return ref;
+
+	if (remote->push) {
+		struct refspec query;
+		memset(&query, 0, sizeof(struct refspec));
+		query.src = matched->name;
+		if (!query_refspecs(remote->push, remote->push_refspec_nr, &query) &&
+		    query.dst) {
+			struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
+			strbuf_addf(&buf, "%s%s:%s",
+				    query.force ? "+" : "",
+				    query.src, query.dst);
+			return strbuf_detach(&buf, NULL);
+		}
+	}
+
+	if (push_default == PUSH_DEFAULT_UPSTREAM &&
+	    !prefixcmp(matched->name, "refs/heads/")) {
+		struct branch *branch = branch_get(matched->name + 11);
+		if (branch->merge_nr == 1 && branch->merge[0]->src) {
+			struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
+			strbuf_addf(&buf, "%s:%s",
+				    ref, branch->merge[0]->src);
+			return strbuf_detach(&buf, NULL);
+		}
+	}
+
+	return ref;
+}
+
+static void set_refspecs(const char **refs, int nr, const char *repo)
+{
+	struct remote *remote = NULL;
+	struct ref *local_refs = NULL;
 	int i;
+
 	for (i = 0; i < nr; i++) {
 		const char *ref = refs[i];
 		if (!strcmp("tag", ref)) {
-			char *tag;
-			int len;
+			struct strbuf tagref = STRBUF_INIT;
 			if (nr <= ++i)
 				die(_("tag shorthand without <tag>"));
-			len = strlen(refs[i]) + 11;
-			if (deleterefs) {
-				tag = xmalloc(len+1);
-				strcpy(tag, ":refs/tags/");
-			} else {
-				tag = xmalloc(len);
-				strcpy(tag, "refs/tags/");
+			ref = refs[i];
+			if (deleterefs)
+				strbuf_addf(&tagref, ":refs/tags/%s", ref);
+			else
+				strbuf_addf(&tagref, "refs/tags/%s", ref);
+			ref = strbuf_detach(&tagref, NULL);
+		} else if (deleterefs) {
+			struct strbuf delref = STRBUF_INIT;
+			if (strchr(ref, ':'))
+				die(_("--delete only accepts plain target ref names"));
+			strbuf_addf(&delref, ":%s", ref);
+			ref = strbuf_detach(&delref, NULL);
+		} else if (!strchr(ref, ':')) {
+			if (!remote) {
+				/* lazily grab remote and local_refs */
+				remote = remote_get(repo);
+				local_refs = get_local_heads();
 			}
-			strcat(tag, refs[i]);
-			ref = tag;
-		} else if (deleterefs && !strchr(ref, ':')) {
-			char *delref;
-			int len = strlen(ref)+1;
-			delref = xmalloc(len+1);
-			strcpy(delref, ":");
-			strcat(delref, ref);
-			ref = delref;
-		} else if (deleterefs)
-			die(_("--delete only accepts plain target ref names"));
+			ref = map_refspec(ref, remote, local_refs);
+		}
 		add_refspec(ref);
 	}
 }
@@ -501,7 +541,7 @@ int cmd_push(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 
 	if (argc > 0) {
 		repo = argv[0];
-		set_refspecs(argv + 1, argc - 1);
+		set_refspecs(argv + 1, argc - 1, repo);
 	}
 
 	rc = do_push(repo, flags);
diff --git a/builtin/receive-pack.c b/builtin/receive-pack.c
index 67ce1ef105..e09994f4df 100644
--- a/builtin/receive-pack.c
+++ b/builtin/receive-pack.c
@@ -428,7 +428,7 @@ static const char *update(struct command *cmd)
 	struct ref_lock *lock;
 
 	/* only refs/... are allowed */
-	if (prefixcmp(name, "refs/") || check_refname_format(name + 5, 0)) {
+	if (!starts_with(name, "refs/") || check_refname_format(name + 5, 0)) {
 		rp_error("refusing to create funny ref '%s' remotely", name);
 		return "funny refname";
 	}
@@ -459,7 +459,7 @@ static const char *update(struct command *cmd)
 	}
 
 	if (!is_null_sha1(old_sha1) && is_null_sha1(new_sha1)) {
-		if (deny_deletes && !prefixcmp(name, "refs/heads/")) {
+		if (deny_deletes && starts_with(name, "refs/heads/")) {
 			rp_error("denying ref deletion for %s", name);
 			return "deletion prohibited";
 		}
@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@ static const char *update(struct command *cmd)
 
 	if (deny_non_fast_forwards && !is_null_sha1(new_sha1) &&
 	    !is_null_sha1(old_sha1) &&
-	    !prefixcmp(name, "refs/heads/")) {
+	    starts_with(name, "refs/heads/")) {
 		struct object *old_object, *new_object;
 		struct commit *old_commit, *new_commit;
 
diff --git a/builtin/reflog.c b/builtin/reflog.c
index 6eb24c8da2..852cff60b7 100644
--- a/builtin/reflog.c
+++ b/builtin/reflog.c
@@ -610,12 +610,12 @@ static int cmd_reflog_expire(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		const char *arg = argv[i];
 		if (!strcmp(arg, "--dry-run") || !strcmp(arg, "-n"))
 			cb.dry_run = 1;
-		else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--expire=")) {
+		else if (starts_with(arg, "--expire=")) {
 			if (parse_expiry_date(arg + 9, &cb.expire_total))
 				die(_("'%s' is not a valid timestamp"), arg);
 			explicit_expiry |= EXPIRE_TOTAL;
 		}
-		else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--expire-unreachable=")) {
+		else if (starts_with(arg, "--expire-unreachable=")) {
 			if (parse_expiry_date(arg + 21, &cb.expire_unreachable))
 				die(_("'%s' is not a valid timestamp"), arg);
 			explicit_expiry |= EXPIRE_UNREACH;
diff --git a/builtin/remote.c b/builtin/remote.c
index f532f35457..b3ab4cf8f6 100644
--- a/builtin/remote.c
+++ b/builtin/remote.c
@@ -78,14 +78,6 @@ static const char * const builtin_remote_seturl_usage[] = {
 
 static int verbose;
 
-static inline int postfixcmp(const char *string, const char *postfix)
-{
-	int len1 = strlen(string), len2 = strlen(postfix);
-	if (len1 < len2)
-		return 1;
-	return strcmp(string + len1 - len2, postfix);
-}
-
 static int fetch_remote(const char *name)
 {
 	const char *argv[] = { "fetch", name, NULL, NULL };
@@ -267,7 +259,7 @@ static const char *abbrev_ref(const char *name, const char *prefix)
 
 static int config_read_branches(const char *key, const char *value, void *cb)
 {
-	if (!prefixcmp(key, "branch.")) {
+	if (starts_with(key, "branch.")) {
 		const char *orig_key = key;
 		char *name;
 		struct string_list_item *item;
@@ -275,13 +267,13 @@ static int config_read_branches(const char *key, const char *value, void *cb)
 		enum { REMOTE, MERGE, REBASE } type;
 
 		key += 7;
-		if (!postfixcmp(key, ".remote")) {
+		if (ends_with(key, ".remote")) {
 			name = xstrndup(key, strlen(key) - 7);
 			type = REMOTE;
-		} else if (!postfixcmp(key, ".merge")) {
+		} else if (ends_with(key, ".merge")) {
 			name = xstrndup(key, strlen(key) - 6);
 			type = MERGE;
-		} else if (!postfixcmp(key, ".rebase")) {
+		} else if (ends_with(key, ".rebase")) {
 			name = xstrndup(key, strlen(key) - 7);
 			type = REBASE;
 		} else
@@ -307,8 +299,13 @@ static int config_read_branches(const char *key, const char *value, void *cb)
 				space = strchr(value, ' ');
 			}
 			string_list_append(&info->merge, xstrdup(value));
-		} else
-			info->rebase = git_config_bool(orig_key, value);
+		} else {
+			int v = git_config_maybe_bool(orig_key, value);
+			if (v >= 0)
+				info->rebase = v;
+			else if (!strcmp(value, "preserve"))
+				info->rebase = 1;
+		}
 	}
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -532,9 +529,9 @@ static int add_branch_for_removal(const char *refname,
 	}
 
 	/* don't delete non-remote-tracking refs */
-	if (prefixcmp(refname, "refs/remotes/")) {
+	if (!starts_with(refname, "refs/remotes/")) {
 		/* advise user how to delete local branches */
-		if (!prefixcmp(refname, "refs/heads/"))
+		if (starts_with(refname, "refs/heads/"))
 			string_list_append(branches->skipped,
 					   abbrev_branch(refname));
 		/* silently skip over other non-remote refs */
@@ -569,7 +566,7 @@ static int read_remote_branches(const char *refname,
 	const char *symref;
 
 	strbuf_addf(&buf, "refs/remotes/%s/", rename->old);
-	if (!prefixcmp(refname, buf.buf)) {
+	if (starts_with(refname, buf.buf)) {
 		item = string_list_append(rename->remote_branches, xstrdup(refname));
 		symref = resolve_ref_unsafe(refname, orig_sha1, 1, &flag);
 		if (flag & REF_ISSYMREF)
diff --git a/builtin/repack.c b/builtin/repack.c
index a0ff5c704f..ba66c6e377 100644
--- a/builtin/repack.c
+++ b/builtin/repack.c
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ static void get_non_kept_pack_filenames(struct string_list *fname_list)
 		return;
 
 	while ((e = readdir(dir)) != NULL) {
-		if (suffixcmp(e->d_name, ".pack"))
+		if (!ends_with(e->d_name, ".pack"))
 			continue;
 
 		len = strlen(e->d_name) - strlen(".pack");
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ int cmd_repack(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	struct string_list rollback = STRING_LIST_INIT_NODUP;
 	struct string_list existing_packs = STRING_LIST_INIT_DUP;
 	struct strbuf line = STRBUF_INIT;
-	int nr_packs, ext, ret, failed;
+	int ext, ret, failed;
 	FILE *out;
 
 	/* variables to be filled by option parsing */
@@ -233,13 +233,11 @@ int cmd_repack(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
-	nr_packs = 0;
 	out = xfdopen(cmd.out, "r");
 	while (strbuf_getline(&line, out, '\n') != EOF) {
 		if (line.len != 40)
 			die("repack: Expecting 40 character sha1 lines only from pack-objects.");
 		string_list_append(&names, line.buf);
-		nr_packs++;
 	}
 	fclose(out);
 	ret = finish_command(&cmd);
@@ -247,7 +245,7 @@ int cmd_repack(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		return ret;
 	argv_array_clear(&cmd_args);
 
-	if (!nr_packs && !quiet)
+	if (!names.nr && !quiet)
 		printf("Nothing new to pack.\n");
 
 	/*
diff --git a/builtin/replace.c b/builtin/replace.c
index b1bd3ef994..2336325ce3 100644
--- a/builtin/replace.c
+++ b/builtin/replace.c
@@ -16,27 +16,69 @@
 static const char * const git_replace_usage[] = {
 	N_("git replace [-f] <object> <replacement>"),
 	N_("git replace -d <object>..."),
-	N_("git replace -l [<pattern>]"),
+	N_("git replace [--format=<format>] [-l [<pattern>]]"),
 	NULL
 };
 
+enum replace_format {
+      REPLACE_FORMAT_SHORT,
+      REPLACE_FORMAT_MEDIUM,
+      REPLACE_FORMAT_LONG
+};
+
+struct show_data {
+	const char *pattern;
+	enum replace_format format;
+};
+
 static int show_reference(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
 			  int flag, void *cb_data)
 {
-	const char *pattern = cb_data;
+	struct show_data *data = cb_data;
 
-	if (!fnmatch(pattern, refname, 0))
-		printf("%s\n", refname);
+	if (!fnmatch(data->pattern, refname, 0)) {
+		if (data->format == REPLACE_FORMAT_SHORT)
+			printf("%s\n", refname);
+		else if (data->format == REPLACE_FORMAT_MEDIUM)
+			printf("%s -> %s\n", refname, sha1_to_hex(sha1));
+		else { /* data->format == REPLACE_FORMAT_LONG */
+			unsigned char object[20];
+			enum object_type obj_type, repl_type;
+
+			if (get_sha1(refname, object))
+				return error("Failed to resolve '%s' as a valid ref.", refname);
+
+			obj_type = sha1_object_info(object, NULL);
+			repl_type = sha1_object_info(sha1, NULL);
+
+			printf("%s (%s) -> %s (%s)\n", refname, typename(obj_type),
+			       sha1_to_hex(sha1), typename(repl_type));
+		}
+	}
 
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int list_replace_refs(const char *pattern)
+static int list_replace_refs(const char *pattern, const char *format)
 {
+	struct show_data data;
+
 	if (pattern == NULL)
 		pattern = "*";
+	data.pattern = pattern;
 
-	for_each_replace_ref(show_reference, (void *) pattern);
+	if (format == NULL || *format == '\0' || !strcmp(format, "short"))
+		data.format = REPLACE_FORMAT_SHORT;
+	else if (!strcmp(format, "medium"))
+		data.format = REPLACE_FORMAT_MEDIUM;
+	else if (!strcmp(format, "long"))
+		data.format = REPLACE_FORMAT_LONG;
+	else
+		die("invalid replace format '%s'\n"
+		    "valid formats are 'short', 'medium' and 'long'\n",
+		    format);
+
+	for_each_replace_ref(show_reference, (void *) &data);
 
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -127,19 +169,27 @@ static int replace_object(const char *object_ref, const char *replace_ref,
 int cmd_replace(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 {
 	int list = 0, delete = 0, force = 0;
+	const char *format = NULL;
 	struct option options[] = {
 		OPT_BOOL('l', "list", &list, N_("list replace refs")),
 		OPT_BOOL('d', "delete", &delete, N_("delete replace refs")),
 		OPT_BOOL('f', "force", &force, N_("replace the ref if it exists")),
+		OPT_STRING(0, "format", &format, N_("format"), N_("use this format")),
 		OPT_END()
 	};
 
+	read_replace_refs = 0;
+
 	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, prefix, options, git_replace_usage, 0);
 
 	if (list && delete)
 		usage_msg_opt("-l and -d cannot be used together",
 			      git_replace_usage, options);
 
+	if (format && delete)
+		usage_msg_opt("--format and -d cannot be used together",
+			      git_replace_usage, options);
+
 	if (force && (list || delete))
 		usage_msg_opt("-f cannot be used with -d or -l",
 			      git_replace_usage, options);
@@ -157,6 +207,9 @@ int cmd_replace(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		if (argc != 2)
 			usage_msg_opt("bad number of arguments",
 				      git_replace_usage, options);
+		if (format)
+			usage_msg_opt("--format cannot be used when not listing",
+				      git_replace_usage, options);
 		return replace_object(argv[0], argv[1], force);
 	}
 
@@ -168,5 +221,5 @@ int cmd_replace(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		usage_msg_opt("-f needs some arguments",
 			      git_replace_usage, options);
 
-	return list_replace_refs(argv[0]);
+	return list_replace_refs(argv[0], format);
 }
diff --git a/builtin/rev-parse.c b/builtin/rev-parse.c
index 1d9ecafd41..aaeb611a97 100644
--- a/builtin/rev-parse.c
+++ b/builtin/rev-parse.c
@@ -286,6 +286,7 @@ static int try_difference(const char *arg)
 				exclude = n;
 			}
 		}
+		*dotdot = '.';
 		return 1;
 	}
 	*dotdot = '.';
@@ -309,8 +310,10 @@ static int try_parent_shorthands(const char *arg)
 		return 0;
 
 	*dotdot = 0;
-	if (get_sha1_committish(arg, sha1))
+	if (get_sha1_committish(arg, sha1)) {
+		*dotdot = '^';
 		return 0;
+	}
 
 	if (!parents_only)
 		show_rev(NORMAL, sha1, arg);
@@ -319,6 +322,7 @@ static int try_parent_shorthands(const char *arg)
 		show_rev(parents_only ? NORMAL : REVERSED,
 				parents->item->object.sha1, arg);
 
+	*dotdot = '^';
 	return 1;
 }
 
@@ -488,6 +492,7 @@ N_("git rev-parse --parseopt [options] -- [<args>...]\n"
 int cmd_rev_parse(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 {
 	int i, as_is = 0, verify = 0, quiet = 0, revs_count = 0, type = 0;
+	int has_dashdash = 0;
 	int output_prefix = 0;
 	unsigned char sha1[20];
 	const char *name = NULL;
@@ -501,6 +506,13 @@ int cmd_rev_parse(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (argc > 1 && !strcmp("-h", argv[1]))
 		usage(builtin_rev_parse_usage);
 
+	for (i = 1; i < argc; i++) {
+		if (!strcmp(argv[i], "--")) {
+			has_dashdash = 1;
+			break;
+		}
+	}
+
 	prefix = setup_git_directory();
 	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	for (i = 1; i < argc; i++) {
@@ -520,7 +532,7 @@ int cmd_rev_parse(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			}
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "-n")) {
+		if (starts_with(arg, "-n")) {
 			if ((filter & DO_FLAGS) && (filter & DO_REVS))
 				show(arg);
 			continue;
@@ -572,7 +584,7 @@ int cmd_rev_parse(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 				continue;
 			}
 			if (!strcmp(arg, "--short") ||
-			    !prefixcmp(arg, "--short=")) {
+			    starts_with(arg, "--short=")) {
 				filter &= ~(DO_FLAGS|DO_NOREV);
 				verify = 1;
 				abbrev = DEFAULT_ABBREV;
@@ -600,7 +612,7 @@ int cmd_rev_parse(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 				symbolic = SHOW_SYMBOLIC_FULL;
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--abbrev-ref") &&
+			if (starts_with(arg, "--abbrev-ref") &&
 			    (!arg[12] || arg[12] == '=')) {
 				abbrev_ref = 1;
 				abbrev_ref_strict = warn_ambiguous_refs;
@@ -618,7 +630,7 @@ int cmd_rev_parse(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 				for_each_ref(show_reference, NULL);
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--disambiguate=")) {
+			if (starts_with(arg, "--disambiguate=")) {
 				for_each_abbrev(arg + 15, show_abbrev, NULL);
 				continue;
 			}
@@ -627,7 +639,7 @@ int cmd_rev_parse(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 				for_each_ref_in("refs/bisect/good", anti_reference, NULL);
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--branches=")) {
+			if (starts_with(arg, "--branches=")) {
 				for_each_glob_ref_in(show_reference, arg + 11,
 					"refs/heads/", NULL);
 				clear_ref_exclusion(&ref_excludes);
@@ -638,7 +650,7 @@ int cmd_rev_parse(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 				clear_ref_exclusion(&ref_excludes);
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--tags=")) {
+			if (starts_with(arg, "--tags=")) {
 				for_each_glob_ref_in(show_reference, arg + 7,
 					"refs/tags/", NULL);
 				clear_ref_exclusion(&ref_excludes);
@@ -649,12 +661,12 @@ int cmd_rev_parse(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 				clear_ref_exclusion(&ref_excludes);
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--glob=")) {
+			if (starts_with(arg, "--glob=")) {
 				for_each_glob_ref(show_reference, arg + 7, NULL);
 				clear_ref_exclusion(&ref_excludes);
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--remotes=")) {
+			if (starts_with(arg, "--remotes=")) {
 				for_each_glob_ref_in(show_reference, arg + 10,
 					"refs/remotes/", NULL);
 				clear_ref_exclusion(&ref_excludes);
@@ -665,7 +677,7 @@ int cmd_rev_parse(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 				clear_ref_exclusion(&ref_excludes);
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--exclude=")) {
+			if (starts_with(arg, "--exclude=")) {
 				add_ref_exclusion(&ref_excludes, arg + 10);
 				continue;
 			}
@@ -747,19 +759,19 @@ int cmd_rev_parse(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 						: "false");
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--since=")) {
+			if (starts_with(arg, "--since=")) {
 				show_datestring("--max-age=", arg+8);
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--after=")) {
+			if (starts_with(arg, "--after=")) {
 				show_datestring("--max-age=", arg+8);
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--before=")) {
+			if (starts_with(arg, "--before=")) {
 				show_datestring("--min-age=", arg+9);
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--until=")) {
+			if (starts_with(arg, "--until=")) {
 				show_datestring("--min-age=", arg+8);
 				continue;
 			}
@@ -788,6 +800,8 @@ int cmd_rev_parse(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		}
 		if (verify)
 			die_no_single_rev(quiet);
+		if (has_dashdash)
+			die("bad revision '%s'", arg);
 		as_is = 1;
 		if (!show_file(arg, output_prefix))
 			continue;
diff --git a/builtin/send-pack.c b/builtin/send-pack.c
index 4482f16efb..e7f0b97d31 100644
--- a/builtin/send-pack.c
+++ b/builtin/send-pack.c
@@ -115,15 +115,15 @@ int cmd_send_pack(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		const char *arg = *argv;
 
 		if (*arg == '-') {
-			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--receive-pack=")) {
+			if (starts_with(arg, "--receive-pack=")) {
 				receivepack = arg + 15;
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--exec=")) {
+			if (starts_with(arg, "--exec=")) {
 				receivepack = arg + 7;
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--remote=")) {
+			if (starts_with(arg, "--remote=")) {
 				remote_name = arg + 9;
 				continue;
 			}
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ int cmd_send_pack(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 					exit(1);
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--" CAS_OPT_NAME "=")) {
+			if (starts_with(arg, "--" CAS_OPT_NAME "=")) {
 				if (parse_push_cas_option(&cas,
 							  strchr(arg, '=') + 1, 0) < 0)
 					exit(1);
diff --git a/builtin/shortlog.c b/builtin/shortlog.c
index c226f767aa..4b7e53623f 100644
--- a/builtin/shortlog.c
+++ b/builtin/shortlog.c
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ static void insert_one_record(struct shortlog *log,
 	eol = strchr(oneline, '\n');
 	if (!eol)
 		eol = oneline + strlen(oneline);
-	if (!prefixcmp(oneline, "[PATCH")) {
+	if (starts_with(oneline, "[PATCH")) {
 		char *eob = strchr(oneline, ']');
 		if (eob && (!eol || eob < eol))
 			oneline = eob + 1;
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ static void read_from_stdin(struct shortlog *log)
 
 	while (fgets(author, sizeof(author), stdin) != NULL) {
 		if (!(author[0] == 'A' || author[0] == 'a') ||
-		    prefixcmp(author + 1, "uthor: "))
+		    !starts_with(author + 1, "uthor: "))
 			continue;
 		while (fgets(oneline, sizeof(oneline), stdin) &&
 		       oneline[0] != '\n')
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ void shortlog_add_commit(struct shortlog *log, struct commit *commit)
 		else
 			eol++;
 
-		if (!prefixcmp(buffer, "author "))
+		if (starts_with(buffer, "author "))
 			author = buffer + 7;
 		buffer = eol;
 	}
diff --git a/builtin/show-branch.c b/builtin/show-branch.c
index 46902c3de4..d9217ce1e1 100644
--- a/builtin/show-branch.c
+++ b/builtin/show-branch.c
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ static void show_one_commit(struct commit *commit, int no_name)
 		pp_commit_easy(CMIT_FMT_ONELINE, commit, &pretty);
 		pretty_str = pretty.buf;
 	}
-	if (!prefixcmp(pretty_str, "[PATCH] "))
+	if (starts_with(pretty_str, "[PATCH] "))
 		pretty_str += 8;
 
 	if (!no_name) {
@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@ static int append_head_ref(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1, int f
 {
 	unsigned char tmp[20];
 	int ofs = 11;
-	if (prefixcmp(refname, "refs/heads/"))
+	if (!starts_with(refname, "refs/heads/"))
 		return 0;
 	/* If both heads/foo and tags/foo exists, get_sha1 would
 	 * get confused.
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ static int append_remote_ref(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1, int
 {
 	unsigned char tmp[20];
 	int ofs = 13;
-	if (prefixcmp(refname, "refs/remotes/"))
+	if (!starts_with(refname, "refs/remotes/"))
 		return 0;
 	/* If both heads/foo and tags/foo exists, get_sha1 would
 	 * get confused.
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ static int append_remote_ref(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1, int
 
 static int append_tag_ref(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1, int flag, void *cb_data)
 {
-	if (prefixcmp(refname, "refs/tags/"))
+	if (!starts_with(refname, "refs/tags/"))
 		return 0;
 	return append_ref(refname + 5, sha1, 0);
 }
@@ -452,9 +452,9 @@ static int append_matching_ref(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1, i
 		return 0;
 	if (fnmatch(match_ref_pattern, tail, 0))
 		return 0;
-	if (!prefixcmp(refname, "refs/heads/"))
+	if (starts_with(refname, "refs/heads/"))
 		return append_head_ref(refname, sha1, flag, cb_data);
-	if (!prefixcmp(refname, "refs/tags/"))
+	if (starts_with(refname, "refs/tags/"))
 		return append_tag_ref(refname, sha1, flag, cb_data);
 	return append_ref(refname, sha1, 0);
 }
@@ -479,11 +479,11 @@ static int rev_is_head(char *head, int headlen, char *name,
 	if ((!head[0]) ||
 	    (head_sha1 && sha1 && hashcmp(head_sha1, sha1)))
 		return 0;
-	if (!prefixcmp(head, "refs/heads/"))
+	if (starts_with(head, "refs/heads/"))
 		head += 11;
-	if (!prefixcmp(name, "refs/heads/"))
+	if (starts_with(name, "refs/heads/"))
 		name += 11;
-	else if (!prefixcmp(name, "heads/"))
+	else if (starts_with(name, "heads/"))
 		name += 6;
 	return !strcmp(head, name);
 }
@@ -812,7 +812,7 @@ int cmd_show_branch(int ac, const char **av, const char *prefix)
 				has_head++;
 		}
 		if (!has_head) {
-			int offset = !prefixcmp(head, "refs/heads/") ? 11 : 0;
+			int offset = starts_with(head, "refs/heads/") ? 11 : 0;
 			append_one_rev(head + offset);
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/builtin/show-ref.c b/builtin/show-ref.c
index 9f3f5e370b..5ba1f30838 100644
--- a/builtin/show-ref.c
+++ b/builtin/show-ref.c
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ static int show_ref(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1, int flag, vo
 	if (tags_only || heads_only) {
 		int match;
 
-		match = heads_only && !prefixcmp(refname, "refs/heads/");
-		match |= tags_only && !prefixcmp(refname, "refs/tags/");
+		match = heads_only && starts_with(refname, "refs/heads/");
+		match |= tags_only && starts_with(refname, "refs/tags/");
 		if (!match)
 			return 0;
 	}
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ int cmd_show_ref(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		while (*pattern) {
 			unsigned char sha1[20];
 
-			if (!prefixcmp(*pattern, "refs/") &&
+			if (starts_with(*pattern, "refs/") &&
 			    !read_ref(*pattern, sha1)) {
 				if (!quiet)
 					show_one(*pattern, sha1);
diff --git a/builtin/symbolic-ref.c b/builtin/symbolic-ref.c
index 71286b4fae..b6a711d319 100644
--- a/builtin/symbolic-ref.c
+++ b/builtin/symbolic-ref.c
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ int cmd_symbolic_ref(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		break;
 	case 2:
 		if (!strcmp(argv[0], "HEAD") &&
-		    prefixcmp(argv[1], "refs/"))
+		    !starts_with(argv[1], "refs/"))
 			die("Refusing to point HEAD outside of refs/");
 		create_symref(argv[0], argv[1], msg);
 		break;
diff --git a/builtin/tag.c b/builtin/tag.c
index ea55f1d1bd..74d3780b77 100644
--- a/builtin/tag.c
+++ b/builtin/tag.c
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ static int git_tag_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 	int status = git_gpg_config(var, value, cb);
 	if (status)
 		return status;
-	if (!prefixcmp(var, "column."))
+	if (starts_with(var, "column."))
 		return git_column_config(var, value, "tag", &colopts);
 	return git_default_config(var, value, cb);
 }
diff --git a/builtin/unpack-objects.c b/builtin/unpack-objects.c
index 2217d7b3ae..62ff673f68 100644
--- a/builtin/unpack-objects.c
+++ b/builtin/unpack-objects.c
@@ -523,7 +523,7 @@ int cmd_unpack_objects(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 				strict = 1;
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--pack_header=")) {
+			if (starts_with(arg, "--pack_header=")) {
 				struct pack_header *hdr;
 				char *c;
 
diff --git a/builtin/update-ref.c b/builtin/update-ref.c
index 702e90db2a..1292cfea11 100644
--- a/builtin/update-ref.c
+++ b/builtin/update-ref.c
@@ -229,15 +229,15 @@ static void update_refs_stdin(void)
 			die("empty command in input");
 		else if (isspace(*cmd.buf))
 			die("whitespace before command: %s", cmd.buf);
-		else if (!prefixcmp(cmd.buf, "update "))
+		else if (starts_with(cmd.buf, "update "))
 			parse_cmd_update(cmd.buf + 7);
-		else if (!prefixcmp(cmd.buf, "create "))
+		else if (starts_with(cmd.buf, "create "))
 			parse_cmd_create(cmd.buf + 7);
-		else if (!prefixcmp(cmd.buf, "delete "))
+		else if (starts_with(cmd.buf, "delete "))
 			parse_cmd_delete(cmd.buf + 7);
-		else if (!prefixcmp(cmd.buf, "verify "))
+		else if (starts_with(cmd.buf, "verify "))
 			parse_cmd_verify(cmd.buf + 7);
-		else if (!prefixcmp(cmd.buf, "option "))
+		else if (starts_with(cmd.buf, "option "))
 			parse_cmd_option(cmd.buf + 7);
 		else
 			die("unknown command: %s", cmd.buf);
diff --git a/builtin/upload-archive.c b/builtin/upload-archive.c
index af2da35e7d..32ab94cd06 100644
--- a/builtin/upload-archive.c
+++ b/builtin/upload-archive.c
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ int cmd_upload_archive_writer(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		if (sent_argv.argc > MAX_ARGS)
 			die("Too many options (>%d)", MAX_ARGS - 1);
 
-		if (prefixcmp(buf, arg_cmd))
+		if (!starts_with(buf, arg_cmd))
 			die("'argument' token or flush expected");
 		argv_array_push(&sent_argv, buf + strlen(arg_cmd));
 	}
diff --git a/cache.h b/cache.h
index ce377e1354..9ba9773edf 100644
--- a/cache.h
+++ b/cache.h
@@ -760,11 +760,11 @@ int daemon_avoid_alias(const char *path);
 int offset_1st_component(const char *path);
 
 /* object replacement */
-#define READ_SHA1_FILE_REPLACE 1
+#define LOOKUP_REPLACE_OBJECT 1
 extern void *read_sha1_file_extended(const unsigned char *sha1, enum object_type *type, unsigned long *size, unsigned flag);
 static inline void *read_sha1_file(const unsigned char *sha1, enum object_type *type, unsigned long *size)
 {
-	return read_sha1_file_extended(sha1, type, size, READ_SHA1_FILE_REPLACE);
+	return read_sha1_file_extended(sha1, type, size, LOOKUP_REPLACE_OBJECT);
 }
 extern const unsigned char *do_lookup_replace_object(const unsigned char *sha1);
 static inline const unsigned char *lookup_replace_object(const unsigned char *sha1)
@@ -773,6 +773,12 @@ static inline const unsigned char *lookup_replace_object(const unsigned char *sh
 		return sha1;
 	return do_lookup_replace_object(sha1);
 }
+static inline const unsigned char *lookup_replace_object_extended(const unsigned char *sha1, unsigned flag)
+{
+	if (!(flag & LOOKUP_REPLACE_OBJECT))
+		return sha1;
+	return lookup_replace_object(sha1);
+}
 
 /* Read and unpack a sha1 file into memory, write memory to a sha1 file */
 extern int sha1_object_info(const unsigned char *, unsigned long *);
@@ -1098,7 +1104,7 @@ struct object_info {
 		} packed;
 	} u;
 };
-extern int sha1_object_info_extended(const unsigned char *, struct object_info *);
+extern int sha1_object_info_extended(const unsigned char *, struct object_info *, unsigned flags);
 
 /* Dumb servers support */
 extern int update_server_info(int);
diff --git a/commit.c b/commit.c
index 11509ffc47..5df1df7351 100644
--- a/commit.c
+++ b/commit.c
@@ -566,7 +566,7 @@ static void record_author_date(struct author_date_slab *author_date,
 	     buf;
 	     buf = line_end + 1) {
 		line_end = strchrnul(buf, '\n');
-		if (prefixcmp(buf, "author ")) {
+		if (!starts_with(buf, "author ")) {
 			if (!line_end[0] || line_end[1] == '\n')
 				return; /* end of header */
 			continue;
@@ -1113,7 +1113,7 @@ int parse_signed_commit(const unsigned char *sha1,
 		next = next ? next + 1 : tail;
 		if (in_signature && line[0] == ' ')
 			sig = line + 1;
-		else if (!prefixcmp(line, gpg_sig_header) &&
+		else if (starts_with(line, gpg_sig_header) &&
 			 line[gpg_sig_header_len] == ' ')
 			sig = line + gpg_sig_header_len + 1;
 		if (sig) {
@@ -1193,7 +1193,7 @@ static void parse_gpg_output(struct signature_check *sigc)
 	for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(sigcheck_gpg_status); i++) {
 		const char *found, *next;
 
-		if (!prefixcmp(buf, sigcheck_gpg_status[i].check + 1)) {
+		if (starts_with(buf, sigcheck_gpg_status[i].check + 1)) {
 			/* At the very beginning of the buffer */
 			found = buf + strlen(sigcheck_gpg_status[i].check + 1);
 		} else {
diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index a2c22ab43c..d969a5aefc 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -969,25 +969,25 @@ static int git_default_mailmap_config(const char *var, const char *value)
 
 int git_default_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *dummy)
 {
-	if (!prefixcmp(var, "core."))
+	if (starts_with(var, "core."))
 		return git_default_core_config(var, value);
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(var, "user."))
+	if (starts_with(var, "user."))
 		return git_ident_config(var, value, dummy);
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(var, "i18n."))
+	if (starts_with(var, "i18n."))
 		return git_default_i18n_config(var, value);
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(var, "branch."))
+	if (starts_with(var, "branch."))
 		return git_default_branch_config(var, value);
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(var, "push."))
+	if (starts_with(var, "push."))
 		return git_default_push_config(var, value);
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(var, "mailmap."))
+	if (starts_with(var, "mailmap."))
 		return git_default_mailmap_config(var, value);
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(var, "advice."))
+	if (starts_with(var, "advice."))
 		return git_default_advice_config(var, value);
 
 	if (!strcmp(var, "pager.color") || !strcmp(var, "color.pager")) {
@@ -1879,7 +1879,7 @@ int parse_config_key(const char *var,
 	const char *dot;
 
 	/* Does it start with "section." ? */
-	if (prefixcmp(var, section) || var[section_len] != '.')
+	if (!starts_with(var, section) || var[section_len] != '.')
 		return -1;
 
 	/*
diff --git a/connect.c b/connect.c
index 06e88b0705..c763eeda86 100644
--- a/connect.c
+++ b/connect.c
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ struct ref **get_remote_heads(int in, char *src_buf, size_t src_len,
 		if (!len)
 			break;
 
-		if (len > 4 && !prefixcmp(buffer, "ERR "))
+		if (len > 4 && starts_with(buffer, "ERR "))
 			die("remote error: %s", buffer + 4);
 
 		if (len < 42 || get_sha1_hex(buffer, old_sha1) || buffer[40] != ' ')
@@ -232,10 +232,34 @@ int server_supports(const char *feature)
 
 enum protocol {
 	PROTO_LOCAL = 1,
+	PROTO_FILE,
 	PROTO_SSH,
 	PROTO_GIT
 };
 
+int url_is_local_not_ssh(const char *url)
+{
+	const char *colon = strchr(url, ':');
+	const char *slash = strchr(url, '/');
+	return !colon || (slash && slash < colon) ||
+		has_dos_drive_prefix(url);
+}
+
+static const char *prot_name(enum protocol protocol)
+{
+	switch (protocol) {
+		case PROTO_LOCAL:
+		case PROTO_FILE:
+			return "file";
+		case PROTO_SSH:
+			return "ssh";
+		case PROTO_GIT:
+			return "git";
+		default:
+			return "unkown protocol";
+	}
+}
+
 static enum protocol get_protocol(const char *name)
 {
 	if (!strcmp(name, "ssh"))
@@ -247,7 +271,7 @@ static enum protocol get_protocol(const char *name)
 	if (!strcmp(name, "ssh+git"))
 		return PROTO_SSH;
 	if (!strcmp(name, "file"))
-		return PROTO_LOCAL;
+		return PROTO_FILE;
 	die("I don't handle protocol '%s'", name);
 }
 
@@ -527,55 +551,31 @@ static struct child_process *git_proxy_connect(int fd[2], char *host)
 	return proxy;
 }
 
-#define MAX_CMD_LEN 1024
-
-static char *get_port(char *host)
+static const char *get_port_numeric(const char *p)
 {
 	char *end;
-	char *p = strchr(host, ':');
-
 	if (p) {
 		long port = strtol(p + 1, &end, 10);
 		if (end != p + 1 && *end == '\0' && 0 <= port && port < 65536) {
-			*p = '\0';
-			return p+1;
+			return p;
 		}
 	}
 
 	return NULL;
 }
 
-static struct child_process no_fork;
-
 /*
- * This returns a dummy child_process if the transport protocol does not
- * need fork(2), or a struct child_process object if it does.  Once done,
- * finish the connection with finish_connect() with the value returned from
- * this function (it is safe to call finish_connect() with NULL to support
- * the former case).
- *
- * If it returns, the connect is successful; it just dies on errors (this
- * will hopefully be changed in a libification effort, to return NULL when
- * the connection failed).
+ * Extract protocol and relevant parts from the specified connection URL.
+ * The caller must free() the returned strings.
  */
-struct child_process *git_connect(int fd[2], const char *url_orig,
-				  const char *prog, int flags)
+static enum protocol parse_connect_url(const char *url_orig, char **ret_host,
+				       char **ret_path)
 {
 	char *url;
 	char *host, *path;
 	char *end;
-	int c;
-	struct child_process *conn = &no_fork;
+	int separator = '/';
 	enum protocol protocol = PROTO_LOCAL;
-	int free_path = 0;
-	char *port = NULL;
-	const char **arg;
-	struct strbuf cmd;
-
-	/* Without this we cannot rely on waitpid() to tell
-	 * what happened to our children.
-	 */
-	signal(SIGCHLD, SIG_DFL);
 
 	if (is_url(url_orig))
 		url = url_decode(url_orig);
@@ -587,40 +587,33 @@ struct child_process *git_connect(int fd[2], const char *url_orig,
 		*host = '\0';
 		protocol = get_protocol(url);
 		host += 3;
-		c = '/';
 	} else {
 		host = url;
-		c = ':';
+		if (!url_is_local_not_ssh(url)) {
+			protocol = PROTO_SSH;
+			separator = ':';
+		}
 	}
 
 	/*
-	 * Don't do destructive transforms with git:// as that
-	 * protocol code does '[]' unwrapping of its own.
+	 * Don't do destructive transforms as protocol code does
+	 * '[]' unwrapping in get_host_and_port()
 	 */
 	if (host[0] == '[') {
 		end = strchr(host + 1, ']');
 		if (end) {
-			if (protocol != PROTO_GIT) {
-				*end = 0;
-				host++;
-			}
 			end++;
 		} else
 			end = host;
 	} else
 		end = host;
 
-	path = strchr(end, c);
-	if (path && !has_dos_drive_prefix(end)) {
-		if (c == ':') {
-			if (host != url || path < strchrnul(host, '/')) {
-				protocol = PROTO_SSH;
-				*path++ = '\0';
-			} else /* '/' in the host part, assume local path */
-				path = end;
-		}
-	} else
+	if (protocol == PROTO_LOCAL)
 		path = end;
+	else if (protocol == PROTO_FILE && has_dos_drive_prefix(end))
+		path = end; /* "file://$(pwd)" may be "file://C:/projects/repo" */
+	else
+		path = strchr(end, separator);
 
 	if (!path || !*path)
 		die("No path specified. See 'man git-pull' for valid url syntax");
@@ -629,33 +622,67 @@ struct child_process *git_connect(int fd[2], const char *url_orig,
 	 * null-terminate hostname and point path to ~ for URL's like this:
 	 *    ssh://host.xz/~user/repo
 	 */
-	if (protocol != PROTO_LOCAL && host != url) {
-		char *ptr = path;
+
+	end = path; /* Need to \0 terminate host here */
+	if (separator == ':')
+		path++; /* path starts after ':' */
+	if (protocol == PROTO_GIT || protocol == PROTO_SSH) {
 		if (path[1] == '~')
 			path++;
-		else {
-			path = xstrdup(ptr);
-			free_path = 1;
-		}
-
-		*ptr = '\0';
 	}
 
-	/*
-	 * Add support for ssh port: ssh://host.xy:<port>/...
+	path = xstrdup(path);
+	*end = '\0';
+
+	*ret_host = xstrdup(host);
+	*ret_path = path;
+	free(url);
+	return protocol;
+}
+
+static struct child_process no_fork;
+
+/*
+ * This returns a dummy child_process if the transport protocol does not
+ * need fork(2), or a struct child_process object if it does.  Once done,
+ * finish the connection with finish_connect() with the value returned from
+ * this function (it is safe to call finish_connect() with NULL to support
+ * the former case).
+ *
+ * If it returns, the connect is successful; it just dies on errors (this
+ * will hopefully be changed in a libification effort, to return NULL when
+ * the connection failed).
+ */
+struct child_process *git_connect(int fd[2], const char *url,
+				  const char *prog, int flags)
+{
+	char *hostandport, *path;
+	struct child_process *conn = &no_fork;
+	enum protocol protocol;
+	const char **arg;
+	struct strbuf cmd = STRBUF_INIT;
+
+	/* Without this we cannot rely on waitpid() to tell
+	 * what happened to our children.
 	 */
-	if (protocol == PROTO_SSH && host != url)
-		port = get_port(end);
+	signal(SIGCHLD, SIG_DFL);
 
-	if (protocol == PROTO_GIT) {
+	protocol = parse_connect_url(url, &hostandport, &path);
+	if (flags & CONNECT_DIAG_URL) {
+		printf("Diag: url=%s\n", url ? url : "NULL");
+		printf("Diag: protocol=%s\n", prot_name(protocol));
+		printf("Diag: hostandport=%s\n", hostandport ? hostandport : "NULL");
+		printf("Diag: path=%s\n", path ? path : "NULL");
+		conn = NULL;
+	} else if (protocol == PROTO_GIT) {
 		/* These underlying connection commands die() if they
 		 * cannot connect.
 		 */
-		char *target_host = xstrdup(host);
-		if (git_use_proxy(host))
-			conn = git_proxy_connect(fd, host);
+		char *target_host = xstrdup(hostandport);
+		if (git_use_proxy(hostandport))
+			conn = git_proxy_connect(fd, hostandport);
 		else
-			git_tcp_connect(fd, host, flags);
+			git_tcp_connect(fd, hostandport, flags);
 		/*
 		 * Separate original protocol components prog and path
 		 * from extended host header with a NUL byte.
@@ -668,55 +695,51 @@ struct child_process *git_connect(int fd[2], const char *url_orig,
 			     prog, path, 0,
 			     target_host, 0);
 		free(target_host);
-		free(url);
-		if (free_path)
-			free(path);
-		return conn;
-	}
-
-	conn = xcalloc(1, sizeof(*conn));
-
-	strbuf_init(&cmd, MAX_CMD_LEN);
-	strbuf_addstr(&cmd, prog);
-	strbuf_addch(&cmd, ' ');
-	sq_quote_buf(&cmd, path);
-	if (cmd.len >= MAX_CMD_LEN)
-		die("command line too long");
-
-	conn->in = conn->out = -1;
-	conn->argv = arg = xcalloc(7, sizeof(*arg));
-	if (protocol == PROTO_SSH) {
-		const char *ssh = getenv("GIT_SSH");
-		int putty = ssh && strcasestr(ssh, "plink");
-		if (!ssh) ssh = "ssh";
-
-		*arg++ = ssh;
-		if (putty && !strcasestr(ssh, "tortoiseplink"))
-			*arg++ = "-batch";
-		if (port) {
-			/* P is for PuTTY, p is for OpenSSH */
-			*arg++ = putty ? "-P" : "-p";
-			*arg++ = port;
+	} else {
+		conn = xcalloc(1, sizeof(*conn));
+
+		strbuf_addstr(&cmd, prog);
+		strbuf_addch(&cmd, ' ');
+		sq_quote_buf(&cmd, path);
+
+		conn->in = conn->out = -1;
+		conn->argv = arg = xcalloc(7, sizeof(*arg));
+		if (protocol == PROTO_SSH) {
+			const char *ssh = getenv("GIT_SSH");
+			int putty = ssh && strcasestr(ssh, "plink");
+			char *ssh_host = hostandport;
+			const char *port = NULL;
+			get_host_and_port(&ssh_host, &port);
+			port = get_port_numeric(port);
+
+			if (!ssh) ssh = "ssh";
+
+			*arg++ = ssh;
+			if (putty && !strcasestr(ssh, "tortoiseplink"))
+				*arg++ = "-batch";
+			if (port) {
+				/* P is for PuTTY, p is for OpenSSH */
+				*arg++ = putty ? "-P" : "-p";
+				*arg++ = port;
+			}
+			*arg++ = ssh_host;
+		}	else {
+			/* remove repo-local variables from the environment */
+			conn->env = local_repo_env;
+			conn->use_shell = 1;
 		}
-		*arg++ = host;
-	}
-	else {
-		/* remove repo-local variables from the environment */
-		conn->env = local_repo_env;
-		conn->use_shell = 1;
-	}
-	*arg++ = cmd.buf;
-	*arg = NULL;
+		*arg++ = cmd.buf;
+		*arg = NULL;
 
-	if (start_command(conn))
-		die("unable to fork");
+		if (start_command(conn))
+			die("unable to fork");
 
-	fd[0] = conn->out; /* read from child's stdout */
-	fd[1] = conn->in;  /* write to child's stdin */
-	strbuf_release(&cmd);
-	free(url);
-	if (free_path)
-		free(path);
+		fd[0] = conn->out; /* read from child's stdout */
+		fd[1] = conn->in;  /* write to child's stdin */
+		strbuf_release(&cmd);
+	}
+	free(hostandport);
+	free(path);
 	return conn;
 }
 
diff --git a/connect.h b/connect.h
index 64fb7dbbee..c41a6850f1 100644
--- a/connect.h
+++ b/connect.h
@@ -2,11 +2,13 @@
 #define CONNECT_H
 
 #define CONNECT_VERBOSE       (1u << 0)
+#define CONNECT_DIAG_URL      (1u << 1)
 extern struct child_process *git_connect(int fd[2], const char *url, const char *prog, int flags);
 extern int finish_connect(struct child_process *conn);
 extern int git_connection_is_socket(struct child_process *conn);
 extern int server_supports(const char *feature);
 extern int parse_feature_request(const char *features, const char *feature);
 extern const char *server_feature_value(const char *feature, int *len_ret);
+extern int url_is_local_not_ssh(const char *url);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/connected.c b/connected.c
index fae8d64c12..51d8ba4bb7 100644
--- a/connected.c
+++ b/connected.c
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ int check_everything_connected_with_transport(sha1_iterate_fn fn,
 	if (transport && transport->smart_options &&
 	    transport->smart_options->self_contained_and_connected &&
 	    transport->pack_lockfile &&
-	    !suffixcmp(transport->pack_lockfile, ".keep")) {
+	    ends_with(transport->pack_lockfile, ".keep")) {
 		struct strbuf idx_file = STRBUF_INIT;
 		strbuf_addstr(&idx_file, transport->pack_lockfile);
 		strbuf_setlen(&idx_file, idx_file.len - 5); /* ".keep" */
diff --git a/contrib/credential/gnome-keyring/git-credential-gnome-keyring.c b/contrib/credential/gnome-keyring/git-credential-gnome-keyring.c
index 635c96bc56..2a317fca44 100644
--- a/contrib/credential/gnome-keyring/git-credential-gnome-keyring.c
+++ b/contrib/credential/gnome-keyring/git-credential-gnome-keyring.c
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
 #define gnome_keyring_memory_free gnome_keyring_free_password
 #define gnome_keyring_memory_strdup g_strdup
 
-static const char* gnome_keyring_result_to_message(GnomeKeyringResult result)
+static const char *gnome_keyring_result_to_message(GnomeKeyringResult result)
 {
 	switch (result) {
 	case GNOME_KEYRING_RESULT_OK:
@@ -95,9 +95,9 @@ static const char* gnome_keyring_result_to_message(GnomeKeyringResult result)
 
 static void gnome_keyring_done_cb(GnomeKeyringResult result, gpointer user_data)
 {
-	gpointer *data = (gpointer*) user_data;
-	int *done = (int*) data[0];
-	GnomeKeyringResult *r = (GnomeKeyringResult*) data[1];
+	gpointer *data = (gpointer *)user_data;
+	int *done = (int *)data[0];
+	GnomeKeyringResult *r = (GnomeKeyringResult *)data[1];
 
 	*r = result;
 	*done = 1;
@@ -130,34 +130,30 @@ static GnomeKeyringResult gnome_keyring_item_delete_sync(const char *keyring, gu
 /*
  * This credential struct and API is simplified from git's credential.{h,c}
  */
-struct credential
-{
-	char          *protocol;
-	char          *host;
+struct credential {
+	char *protocol;
+	char *host;
 	unsigned short port;
-	char          *path;
-	char          *username;
-	char          *password;
+	char *path;
+	char *username;
+	char *password;
 };
 
-#define CREDENTIAL_INIT \
-  { NULL,NULL,0,NULL,NULL,NULL }
+#define CREDENTIAL_INIT { NULL, NULL, 0, NULL, NULL, NULL }
 
-typedef int (*credential_op_cb)(struct credential*);
+typedef int (*credential_op_cb)(struct credential *);
 
-struct credential_operation
-{
-	char             *name;
+struct credential_operation {
+	char *name;
 	credential_op_cb op;
 };
 
-#define CREDENTIAL_OP_END \
-  { NULL,NULL }
+#define CREDENTIAL_OP_END { NULL, NULL }
 
 /* ----------------- GNOME Keyring functions ----------------- */
 
 /* create a special keyring option string, if path is given */
-static char* keyring_object(struct credential *c)
+static char *keyring_object(struct credential *c)
 {
 	if (!c->path)
 		return NULL;
@@ -170,7 +166,7 @@ static char* keyring_object(struct credential *c)
 
 static int keyring_get(struct credential *c)
 {
-	char* object = NULL;
+	char *object = NULL;
 	GList *entries;
 	GnomeKeyringNetworkPasswordData *password_data;
 	GnomeKeyringResult result;
@@ -204,7 +200,7 @@ static int keyring_get(struct credential *c)
 	}
 
 	/* pick the first one from the list */
-	password_data = (GnomeKeyringNetworkPasswordData *) entries->data;
+	password_data = (GnomeKeyringNetworkPasswordData *)entries->data;
 
 	gnome_keyring_memory_free(c->password);
 	c->password = gnome_keyring_memory_strdup(password_data->password);
@@ -221,7 +217,7 @@ static int keyring_get(struct credential *c)
 static int keyring_store(struct credential *c)
 {
 	guint32 item_id;
-	char  *object = NULL;
+	char *object = NULL;
 	GnomeKeyringResult result;
 
 	/*
@@ -262,7 +258,7 @@ static int keyring_store(struct credential *c)
 
 static int keyring_erase(struct credential *c)
 {
-	char  *object = NULL;
+	char *object = NULL;
 	GList *entries;
 	GnomeKeyringNetworkPasswordData *password_data;
 	GnomeKeyringResult result;
@@ -298,22 +294,20 @@ static int keyring_erase(struct credential *c)
 	if (result == GNOME_KEYRING_RESULT_CANCELLED)
 		return EXIT_SUCCESS;
 
-	if (result != GNOME_KEYRING_RESULT_OK)
-	{
+	if (result != GNOME_KEYRING_RESULT_OK) {
 		g_critical("%s", gnome_keyring_result_to_message(result));
 		return EXIT_FAILURE;
 	}
 
 	/* pick the first one from the list (delete all matches?) */
-	password_data = (GnomeKeyringNetworkPasswordData *) entries->data;
+	password_data = (GnomeKeyringNetworkPasswordData *)entries->data;
 
 	result = gnome_keyring_item_delete_sync(
 		password_data->keyring, password_data->item_id);
 
 	gnome_keyring_network_password_list_free(entries);
 
-	if (result != GNOME_KEYRING_RESULT_OK)
-	{
+	if (result != GNOME_KEYRING_RESULT_OK) {
 		g_critical("%s", gnome_keyring_result_to_message(result));
 		return EXIT_FAILURE;
 	}
@@ -325,9 +319,8 @@ static int keyring_erase(struct credential *c)
  * Table with helper operation callbacks, used by generic
  * credential helper main function.
  */
-static struct credential_operation const credential_helper_ops[] =
-{
-	{ "get",   keyring_get   },
+static struct credential_operation const credential_helper_ops[] = {
+	{ "get",   keyring_get },
 	{ "store", keyring_store },
 	{ "erase", keyring_erase },
 	CREDENTIAL_OP_END
@@ -353,24 +346,23 @@ static void credential_clear(struct credential *c)
 
 static int credential_read(struct credential *c)
 {
-	char    *buf;
+	char *buf;
 	size_t line_len;
-	char   *key;
-	char   *value;
+	char *key;
+	char *value;
 
 	key = buf = gnome_keyring_memory_alloc(1024);
 
-	while (fgets(buf, 1024, stdin))
-	{
+	while (fgets(buf, 1024, stdin)) {
 		line_len = strlen(buf);
 
 		if (line_len && buf[line_len-1] == '\n')
-			buf[--line_len]='\0';
+			buf[--line_len] = '\0';
 
 		if (!line_len)
 			break;
 
-		value = strchr(buf,'=');
+		value = strchr(buf, '=');
 		if (!value) {
 			g_warning("invalid credential line: %s", key);
 			gnome_keyring_memory_free(buf);
@@ -384,7 +376,7 @@ static int credential_read(struct credential *c)
 		} else if (!strcmp(key, "host")) {
 			g_free(c->host);
 			c->host = g_strdup(value);
-			value = strrchr(c->host,':');
+			value = strrchr(c->host, ':');
 			if (value) {
 				*value++ = '\0';
 				c->port = atoi(value);
@@ -398,7 +390,8 @@ static int credential_read(struct credential *c)
 		} else if (!strcmp(key, "password")) {
 			gnome_keyring_memory_free(c->password);
 			c->password = gnome_keyring_memory_strdup(value);
-			while (*value) *value++ = '\0';
+			while (*value)
+				*value++ = '\0';
 		}
 		/*
 		 * Ignore other lines; we don't know what they mean, but
@@ -429,16 +422,16 @@ static void credential_write(const struct credential *c)
 static void usage(const char *name)
 {
 	struct credential_operation const *try_op = credential_helper_ops;
-	const char *basename = strrchr(name,'/');
+	const char *basename = strrchr(name, '/');
 
 	basename = (basename) ? basename + 1 : name;
 	fprintf(stderr, "usage: %s <", basename);
 	while (try_op->name) {
-		fprintf(stderr,"%s",(try_op++)->name);
+		fprintf(stderr, "%s", (try_op++)->name);
 		if (try_op->name)
-			fprintf(stderr,"%s","|");
+			fprintf(stderr, "%s", "|");
 	}
-	fprintf(stderr,"%s",">\n");
+	fprintf(stderr, "%s", ">\n");
 }
 
 int main(int argc, char *argv[])
@@ -446,7 +439,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	int ret = EXIT_SUCCESS;
 
 	struct credential_operation const *try_op = credential_helper_ops;
-	struct credential                  cred   = CREDENTIAL_INIT;
+	struct credential cred = CREDENTIAL_INIT;
 
 	if (!argv[1]) {
 		usage(argv[0]);
diff --git a/contrib/remote-helpers/git-remote-bzr b/contrib/remote-helpers/git-remote-bzr
index 7e345320ad..332aba784b 100755
--- a/contrib/remote-helpers/git-remote-bzr
+++ b/contrib/remote-helpers/git-remote-bzr
@@ -883,6 +883,16 @@ def main(args):
     global branches, peers
     global transports
 
+    marks = None
+    is_tmp = False
+    gitdir = os.environ.get('GIT_DIR', None)
+
+    if len(args) < 3:
+        die('Not enough arguments.')
+
+    if not gitdir:
+        die('GIT_DIR not set')
+
     alias = args[1]
     url = args[2]
 
@@ -891,7 +901,6 @@ def main(args):
     blob_marks = {}
     parsed_refs = {}
     files_cache = {}
-    marks = None
     branches = {}
     peers = {}
     transports = []
@@ -899,11 +908,8 @@ def main(args):
     if alias[5:] == url:
         is_tmp = True
         alias = hashlib.sha1(alias).hexdigest()
-    else:
-        is_tmp = False
 
     prefix = 'refs/bzr/%s' % alias
-    gitdir = os.environ['GIT_DIR']
     dirname = os.path.join(gitdir, 'bzr', alias)
 
     if not is_tmp:
diff --git a/contrib/remote-helpers/git-remote-hg b/contrib/remote-helpers/git-remote-hg
index 30402d5532..eb89ef6779 100755
--- a/contrib/remote-helpers/git-remote-hg
+++ b/contrib/remote-helpers/git-remote-hg
@@ -415,6 +415,9 @@ def get_repo(url, alias):
         local_path = os.path.join(dirname, 'clone')
         if not os.path.exists(local_path):
             hg.share(myui, shared_path, local_path, update=False)
+        else:
+            # make sure the shared path is always up-to-date
+            util.writefile(os.path.join(local_path, '.hg', 'sharedpath'), hg_path)
 
         repo = hg.repository(myui, local_path)
         try:
@@ -537,7 +540,7 @@ def export_ref(repo, name, kind, head):
 
         print "commit %s" % ref
         print "mark :%d" % (note_mark)
-        print "committer remote-hg <> %s" % (ptime.strftime('%s %z'))
+        print "committer remote-hg <> %d %s" % (ptime.time(), gittz(ptime.timezone))
         desc = "Notes for %s\n" % (name)
         print "data %d" % (len(desc))
         print desc
@@ -1164,6 +1167,16 @@ def main(args):
     global dry_run
     global notes, alias
 
+    marks = None
+    is_tmp = False
+    gitdir = os.environ.get('GIT_DIR', None)
+
+    if len(args) < 3:
+        die('Not enough arguments.')
+
+    if not gitdir:
+        die('GIT_DIR not set')
+
     alias = args[1]
     url = args[2]
     peer = None
@@ -1184,16 +1197,12 @@ def main(args):
     if alias[4:] == url:
         is_tmp = True
         alias = hashlib.sha1(alias).hexdigest()
-    else:
-        is_tmp = False
 
-    gitdir = os.environ['GIT_DIR']
     dirname = os.path.join(gitdir, 'hg', alias)
     branches = {}
     bmarks = {}
     blob_marks = {}
     parsed_refs = {}
-    marks = None
     parsed_tags = {}
     filenodes = {}
     fake_bmark = None
diff --git a/contrib/remote-helpers/test-hg.sh b/contrib/remote-helpers/test-hg.sh
index 347e812923..5d128a5da9 100755
--- a/contrib/remote-helpers/test-hg.sh
+++ b/contrib/remote-helpers/test-hg.sh
@@ -337,6 +337,17 @@ test_expect_success 'remote cloning' '
 	check gitrepo HEAD zero
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'moving remote clone' '
+	test_when_finished "rm -rf gitrepo*" &&
+
+	(
+	git clone "hg::hgrepo" gitrepo &&
+	mv gitrepo gitrepo2 &&
+	cd gitrepo2 &&
+	git fetch
+	)
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'remote update bookmark' '
 	test_when_finished "rm -rf gitrepo*" &&
 
@@ -444,6 +455,74 @@ test_expect_success 'remote new bookmark multiple branch head' '
 # cleanup previous stuff
 rm -rf hgrepo
 
+test_expect_success 'fetch special filenames' '
+	test_when_finished "rm -rf hgrepo gitrepo && LC_ALL=C" &&
+
+	LC_ALL=en_US.UTF-8
+	export LC_ALL
+
+	(
+	hg init hgrepo &&
+	cd hgrepo &&
+
+	echo test >> "æ rø" &&
+	hg add "æ rø" &&
+	echo test >> "ø~?" &&
+	hg add "ø~?" &&
+	hg commit -m add-utf-8 &&
+	echo test >> "æ rø" &&
+	hg commit -m test-utf-8 &&
+	hg rm "ø~?" &&
+	hg mv "æ rø" "ø~?" &&
+	hg commit -m hg-mv-utf-8
+	) &&
+
+	(
+	git clone "hg::hgrepo" gitrepo &&
+	cd gitrepo &&
+	git -c core.quotepath=false ls-files > ../actual
+	) &&
+	echo "ø~?" > expected &&
+	test_cmp expected actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'push special filenames' '
+	test_when_finished "rm -rf hgrepo gitrepo && LC_ALL=C" &&
+
+	mkdir -p tmp && cd tmp &&
+
+	LC_ALL=en_US.UTF-8
+	export LC_ALL
+
+	(
+	hg init hgrepo &&
+	cd hgrepo &&
+
+	echo one >> content &&
+	hg add content &&
+	hg commit -m one
+	) &&
+
+	(
+	git clone "hg::hgrepo" gitrepo &&
+	cd gitrepo &&
+
+	echo test >> "æ rø" &&
+	git add "æ rø" &&
+	git commit -m utf-8 &&
+
+	git push
+	) &&
+
+	(cd hgrepo &&
+	hg update &&
+	hg manifest > ../actual
+	) &&
+
+	printf "content\næ rø\n" > expected &&
+	test_cmp expected actual
+'
+
 setup_big_push () {
 	(
 	hg init hgrepo &&
diff --git a/convert.c b/convert.c
index 11a95fc8b5..ab80b72357 100644
--- a/convert.c
+++ b/convert.c
@@ -1121,7 +1121,7 @@ static int is_foreign_ident(const char *str)
 {
 	int i;
 
-	if (prefixcmp(str, "$Id: "))
+	if (!starts_with(str, "$Id: "))
 		return 0;
 	for (i = 5; str[i]; i++) {
 		if (isspace(str[i]) && str[i+1] != '$')
diff --git a/csum-file.c b/csum-file.c
index 53f5375b6c..465971c7f3 100644
--- a/csum-file.c
+++ b/csum-file.c
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #include "progress.h"
 #include "csum-file.h"
 
-static void flush(struct sha1file *f, void *buf, unsigned int count)
+static void flush(struct sha1file *f, const void *buf, unsigned int count)
 {
 	if (0 <= f->check_fd && count)  {
 		unsigned char check_buffer[8192];
@@ -86,13 +86,13 @@ int sha1close(struct sha1file *f, unsigned char *result, unsigned int flags)
 	return fd;
 }
 
-int sha1write(struct sha1file *f, void *buf, unsigned int count)
+int sha1write(struct sha1file *f, const void *buf, unsigned int count)
 {
 	while (count) {
 		unsigned offset = f->offset;
 		unsigned left = sizeof(f->buffer) - offset;
 		unsigned nr = count > left ? left : count;
-		void *data;
+		const void *data;
 
 		if (f->do_crc)
 			f->crc32 = crc32(f->crc32, buf, nr);
diff --git a/csum-file.h b/csum-file.h
index 3b540bdc21..9dedb038ea 100644
--- a/csum-file.h
+++ b/csum-file.h
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ extern struct sha1file *sha1fd(int fd, const char *name);
 extern struct sha1file *sha1fd_check(const char *name);
 extern struct sha1file *sha1fd_throughput(int fd, const char *name, struct progress *tp);
 extern int sha1close(struct sha1file *, unsigned char *, unsigned int);
-extern int sha1write(struct sha1file *, void *, unsigned int);
+extern int sha1write(struct sha1file *, const void *, unsigned int);
 extern void sha1flush(struct sha1file *f);
 extern void crc32_begin(struct sha1file *);
 extern uint32_t crc32_end(struct sha1file *);
diff --git a/daemon.c b/daemon.c
index 34916c5e10..7bee953de8 100644
--- a/daemon.c
+++ b/daemon.c
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ static int service_enabled;
 
 static int git_daemon_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 {
-	if (!prefixcmp(var, "daemon.") &&
+	if (starts_with(var, "daemon.") &&
 	    !strcmp(var + 7, service_looking_at->config_name)) {
 		service_enabled = git_config_bool(var, value);
 		return 0;
@@ -633,7 +633,7 @@ static int execute(void)
 	for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(daemon_service); i++) {
 		struct daemon_service *s = &(daemon_service[i]);
 		int namelen = strlen(s->name);
-		if (!prefixcmp(line, "git-") &&
+		if (starts_with(line, "git-") &&
 		    !strncmp(s->name, line + 4, namelen) &&
 		    line[namelen + 4] == ' ') {
 			/*
@@ -1165,11 +1165,11 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	for (i = 1; i < argc; i++) {
 		char *arg = argv[i];
 
-		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--listen=")) {
+		if (starts_with(arg, "--listen=")) {
 			string_list_append(&listen_addr, xstrdup_tolower(arg + 9));
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--port=")) {
+		if (starts_with(arg, "--port=")) {
 			char *end;
 			unsigned long n;
 			n = strtoul(arg+7, &end, 0);
@@ -1199,19 +1199,19 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 			export_all_trees = 1;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--access-hook=")) {
+		if (starts_with(arg, "--access-hook=")) {
 			access_hook = arg + 14;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--timeout=")) {
+		if (starts_with(arg, "--timeout=")) {
 			timeout = atoi(arg+10);
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--init-timeout=")) {
+		if (starts_with(arg, "--init-timeout=")) {
 			init_timeout = atoi(arg+15);
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--max-connections=")) {
+		if (starts_with(arg, "--max-connections=")) {
 			max_connections = atoi(arg+18);
 			if (max_connections < 0)
 				max_connections = 0;	        /* unlimited */
@@ -1221,7 +1221,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 			strict_paths = 1;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--base-path=")) {
+		if (starts_with(arg, "--base-path=")) {
 			base_path = arg+12;
 			continue;
 		}
@@ -1229,7 +1229,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 			base_path_relaxed = 1;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--interpolated-path=")) {
+		if (starts_with(arg, "--interpolated-path=")) {
 			interpolated_path = arg+20;
 			continue;
 		}
@@ -1241,11 +1241,11 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 			user_path = "";
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--user-path=")) {
+		if (starts_with(arg, "--user-path=")) {
 			user_path = arg + 12;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--pid-file=")) {
+		if (starts_with(arg, "--pid-file=")) {
 			pid_file = arg + 11;
 			continue;
 		}
@@ -1254,35 +1254,35 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 			log_syslog = 1;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--user=")) {
+		if (starts_with(arg, "--user=")) {
 			user_name = arg + 7;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--group=")) {
+		if (starts_with(arg, "--group=")) {
 			group_name = arg + 8;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--enable=")) {
+		if (starts_with(arg, "--enable=")) {
 			enable_service(arg + 9, 1);
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--disable=")) {
+		if (starts_with(arg, "--disable=")) {
 			enable_service(arg + 10, 0);
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--allow-override=")) {
+		if (starts_with(arg, "--allow-override=")) {
 			make_service_overridable(arg + 17, 1);
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--forbid-override=")) {
+		if (starts_with(arg, "--forbid-override=")) {
 			make_service_overridable(arg + 18, 0);
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--informative-errors")) {
+		if (starts_with(arg, "--informative-errors")) {
 			informative_errors = 1;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--no-informative-errors")) {
+		if (starts_with(arg, "--no-informative-errors")) {
 			informative_errors = 0;
 			continue;
 		}
diff --git a/diff-no-index.c b/diff-no-index.c
index 00a8eefde9..33e5982a1c 100644
--- a/diff-no-index.c
+++ b/diff-no-index.c
@@ -183,54 +183,12 @@ static int queue_diff(struct diff_options *o,
 
 void diff_no_index(struct rev_info *revs,
 		   int argc, const char **argv,
-		   int nongit, const char *prefix)
+		   const char *prefix)
 {
 	int i, prefixlen;
-	int no_index = 0;
 	unsigned deprecated_show_diff_q_option_used = 0;
 	const char *paths[2];
 
-	/* Were we asked to do --no-index explicitly? */
-	for (i = 1; i < argc; i++) {
-		if (!strcmp(argv[i], "--")) {
-			i++;
-			break;
-		}
-		if (!strcmp(argv[i], "--no-index"))
-			no_index = 1;
-		if (argv[i][0] != '-')
-			break;
-	}
-
-	if (!no_index && !nongit) {
-		/*
-		 * Inside a git repository, without --no-index.  Only
-		 * when a path outside the repository is given,
-		 * e.g. "git diff /var/tmp/[12]", or "git diff
-		 * Makefile /var/tmp/Makefile", allow it to be used as
-		 * a colourful "diff" replacement.
-		 */
-		if ((argc != i + 2) ||
-		    (path_inside_repo(prefix, argv[i]) &&
-		     path_inside_repo(prefix, argv[i+1])))
-			return;
-	}
-	if (argc != i + 2) {
-		if (!no_index) {
-			/*
-			 * There was no --no-index and there were not two
-			 * paths. It is possible that the user intended
-			 * to do an inside-repository operation.
-			 */
-			fprintf(stderr, "Not a git repository\n");
-			fprintf(stderr,
-				"To compare two paths outside a working tree:\n");
-		}
-		/* Give the usage message for non-repository usage and exit. */
-		usagef("git diff %s <path> <path>",
-		       no_index ? "--no-index" : "[--no-index]");
-	}
-
 	diff_setup(&revs->diffopt);
 	for (i = 1; i < argc - 2; ) {
 		int j;
diff --git a/diff.c b/diff.c
index 3950e01910..f99bc83b73 100644
--- a/diff.c
+++ b/diff.c
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ int git_diff_basic_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 	if (userdiff_config(var, value) < 0)
 		return -1;
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(var, "diff.color.") || !prefixcmp(var, "color.diff.")) {
+	if (starts_with(var, "diff.color.") || starts_with(var, "color.diff.")) {
 		int slot = parse_diff_color_slot(var, 11);
 		if (slot < 0)
 			return 0;
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ int git_diff_basic_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(var, "submodule."))
+	if (starts_with(var, "submodule."))
 		return parse_submodule_config_option(var, value);
 
 	return git_default_config(var, value, cb);
@@ -1215,7 +1215,7 @@ static void fn_out_consume(void *priv, char *line, unsigned long len)
 			diff_words_append(line, len,
 					  &ecbdata->diff_words->plus);
 			return;
-		} else if (!prefixcmp(line, "\\ ")) {
+		} else if (starts_with(line, "\\ ")) {
 			/*
 			 * Eat the "no newline at eof" marker as if we
 			 * saw a "+" or "-" line with nothing on it,
@@ -2387,9 +2387,9 @@ static void builtin_diff(const char *name_a,
 			xdiff_set_find_func(&xecfg, pe->pattern, pe->cflags);
 		if (!diffopts)
 			;
-		else if (!prefixcmp(diffopts, "--unified="))
+		else if (starts_with(diffopts, "--unified="))
 			xecfg.ctxlen = strtoul(diffopts + 10, NULL, 10);
-		else if (!prefixcmp(diffopts, "-u"))
+		else if (starts_with(diffopts, "-u"))
 			xecfg.ctxlen = strtoul(diffopts + 2, NULL, 10);
 		if (o->word_diff)
 			init_diff_words_data(&ecbdata, o, one, two);
@@ -2899,11 +2899,16 @@ static void run_external_diff(const char *pgm,
 			      struct diff_filespec *one,
 			      struct diff_filespec *two,
 			      const char *xfrm_msg,
-			      int complete_rewrite)
+			      int complete_rewrite,
+			      struct diff_options *o)
 {
 	const char *spawn_arg[10];
 	int retval;
 	const char **arg = &spawn_arg[0];
+	struct diff_queue_struct *q = &diff_queued_diff;
+	const char *env[3] = { NULL };
+	char env_counter[50];
+	char env_total[50];
 
 	if (one && two) {
 		struct diff_tempfile *temp_one, *temp_two;
@@ -2928,7 +2933,14 @@ static void run_external_diff(const char *pgm,
 	}
 	*arg = NULL;
 	fflush(NULL);
-	retval = run_command_v_opt(spawn_arg, RUN_USING_SHELL);
+
+	env[0] = env_counter;
+	snprintf(env_counter, sizeof(env_counter), "GIT_DIFF_PATH_COUNTER=%d",
+		 ++o->diff_path_counter);
+	env[1] = env_total;
+	snprintf(env_total, sizeof(env_total), "GIT_DIFF_PATH_TOTAL=%d", q->nr);
+
+	retval = run_command_v_opt_cd_env(spawn_arg, RUN_USING_SHELL, NULL, env);
 	remove_tempfile();
 	if (retval) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "external diff died, stopping at %s.\n", name);
@@ -3042,7 +3054,7 @@ static void run_diff_cmd(const char *pgm,
 
 	if (pgm) {
 		run_external_diff(pgm, name, other, one, two, xfrm_msg,
-				  complete_rewrite);
+				  complete_rewrite, o);
 		return;
 	}
 	if (one && two)
@@ -3317,6 +3329,8 @@ void diff_setup_done(struct diff_options *options)
 		options->output_format = DIFF_FORMAT_NO_OUTPUT;
 		DIFF_OPT_SET(options, EXIT_WITH_STATUS);
 	}
+
+	options->diff_path_counter = 0;
 }
 
 static int opt_arg(const char *arg, int arg_short, const char *arg_long, int *val)
@@ -3391,7 +3405,7 @@ int parse_long_opt(const char *opt, const char **argv,
 	if (arg[0] != '-' || arg[1] != '-')
 		return 0;
 	arg += strlen("--");
-	if (prefixcmp(arg, opt))
+	if (!starts_with(arg, opt))
 		return 0;
 	arg += strlen(opt);
 	if (*arg == '=') { /* stuck form: --option=value */
@@ -3422,7 +3436,7 @@ static int stat_opt(struct diff_options *options, const char **av)
 
 	switch (*arg) {
 	case '-':
-		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "-width")) {
+		if (starts_with(arg, "-width")) {
 			arg += strlen("-width");
 			if (*arg == '=')
 				width = strtoul(arg + 1, &end, 10);
@@ -3432,7 +3446,7 @@ static int stat_opt(struct diff_options *options, const char **av)
 				width = strtoul(av[1], &end, 10);
 				argcount = 2;
 			}
-		} else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "-name-width")) {
+		} else if (starts_with(arg, "-name-width")) {
 			arg += strlen("-name-width");
 			if (*arg == '=')
 				name_width = strtoul(arg + 1, &end, 10);
@@ -3442,7 +3456,7 @@ static int stat_opt(struct diff_options *options, const char **av)
 				name_width = strtoul(av[1], &end, 10);
 				argcount = 2;
 			}
-		} else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "-graph-width")) {
+		} else if (starts_with(arg, "-graph-width")) {
 			arg += strlen("-graph-width");
 			if (*arg == '=')
 				graph_width = strtoul(arg + 1, &end, 10);
@@ -3452,7 +3466,7 @@ static int stat_opt(struct diff_options *options, const char **av)
 				graph_width = strtoul(av[1], &end, 10);
 				argcount = 2;
 			}
-		} else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "-count")) {
+		} else if (starts_with(arg, "-count")) {
 			arg += strlen("-count");
 			if (*arg == '=')
 				count = strtoul(arg + 1, &end, 10);
@@ -3614,15 +3628,15 @@ int diff_opt_parse(struct diff_options *options, const char **av, int ac)
 		options->output_format |= DIFF_FORMAT_SHORTSTAT;
 	else if (!strcmp(arg, "-X") || !strcmp(arg, "--dirstat"))
 		return parse_dirstat_opt(options, "");
-	else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "-X"))
+	else if (starts_with(arg, "-X"))
 		return parse_dirstat_opt(options, arg + 2);
-	else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--dirstat="))
+	else if (starts_with(arg, "--dirstat="))
 		return parse_dirstat_opt(options, arg + 10);
 	else if (!strcmp(arg, "--cumulative"))
 		return parse_dirstat_opt(options, "cumulative");
 	else if (!strcmp(arg, "--dirstat-by-file"))
 		return parse_dirstat_opt(options, "files");
-	else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--dirstat-by-file=")) {
+	else if (starts_with(arg, "--dirstat-by-file=")) {
 		parse_dirstat_opt(options, "files");
 		return parse_dirstat_opt(options, arg + 18);
 	}
@@ -3639,17 +3653,17 @@ int diff_opt_parse(struct diff_options *options, const char **av, int ac)
 		options->output_format |= DIFF_FORMAT_NAME_STATUS;
 	else if (!strcmp(arg, "-s") || !strcmp(arg, "--no-patch"))
 		options->output_format |= DIFF_FORMAT_NO_OUTPUT;
-	else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--stat"))
+	else if (starts_with(arg, "--stat"))
 		/* --stat, --stat-width, --stat-name-width, or --stat-count */
 		return stat_opt(options, av);
 
 	/* renames options */
-	else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "-B") || !prefixcmp(arg, "--break-rewrites=") ||
+	else if (starts_with(arg, "-B") || starts_with(arg, "--break-rewrites=") ||
 		 !strcmp(arg, "--break-rewrites")) {
 		if ((options->break_opt = diff_scoreopt_parse(arg)) == -1)
 			return error("invalid argument to -B: %s", arg+2);
 	}
-	else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "-M") || !prefixcmp(arg, "--find-renames=") ||
+	else if (starts_with(arg, "-M") || starts_with(arg, "--find-renames=") ||
 		 !strcmp(arg, "--find-renames")) {
 		if ((options->rename_score = diff_scoreopt_parse(arg)) == -1)
 			return error("invalid argument to -M: %s", arg+2);
@@ -3658,7 +3672,7 @@ int diff_opt_parse(struct diff_options *options, const char **av, int ac)
 	else if (!strcmp(arg, "-D") || !strcmp(arg, "--irreversible-delete")) {
 		options->irreversible_delete = 1;
 	}
-	else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "-C") || !prefixcmp(arg, "--find-copies=") ||
+	else if (starts_with(arg, "-C") || starts_with(arg, "--find-copies=") ||
 		 !strcmp(arg, "--find-copies")) {
 		if (options->detect_rename == DIFF_DETECT_COPY)
 			DIFF_OPT_SET(options, FIND_COPIES_HARDER);
@@ -3674,7 +3688,7 @@ int diff_opt_parse(struct diff_options *options, const char **av, int ac)
 		DIFF_OPT_CLR(options, RENAME_EMPTY);
 	else if (!strcmp(arg, "--relative"))
 		DIFF_OPT_SET(options, RELATIVE_NAME);
-	else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--relative=")) {
+	else if (starts_with(arg, "--relative=")) {
 		DIFF_OPT_SET(options, RELATIVE_NAME);
 		options->prefix = arg + 11;
 	}
@@ -3727,7 +3741,7 @@ int diff_opt_parse(struct diff_options *options, const char **av, int ac)
 		DIFF_OPT_CLR(options, FOLLOW_RENAMES);
 	else if (!strcmp(arg, "--color"))
 		options->use_color = 1;
-	else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--color=")) {
+	else if (starts_with(arg, "--color=")) {
 		int value = git_config_colorbool(NULL, arg+8);
 		if (value < 0)
 			return error("option `color' expects \"always\", \"auto\", or \"never\"");
@@ -3739,7 +3753,7 @@ int diff_opt_parse(struct diff_options *options, const char **av, int ac)
 		options->use_color = 1;
 		options->word_diff = DIFF_WORDS_COLOR;
 	}
-	else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--color-words=")) {
+	else if (starts_with(arg, "--color-words=")) {
 		options->use_color = 1;
 		options->word_diff = DIFF_WORDS_COLOR;
 		options->word_regex = arg + 14;
@@ -3748,7 +3762,7 @@ int diff_opt_parse(struct diff_options *options, const char **av, int ac)
 		if (options->word_diff == DIFF_WORDS_NONE)
 			options->word_diff = DIFF_WORDS_PLAIN;
 	}
-	else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--word-diff=")) {
+	else if (starts_with(arg, "--word-diff=")) {
 		const char *type = arg + 12;
 		if (!strcmp(type, "plain"))
 			options->word_diff = DIFF_WORDS_PLAIN;
@@ -3784,12 +3798,12 @@ int diff_opt_parse(struct diff_options *options, const char **av, int ac)
 	else if (!strcmp(arg, "--ignore-submodules")) {
 		DIFF_OPT_SET(options, OVERRIDE_SUBMODULE_CONFIG);
 		handle_ignore_submodules_arg(options, "all");
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--ignore-submodules=")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(arg, "--ignore-submodules=")) {
 		DIFF_OPT_SET(options, OVERRIDE_SUBMODULE_CONFIG);
 		handle_ignore_submodules_arg(options, arg + 20);
 	} else if (!strcmp(arg, "--submodule"))
 		DIFF_OPT_SET(options, SUBMODULE_LOG);
-	else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--submodule="))
+	else if (starts_with(arg, "--submodule="))
 		return parse_submodule_opt(options, arg + 12);
 
 	/* misc options */
@@ -3825,7 +3839,7 @@ int diff_opt_parse(struct diff_options *options, const char **av, int ac)
 	}
 	else if (!strcmp(arg, "--abbrev"))
 		options->abbrev = DEFAULT_ABBREV;
-	else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--abbrev=")) {
+	else if (starts_with(arg, "--abbrev=")) {
 		options->abbrev = strtoul(arg + 9, NULL, 10);
 		if (options->abbrev < MINIMUM_ABBREV)
 			options->abbrev = MINIMUM_ABBREV;
@@ -3907,15 +3921,15 @@ static int diff_scoreopt_parse(const char *opt)
 	cmd = *opt++;
 	if (cmd == '-') {
 		/* convert the long-form arguments into short-form versions */
-		if (!prefixcmp(opt, "break-rewrites")) {
+		if (starts_with(opt, "break-rewrites")) {
 			opt += strlen("break-rewrites");
 			if (*opt == 0 || *opt++ == '=')
 				cmd = 'B';
-		} else if (!prefixcmp(opt, "find-copies")) {
+		} else if (starts_with(opt, "find-copies")) {
 			opt += strlen("find-copies");
 			if (*opt == 0 || *opt++ == '=')
 				cmd = 'C';
-		} else if (!prefixcmp(opt, "find-renames")) {
+		} else if (starts_with(opt, "find-renames")) {
 			opt += strlen("find-renames");
 			if (*opt == 0 || *opt++ == '=')
 				cmd = 'M';
@@ -4325,7 +4339,7 @@ static void patch_id_consume(void *priv, char *line, unsigned long len)
 	int new_len;
 
 	/* Ignore line numbers when computing the SHA1 of the patch */
-	if (!prefixcmp(line, "@@ -"))
+	if (starts_with(line, "@@ -"))
 		return;
 
 	new_len = remove_space(line, len);
diff --git a/diff.h b/diff.h
index 1c05b3a6be..ce123fa06f 100644
--- a/diff.h
+++ b/diff.h
@@ -164,6 +164,8 @@ struct diff_options {
 	diff_prefix_fn_t output_prefix;
 	int output_prefix_length;
 	void *output_prefix_data;
+
+	int diff_path_counter;
 };
 
 enum color_diff {
@@ -330,7 +332,7 @@ extern int diff_flush_patch_id(struct diff_options *, unsigned char *);
 
 extern int diff_result_code(struct diff_options *, int);
 
-extern void diff_no_index(struct rev_info *, int, const char **, int, const char *);
+extern void diff_no_index(struct rev_info *, int, const char **, const char *);
 
 extern int index_differs_from(const char *def, int diff_flags);
 
diff --git a/dir.c b/dir.c
index 23b6de4703..d10a63f731 100644
--- a/dir.c
+++ b/dir.c
@@ -126,10 +126,13 @@ static size_t common_prefix_len(const struct pathspec *pathspec)
 		       PATHSPEC_MAXDEPTH |
 		       PATHSPEC_LITERAL |
 		       PATHSPEC_GLOB |
-		       PATHSPEC_ICASE);
+		       PATHSPEC_ICASE |
+		       PATHSPEC_EXCLUDE);
 
 	for (n = 0; n < pathspec->nr; n++) {
 		size_t i = 0, len = 0, item_len;
+		if (pathspec->items[n].magic & PATHSPEC_EXCLUDE)
+			continue;
 		if (pathspec->items[n].magic & PATHSPEC_ICASE)
 			item_len = pathspec->items[n].prefix;
 		else
@@ -279,9 +282,10 @@ static int match_pathspec_item(const struct pathspec_item *item, int prefix,
  * pathspec did not match any names, which could indicate that the
  * user mistyped the nth pathspec.
  */
-int match_pathspec_depth(const struct pathspec *ps,
-			 const char *name, int namelen,
-			 int prefix, char *seen)
+static int match_pathspec_depth_1(const struct pathspec *ps,
+				  const char *name, int namelen,
+				  int prefix, char *seen,
+				  int exclude)
 {
 	int i, retval = 0;
 
@@ -290,7 +294,8 @@ int match_pathspec_depth(const struct pathspec *ps,
 		       PATHSPEC_MAXDEPTH |
 		       PATHSPEC_LITERAL |
 		       PATHSPEC_GLOB |
-		       PATHSPEC_ICASE);
+		       PATHSPEC_ICASE |
+		       PATHSPEC_EXCLUDE);
 
 	if (!ps->nr) {
 		if (!ps->recursive ||
@@ -309,8 +314,19 @@ int match_pathspec_depth(const struct pathspec *ps,
 
 	for (i = ps->nr - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
 		int how;
+
+		if ((!exclude &&   ps->items[i].magic & PATHSPEC_EXCLUDE) ||
+		    ( exclude && !(ps->items[i].magic & PATHSPEC_EXCLUDE)))
+			continue;
+
 		if (seen && seen[i] == MATCHED_EXACTLY)
 			continue;
+		/*
+		 * Make exclude patterns optional and never report
+		 * "pathspec ':(exclude)foo' matches no files"
+		 */
+		if (seen && ps->items[i].magic & PATHSPEC_EXCLUDE)
+			seen[i] = MATCHED_FNMATCH;
 		how = match_pathspec_item(ps->items+i, prefix, name, namelen);
 		if (ps->recursive &&
 		    (ps->magic & PATHSPEC_MAXDEPTH) &&
@@ -334,6 +350,18 @@ int match_pathspec_depth(const struct pathspec *ps,
 	return retval;
 }
 
+int match_pathspec_depth(const struct pathspec *ps,
+			 const char *name, int namelen,
+			 int prefix, char *seen)
+{
+	int positive, negative;
+	positive = match_pathspec_depth_1(ps, name, namelen, prefix, seen, 0);
+	if (!(ps->magic & PATHSPEC_EXCLUDE) || !positive)
+		return positive;
+	negative = match_pathspec_depth_1(ps, name, namelen, prefix, seen, 1);
+	return negative ? 0 : positive;
+}
+
 /*
  * Return the length of the "simple" part of a path match limiter.
  */
@@ -1375,11 +1403,18 @@ int read_directory(struct dir_struct *dir, const char *path, int len, const stru
 			       PATHSPEC_MAXDEPTH |
 			       PATHSPEC_LITERAL |
 			       PATHSPEC_GLOB |
-			       PATHSPEC_ICASE);
+			       PATHSPEC_ICASE |
+			       PATHSPEC_EXCLUDE);
 
 	if (has_symlink_leading_path(path, len))
 		return dir->nr;
 
+	/*
+	 * exclude patterns are treated like positive ones in
+	 * create_simplify. Usually exclude patterns should be a
+	 * subset of positive ones, which has no impacts on
+	 * create_simplify().
+	 */
 	simplify = create_simplify(pathspec ? pathspec->_raw : NULL);
 	if (!len || treat_leading_path(dir, path, len, simplify))
 		read_directory_recursive(dir, path, len, 0, simplify);
diff --git a/environment.c b/environment.c
index 0a15349cfe..3c76905b9f 100644
--- a/environment.c
+++ b/environment.c
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ const char *get_git_namespace(void)
 
 const char *strip_namespace(const char *namespaced_ref)
 {
-	if (prefixcmp(namespaced_ref, get_git_namespace()) != 0)
+	if (!starts_with(namespaced_ref, get_git_namespace()))
 		return NULL;
 	return namespaced_ref + namespace_len;
 }
diff --git a/fast-import.c b/fast-import.c
index f4d9969e5c..4fd18a3574 100644
--- a/fast-import.c
+++ b/fast-import.c
@@ -1877,8 +1877,8 @@ static int read_next_command(void)
 				return EOF;
 
 			if (!seen_data_command
-				&& prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "feature ")
-				&& prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "option ")) {
+				&& !starts_with(command_buf.buf, "feature ")
+				&& !starts_with(command_buf.buf, "option ")) {
 				parse_argv();
 			}
 
@@ -1898,7 +1898,7 @@ static int read_next_command(void)
 			rc->prev->next = rc;
 			cmd_tail = rc;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "cat-blob ")) {
+		if (starts_with(command_buf.buf, "cat-blob ")) {
 			parse_cat_blob();
 			continue;
 		}
@@ -1917,7 +1917,7 @@ static void skip_optional_lf(void)
 
 static void parse_mark(void)
 {
-	if (!prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "mark :")) {
+	if (starts_with(command_buf.buf, "mark :")) {
 		next_mark = strtoumax(command_buf.buf + 6, NULL, 10);
 		read_next_command();
 	}
@@ -1929,10 +1929,10 @@ static int parse_data(struct strbuf *sb, uintmax_t limit, uintmax_t *len_res)
 {
 	strbuf_reset(sb);
 
-	if (prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "data "))
+	if (!starts_with(command_buf.buf, "data "))
 		die("Expected 'data n' command, found: %s", command_buf.buf);
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(command_buf.buf + 5, "<<")) {
+	if (starts_with(command_buf.buf + 5, "<<")) {
 		char *term = xstrdup(command_buf.buf + 5 + 2);
 		size_t term_len = command_buf.len - 5 - 2;
 
@@ -2306,7 +2306,7 @@ static void file_change_m(struct branch *b)
 	if (*p == ':') {
 		oe = find_mark(parse_mark_ref_space(&p));
 		hashcpy(sha1, oe->idx.sha1);
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(p, "inline ")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(p, "inline ")) {
 		inline_data = 1;
 		oe = NULL; /* not used with inline_data, but makes gcc happy */
 		p += strlen("inline");  /* advance to space */
@@ -2479,7 +2479,7 @@ static void note_change_n(struct branch *b, unsigned char *old_fanout)
 	if (*p == ':') {
 		oe = find_mark(parse_mark_ref_space(&p));
 		hashcpy(sha1, oe->idx.sha1);
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(p, "inline ")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(p, "inline ")) {
 		inline_data = 1;
 		oe = NULL; /* not used with inline_data, but makes gcc happy */
 		p += strlen("inline");  /* advance to space */
@@ -2590,7 +2590,7 @@ static int parse_from(struct branch *b)
 	const char *from;
 	struct branch *s;
 
-	if (prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "from "))
+	if (!starts_with(command_buf.buf, "from "))
 		return 0;
 
 	if (b->branch_tree.tree) {
@@ -2636,7 +2636,7 @@ static struct hash_list *parse_merge(unsigned int *count)
 	struct branch *s;
 
 	*count = 0;
-	while (!prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "merge ")) {
+	while (starts_with(command_buf.buf, "merge ")) {
 		from = strchr(command_buf.buf, ' ') + 1;
 		n = xmalloc(sizeof(*n));
 		s = lookup_branch(from);
@@ -2687,11 +2687,11 @@ static void parse_new_commit(void)
 
 	read_next_command();
 	parse_mark();
-	if (!prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "author ")) {
+	if (starts_with(command_buf.buf, "author ")) {
 		author = parse_ident(command_buf.buf + 7);
 		read_next_command();
 	}
-	if (!prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "committer ")) {
+	if (starts_with(command_buf.buf, "committer ")) {
 		committer = parse_ident(command_buf.buf + 10);
 		read_next_command();
 	}
@@ -2712,19 +2712,19 @@ static void parse_new_commit(void)
 
 	/* file_change* */
 	while (command_buf.len > 0) {
-		if (!prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "M "))
+		if (starts_with(command_buf.buf, "M "))
 			file_change_m(b);
-		else if (!prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "D "))
+		else if (starts_with(command_buf.buf, "D "))
 			file_change_d(b);
-		else if (!prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "R "))
+		else if (starts_with(command_buf.buf, "R "))
 			file_change_cr(b, 1);
-		else if (!prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "C "))
+		else if (starts_with(command_buf.buf, "C "))
 			file_change_cr(b, 0);
-		else if (!prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "N "))
+		else if (starts_with(command_buf.buf, "N "))
 			note_change_n(b, &prev_fanout);
 		else if (!strcmp("deleteall", command_buf.buf))
 			file_change_deleteall(b);
-		else if (!prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "ls "))
+		else if (starts_with(command_buf.buf, "ls "))
 			parse_ls(b);
 		else {
 			unread_command_buf = 1;
@@ -2793,7 +2793,7 @@ static void parse_new_tag(void)
 	read_next_command();
 
 	/* from ... */
-	if (prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "from "))
+	if (!starts_with(command_buf.buf, "from "))
 		die("Expected from command, got %s", command_buf.buf);
 	from = strchr(command_buf.buf, ' ') + 1;
 	s = lookup_branch(from);
@@ -2821,7 +2821,7 @@ static void parse_new_tag(void)
 	read_next_command();
 
 	/* tagger ... */
-	if (!prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "tagger ")) {
+	if (starts_with(command_buf.buf, "tagger ")) {
 		tagger = parse_ident(command_buf.buf + 7);
 		read_next_command();
 	} else
@@ -3209,7 +3209,7 @@ static void option_export_pack_edges(const char *edges)
 
 static int parse_one_option(const char *option)
 {
-	if (!prefixcmp(option, "max-pack-size=")) {
+	if (starts_with(option, "max-pack-size=")) {
 		unsigned long v;
 		if (!git_parse_ulong(option + 14, &v))
 			return 0;
@@ -3221,20 +3221,20 @@ static int parse_one_option(const char *option)
 			v = 1024 * 1024;
 		}
 		max_packsize = v;
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(option, "big-file-threshold=")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(option, "big-file-threshold=")) {
 		unsigned long v;
 		if (!git_parse_ulong(option + 19, &v))
 			return 0;
 		big_file_threshold = v;
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(option, "depth=")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(option, "depth=")) {
 		option_depth(option + 6);
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(option, "active-branches=")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(option, "active-branches=")) {
 		option_active_branches(option + 16);
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(option, "export-pack-edges=")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(option, "export-pack-edges=")) {
 		option_export_pack_edges(option + 18);
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(option, "quiet")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(option, "quiet")) {
 		show_stats = 0;
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(option, "stats")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(option, "stats")) {
 		show_stats = 1;
 	} else {
 		return 0;
@@ -3245,14 +3245,14 @@ static int parse_one_option(const char *option)
 
 static int parse_one_feature(const char *feature, int from_stream)
 {
-	if (!prefixcmp(feature, "date-format=")) {
+	if (starts_with(feature, "date-format=")) {
 		option_date_format(feature + 12);
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(feature, "import-marks=")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(feature, "import-marks=")) {
 		option_import_marks(feature + 13, from_stream, 0);
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(feature, "import-marks-if-exists=")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(feature, "import-marks-if-exists=")) {
 		option_import_marks(feature + strlen("import-marks-if-exists="),
 					from_stream, 1);
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(feature, "export-marks=")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(feature, "export-marks=")) {
 		option_export_marks(feature + 13);
 	} else if (!strcmp(feature, "cat-blob")) {
 		; /* Don't die - this feature is supported */
@@ -3350,7 +3350,7 @@ static void parse_argv(void)
 		if (parse_one_feature(a + 2, 0))
 			continue;
 
-		if (!prefixcmp(a + 2, "cat-blob-fd=")) {
+		if (starts_with(a + 2, "cat-blob-fd=")) {
 			option_cat_blob_fd(a + 2 + strlen("cat-blob-fd="));
 			continue;
 		}
@@ -3404,25 +3404,25 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	while (read_next_command() != EOF) {
 		if (!strcmp("blob", command_buf.buf))
 			parse_new_blob();
-		else if (!prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "ls "))
+		else if (starts_with(command_buf.buf, "ls "))
 			parse_ls(NULL);
-		else if (!prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "commit "))
+		else if (starts_with(command_buf.buf, "commit "))
 			parse_new_commit();
-		else if (!prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "tag "))
+		else if (starts_with(command_buf.buf, "tag "))
 			parse_new_tag();
-		else if (!prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "reset "))
+		else if (starts_with(command_buf.buf, "reset "))
 			parse_reset_branch();
 		else if (!strcmp("checkpoint", command_buf.buf))
 			parse_checkpoint();
 		else if (!strcmp("done", command_buf.buf))
 			break;
-		else if (!prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "progress "))
+		else if (starts_with(command_buf.buf, "progress "))
 			parse_progress();
-		else if (!prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "feature "))
+		else if (starts_with(command_buf.buf, "feature "))
 			parse_feature();
-		else if (!prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "option git "))
+		else if (starts_with(command_buf.buf, "option git "))
 			parse_option();
-		else if (!prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "option "))
+		else if (starts_with(command_buf.buf, "option "))
 			/* ignore non-git options*/;
 		else
 			die("Unsupported command: %s", command_buf.buf);
diff --git a/fetch-pack.c b/fetch-pack.c
index 5a1200f1a0..760ed16e79 100644
--- a/fetch-pack.c
+++ b/fetch-pack.c
@@ -174,9 +174,9 @@ static void consume_shallow_list(struct fetch_pack_args *args, int fd)
 		 */
 		char *line;
 		while ((line = packet_read_line(fd, NULL))) {
-			if (!prefixcmp(line, "shallow "))
+			if (starts_with(line, "shallow "))
 				continue;
-			if (!prefixcmp(line, "unshallow "))
+			if (starts_with(line, "unshallow "))
 				continue;
 			die("git fetch-pack: expected shallow list");
 		}
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ static enum ack_type get_ack(int fd, unsigned char *result_sha1)
 		die("git fetch-pack: expected ACK/NAK, got EOF");
 	if (!strcmp(line, "NAK"))
 		return NAK;
-	if (!prefixcmp(line, "ACK ")) {
+	if (starts_with(line, "ACK ")) {
 		if (!get_sha1_hex(line+4, result_sha1)) {
 			if (len < 45)
 				return ACK;
@@ -321,13 +321,13 @@ static int find_common(struct fetch_pack_args *args,
 
 		send_request(args, fd[1], &req_buf);
 		while ((line = packet_read_line(fd[0], NULL))) {
-			if (!prefixcmp(line, "shallow ")) {
+			if (starts_with(line, "shallow ")) {
 				if (get_sha1_hex(line + 8, sha1))
 					die("invalid shallow line: %s", line);
 				register_shallow(sha1);
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!prefixcmp(line, "unshallow ")) {
+			if (starts_with(line, "unshallow ")) {
 				if (get_sha1_hex(line + 10, sha1))
 					die("invalid unshallow line: %s", line);
 				if (!lookup_object(sha1))
@@ -521,7 +521,7 @@ static void filter_refs(struct fetch_pack_args *args,
 		}
 
 		if (!keep && args->fetch_all &&
-		    (!args->depth || prefixcmp(ref->name, "refs/tags/")))
+		    (!args->depth || !starts_with(ref->name, "refs/tags/")))
 			keep = 1;
 
 		if (keep) {
diff --git a/fetch-pack.h b/fetch-pack.h
index 461cbf39b2..20ccc12e57 100644
--- a/fetch-pack.h
+++ b/fetch-pack.h
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ struct fetch_pack_args {
 		use_thin_pack:1,
 		fetch_all:1,
 		stdin_refs:1,
+		diag_url:1,
 		verbose:1,
 		no_progress:1,
 		include_tag:1,
diff --git a/gettext.c b/gettext.c
index 71e954563d..8b2da4641f 100644
--- a/gettext.c
+++ b/gettext.c
@@ -29,6 +29,17 @@ int use_gettext_poison(void)
 #endif
 
 #ifndef NO_GETTEXT
+static int test_vsnprintf(const char *fmt, ...)
+{
+	char buf[26];
+	int ret;
+	va_list ap;
+	va_start(ap, fmt);
+	ret = vsnprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), fmt, ap);
+	va_end(ap);
+	return ret;
+}
+
 static const char *charset;
 static void init_gettext_charset(const char *domain)
 {
@@ -99,9 +110,7 @@ static void init_gettext_charset(const char *domain)
 	   $ LANGUAGE= LANG=de_DE.utf8 ./test
 	   test: Kein passendes Ger?t gefunden
 
-	   In the long term we should probably see about getting that
-	   vsnprintf bug in glibc fixed, and audit our code so it won't
-	   fall apart under a non-C locale.
+	   The vsnprintf bug has been fixed since glibc 2.17.
 
 	   Then we could simply set LC_CTYPE from the environment, which would
 	   make things like the external perror(3) messages work.
@@ -115,7 +124,9 @@ static void init_gettext_charset(const char *domain)
 	setlocale(LC_CTYPE, "");
 	charset = locale_charset();
 	bind_textdomain_codeset(domain, charset);
-	setlocale(LC_CTYPE, "C");
+	/* the string is taken from v0.99.6~1 */
+	if (test_vsnprintf("%.*s", 13, "David_K\345gedal") < 0)
+		setlocale(LC_CTYPE, "C");
 }
 
 void git_setup_gettext(void)
diff --git a/git-compat-util.h b/git-compat-util.h
index 7776f126d3..b73916bbc6 100644
--- a/git-compat-util.h
+++ b/git-compat-util.h
@@ -350,7 +350,9 @@ extern void set_die_routine(NORETURN_PTR void (*routine)(const char *err, va_lis
 extern void set_error_routine(void (*routine)(const char *err, va_list params));
 extern void set_die_is_recursing_routine(int (*routine)(void));
 
+extern int starts_with(const char *str, const char *prefix);
 extern int prefixcmp(const char *str, const char *prefix);
+extern int ends_with(const char *str, const char *suffix);
 extern int suffixcmp(const char *str, const char *suffix);
 
 static inline const char *skip_prefix(const char *str, const char *prefix)
diff --git a/git-difftool--helper.sh b/git-difftool--helper.sh
index b00ed95dba..7ef36b9482 100755
--- a/git-difftool--helper.sh
+++ b/git-difftool--helper.sh
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ launch_merge_tool () {
 	# the user with the real $MERGED name before launching $merge_tool.
 	if should_prompt
 	then
-		printf "\nViewing: '%s'\n" "$MERGED"
+		printf "\nViewing (%s/%s): '%s'\n" "$GIT_DIFF_PATH_COUNTER" \
+			"$GIT_DIFF_PATH_TOTAL" "$MERGED"
 		if use_ext_cmd
 		then
 			printf "Launch '%s' [Y/n]: " \
diff --git a/git-pull.sh b/git-pull.sh
index 97716b885f..f210d0a147 100755
--- a/git-pull.sh
+++ b/git-pull.sh
@@ -229,15 +229,7 @@ test true = "$rebase" && {
 	test -n "$curr_branch" &&
 	. git-parse-remote &&
 	remoteref="$(get_remote_merge_branch "$@" 2>/dev/null)" &&
-	oldremoteref="$(git rev-parse -q --verify "$remoteref")" &&
-	for reflog in $(git rev-list -g $remoteref 2>/dev/null)
-	do
-		if test "$reflog" = "$(git merge-base $reflog $curr_branch)"
-		then
-			oldremoteref="$reflog"
-			break
-		fi
-	done
+	oldremoteref=$(git merge-base --fork-point "$remoteref" $curr_branch)
 }
 orig_head=$(git rev-parse -q --verify HEAD)
 git fetch $verbosity $progress $dry_run $recurse_submodules --update-head-ok "$@" || exit 1
diff --git a/git-rebase.sh b/git-rebase.sh
index 226752fbff..7185dc8438 100755
--- a/git-rebase.sh
+++ b/git-rebase.sh
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ git-rebase --continue | --abort | --skip | --edit-todo
 v,verbose!         display a diffstat of what changed upstream
 q,quiet!           be quiet. implies --no-stat
 autostash!         automatically stash/stash pop before and after
+fork-point         use 'merge-base --fork-point' to refine upstream
 onto=!             rebase onto given branch instead of upstream
 p,preserve-merges! try to recreate merges instead of ignoring them
 s,strategy=!       use the given merge strategy
@@ -66,6 +67,7 @@ verbose=
 diffstat=
 test "$(git config --bool rebase.stat)" = true && diffstat=t
 autostash="$(git config --bool rebase.autostash || echo false)"
+fork_point=auto
 git_am_opt=
 rebase_root=
 force_rebase=
@@ -260,6 +262,12 @@ do
 	--no-autosquash)
 		autosquash=
 		;;
+	--fork-point)
+		fork_point=t
+		;;
+	--no-fork-point)
+		fork_point=
+		;;
 	-M|-m)
 		do_merge=t
 		;;
@@ -437,6 +445,8 @@ then
 			error_on_missing_default_upstream "rebase" "rebase" \
 				"against" "git rebase <branch>"
 		fi
+
+		test "$fork_point" = auto && fork_point=t
 		;;
 	*)	upstream_name="$1"
 		shift
@@ -522,6 +532,15 @@ case "$#" in
 	;;
 esac
 
+if test "$fork_point" = t
+then
+	new_upstream=$(git merge-base --fork-point "$upstream_name" "$switch_to")
+	if test -n "$new_upstream"
+	then
+		upstream=$new_upstream
+	fi
+fi
+
 if test "$autostash" = true && ! (require_clean_work_tree) 2>/dev/null
 then
 	stash_sha1=$(git stash create "autostash") ||
diff --git a/git-send-email.perl b/git-send-email.perl
index 3782c3b0cb..2016d9c619 100755
--- a/git-send-email.perl
+++ b/git-send-email.perl
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ sub signal_handler {
 		    "smtp-pass:s" => \$smtp_authpass,
 		    "smtp-ssl" => sub { $smtp_encryption = 'ssl' },
 		    "smtp-encryption=s" => \$smtp_encryption,
-		    "smtp-ssl-cert-path" => \$smtp_ssl_cert_path,
+		    "smtp-ssl-cert-path=s" => \$smtp_ssl_cert_path,
 		    "smtp-debug:i" => \$debug_net_smtp,
 		    "smtp-domain:s" => \$smtp_domain,
 		    "identity=s" => \$identity,
@@ -1214,10 +1214,14 @@ sub send_message {
 			$smtp_server_port ||= 465; # ssmtp
 			require Net::SMTP::SSL;
 			$smtp_domain ||= maildomain();
+			require IO::Socket::SSL;
+			# Net::SMTP::SSL->new() does not forward any SSL options
+			IO::Socket::SSL::set_client_defaults(
+				ssl_verify_params());
 			$smtp ||= Net::SMTP::SSL->new($smtp_server,
 						      Hello => $smtp_domain,
 						      Port => $smtp_server_port,
-						      ssl_verify_params());
+						      Debug => $debug_net_smtp);
 		}
 		else {
 			require Net::SMTP;
diff --git a/git.c b/git.c
index 727e380e57..3799514ccb 100644
--- a/git.c
+++ b/git.c
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ static int handle_options(const char ***argv, int *argc, int *envchanged)
 		/*
 		 * Check remaining flags.
 		 */
-		if (!prefixcmp(cmd, "--exec-path")) {
+		if (starts_with(cmd, "--exec-path")) {
 			cmd += 11;
 			if (*cmd == '=')
 				git_set_argv_exec_path(cmd + 1);
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ static int handle_options(const char ***argv, int *argc, int *envchanged)
 				*envchanged = 1;
 			(*argv)++;
 			(*argc)--;
-		} else if (!prefixcmp(cmd, "--git-dir=")) {
+		} else if (starts_with(cmd, "--git-dir=")) {
 			setenv(GIT_DIR_ENVIRONMENT, cmd + 10, 1);
 			if (envchanged)
 				*envchanged = 1;
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ static int handle_options(const char ***argv, int *argc, int *envchanged)
 				*envchanged = 1;
 			(*argv)++;
 			(*argc)--;
-		} else if (!prefixcmp(cmd, "--namespace=")) {
+		} else if (starts_with(cmd, "--namespace=")) {
 			setenv(GIT_NAMESPACE_ENVIRONMENT, cmd + 12, 1);
 			if (envchanged)
 				*envchanged = 1;
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ static int handle_options(const char ***argv, int *argc, int *envchanged)
 				*envchanged = 1;
 			(*argv)++;
 			(*argc)--;
-		} else if (!prefixcmp(cmd, "--work-tree=")) {
+		} else if (starts_with(cmd, "--work-tree=")) {
 			setenv(GIT_WORK_TREE_ENVIRONMENT, cmd + 12, 1);
 			if (envchanged)
 				*envchanged = 1;
@@ -566,7 +566,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **av)
 	 * So we just directly call the internal command handler, and
 	 * die if that one cannot handle it.
 	 */
-	if (!prefixcmp(cmd, "git-")) {
+	if (starts_with(cmd, "git-")) {
 		cmd += 4;
 		argv[0] = cmd;
 		handle_internal_command(argc, argv);
@@ -578,7 +578,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **av)
 	argc--;
 	handle_options(&argv, &argc, NULL);
 	if (argc > 0) {
-		if (!prefixcmp(argv[0], "--"))
+		if (starts_with(argv[0], "--"))
 			argv[0] += 2;
 	} else {
 		/* The user didn't specify a command; give them help */
diff --git a/gitweb/gitweb.perl b/gitweb/gitweb.perl
index 68c77f6f8f..3bc0f0b5ca 100755
--- a/gitweb/gitweb.perl
+++ b/gitweb/gitweb.perl
@@ -548,6 +548,20 @@ sub evaluate_uri {
 		'sub' => sub { feature_bool('remote_heads', @_) },
 		'override' => 0,
 		'default' => [0]},
+
+	# Enable showing branches under other refs in addition to heads
+
+	# To set system wide extra branch refs have in $GITWEB_CONFIG
+	# $feature{'extra-branch-refs'}{'default'} = ['dirs', 'of', 'choice'];
+	# To have project specific config enable override in $GITWEB_CONFIG
+	# $feature{'extra-branch-refs'}{'override'} = 1;
+	# and in project config gitweb.extrabranchrefs = dirs of choice
+	# Every directory is separated with whitespace.
+
+	'extra-branch-refs' => {
+		'sub' => \&feature_extra_branch_refs,
+		'override' => 0,
+		'default' => []},
 );
 
 sub gitweb_get_feature {
@@ -626,6 +640,21 @@ sub feature_avatar {
 	return @val ? @val : @_;
 }
 
+sub feature_extra_branch_refs {
+	my (@branch_refs) = @_;
+	my $values = git_get_project_config('extrabranchrefs');
+
+	if ($values) {
+		$values = config_to_multi ($values);
+		@branch_refs = ();
+		foreach my $value (@{$values}) {
+			push @branch_refs, split /\s+/, $value;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return @branch_refs;
+}
+
 # checking HEAD file with -e is fragile if the repository was
 # initialized long time ago (i.e. symlink HEAD) and was pack-ref'ed
 # and then pruned.
@@ -656,6 +685,18 @@ sub filter_snapshot_fmts {
 		!$known_snapshot_formats{$_}{'disabled'}} @fmts;
 }
 
+sub filter_and_validate_refs {
+	my @refs = @_;
+	my %unique_refs = ();
+
+	foreach my $ref (@refs) {
+		die_error(500, "Invalid ref '$ref' in 'extra-branch-refs' feature") unless (is_valid_ref_format($ref));
+		# 'heads' are added implicitly in get_branch_refs().
+		$unique_refs{$ref} = 1 if ($ref ne 'heads');
+	}
+	return sort keys %unique_refs;
+}
+
 # If it is set to code reference, it is code that it is to be run once per
 # request, allowing updating configurations that change with each request,
 # while running other code in config file only once.
@@ -994,7 +1035,7 @@ sub evaluate_path_info {
 sub evaluate_and_validate_params {
 	our $action = $input_params{'action'};
 	if (defined $action) {
-		if (!validate_action($action)) {
+		if (!is_valid_action($action)) {
 			die_error(400, "Invalid action parameter");
 		}
 	}
@@ -1002,7 +1043,7 @@ sub evaluate_and_validate_params {
 	# parameters which are pathnames
 	our $project = $input_params{'project'};
 	if (defined $project) {
-		if (!validate_project($project)) {
+		if (!is_valid_project($project)) {
 			undef $project;
 			die_error(404, "No such project");
 		}
@@ -1010,21 +1051,21 @@ sub evaluate_and_validate_params {
 
 	our $project_filter = $input_params{'project_filter'};
 	if (defined $project_filter) {
-		if (!validate_pathname($project_filter)) {
+		if (!is_valid_pathname($project_filter)) {
 			die_error(404, "Invalid project_filter parameter");
 		}
 	}
 
 	our $file_name = $input_params{'file_name'};
 	if (defined $file_name) {
-		if (!validate_pathname($file_name)) {
+		if (!is_valid_pathname($file_name)) {
 			die_error(400, "Invalid file parameter");
 		}
 	}
 
 	our $file_parent = $input_params{'file_parent'};
 	if (defined $file_parent) {
-		if (!validate_pathname($file_parent)) {
+		if (!is_valid_pathname($file_parent)) {
 			die_error(400, "Invalid file parent parameter");
 		}
 	}
@@ -1032,21 +1073,21 @@ sub evaluate_and_validate_params {
 	# parameters which are refnames
 	our $hash = $input_params{'hash'};
 	if (defined $hash) {
-		if (!validate_refname($hash)) {
+		if (!is_valid_refname($hash)) {
 			die_error(400, "Invalid hash parameter");
 		}
 	}
 
 	our $hash_parent = $input_params{'hash_parent'};
 	if (defined $hash_parent) {
-		if (!validate_refname($hash_parent)) {
+		if (!is_valid_refname($hash_parent)) {
 			die_error(400, "Invalid hash parent parameter");
 		}
 	}
 
 	our $hash_base = $input_params{'hash_base'};
 	if (defined $hash_base) {
-		if (!validate_refname($hash_base)) {
+		if (!is_valid_refname($hash_base)) {
 			die_error(400, "Invalid hash base parameter");
 		}
 	}
@@ -1066,7 +1107,7 @@ sub evaluate_and_validate_params {
 
 	our $hash_parent_base = $input_params{'hash_parent_base'};
 	if (defined $hash_parent_base) {
-		if (!validate_refname($hash_parent_base)) {
+		if (!is_valid_refname($hash_parent_base)) {
 			die_error(400, "Invalid hash parent base parameter");
 		}
 	}
@@ -1113,7 +1154,7 @@ sub evaluate_git_dir {
 	our $git_dir = "$projectroot/$project" if $project;
 }
 
-our (@snapshot_fmts, $git_avatar);
+our (@snapshot_fmts, $git_avatar, @extra_branch_refs);
 sub configure_gitweb_features {
 	# list of supported snapshot formats
 	our @snapshot_fmts = gitweb_get_feature('snapshot');
@@ -1131,6 +1172,13 @@ sub configure_gitweb_features {
 	} else {
 		$git_avatar = '';
 	}
+
+	our @extra_branch_refs = gitweb_get_feature('extra-branch-refs');
+	@extra_branch_refs = filter_and_validate_refs (@extra_branch_refs);
+}
+
+sub get_branch_refs {
+	return ('heads', @extra_branch_refs);
 }
 
 # custom error handler: 'die <message>' is Internal Server Error
@@ -1418,27 +1466,30 @@ sub href {
 ## ======================================================================
 ## validation, quoting/unquoting and escaping
 
-sub validate_action {
-	my $input = shift || return undef;
+sub is_valid_action {
+	my $input = shift;
 	return undef unless exists $actions{$input};
-	return $input;
+	return 1;
 }
 
-sub validate_project {
-	my $input = shift || return undef;
-	if (!validate_pathname($input) ||
+sub is_valid_project {
+	my $input = shift;
+
+	return unless defined $input;
+	if (!is_valid_pathname($input) ||
 		!(-d "$projectroot/$input") ||
 		!check_export_ok("$projectroot/$input") ||
 		($strict_export && !project_in_list($input))) {
 		return undef;
 	} else {
-		return $input;
+		return 1;
 	}
 }
 
-sub validate_pathname {
-	my $input = shift || return undef;
+sub is_valid_pathname {
+	my $input = shift;
 
+	return undef unless defined $input;
 	# no '.' or '..' as elements of path, i.e. no '.' nor '..'
 	# at the beginning, at the end, and between slashes.
 	# also this catches doubled slashes
@@ -1449,24 +1500,33 @@ sub validate_pathname {
 	if ($input =~ m!\0!) {
 		return undef;
 	}
-	return $input;
+	return 1;
 }
 
-sub validate_refname {
-	my $input = shift || return undef;
+sub is_valid_ref_format {
+	my $input = shift;
 
-	# textual hashes are O.K.
-	if ($input =~ m/^[0-9a-fA-F]{40}$/) {
-		return $input;
-	}
-	# it must be correct pathname
-	$input = validate_pathname($input)
-		or return undef;
+	return undef unless defined $input;
 	# restrictions on ref name according to git-check-ref-format
 	if ($input =~ m!(/\.|\.\.|[\000-\040\177 ~^:?*\[]|/$)!) {
 		return undef;
 	}
-	return $input;
+	return 1;
+}
+
+sub is_valid_refname {
+	my $input = shift;
+
+	return undef unless defined $input;
+	# textual hashes are O.K.
+	if ($input =~ m/^[0-9a-fA-F]{40}$/) {
+		return 1;
+	}
+	# it must be correct pathname
+	is_valid_pathname($input) or return undef;
+	# check git-check-ref-format restrictions
+	is_valid_ref_format($input) or return undef;
+	return 1;
 }
 
 # decode sequences of octets in utf8 into Perl's internal form,
@@ -2515,6 +2575,7 @@ sub format_snapshot_links {
 sub get_feed_info {
 	my $format = shift || 'Atom';
 	my %res = (action => lc($format));
+	my $matched_ref = 0;
 
 	# feed links are possible only for project views
 	return unless (defined $project);
@@ -2522,12 +2583,17 @@ sub get_feed_info {
 	# or don't have specific feed yet (so they should use generic)
 	return if (!$action || $action =~ /^(?:tags|heads|forks|tag|search)$/x);
 
-	my $branch;
-	# branches refs uses 'refs/heads/' prefix (fullname) to differentiate
-	# from tag links; this also makes possible to detect branch links
-	if ((defined $hash_base && $hash_base =~ m!^refs/heads/(.*)$!) ||
-	    (defined $hash      && $hash      =~ m!^refs/heads/(.*)$!)) {
-		$branch = $1;
+	my $branch = undef;
+	# branches refs uses 'refs/' + $get_branch_refs()[x] + '/' prefix
+	# (fullname) to differentiate from tag links; this also makes
+	# possible to detect branch links
+	for my $ref (get_branch_refs()) {
+		if ((defined $hash_base && $hash_base =~ m!^refs/\Q$ref\E/(.*)$!) ||
+		    (defined $hash      && $hash      =~ m!^refs/\Q$ref\E/(.*)$!)) {
+			$branch = $1;
+			$matched_ref = $ref;
+			last;
+		}
 	}
 	# find log type for feed description (title)
 	my $type = 'log';
@@ -2540,7 +2606,7 @@ sub get_feed_info {
 	}
 
 	$res{-title} = $type;
-	$res{'hash'} = (defined $branch ? "refs/heads/$branch" : undef);
+	$res{'hash'} = (defined $branch ? "refs/$matched_ref/$branch" : undef);
 	$res{'file_name'} = $file_name;
 
 	return %res;
@@ -3193,7 +3259,7 @@ sub git_get_last_activity {
 	     '--format=%(committer)',
 	     '--sort=-committerdate',
 	     '--count=1',
-	     'refs/heads') or return;
+	     map { "refs/$_" } get_branch_refs ()) or return;
 	my $most_recent = <$fd>;
 	close $fd or return;
 	if (defined $most_recent &&
@@ -3644,7 +3710,7 @@ sub parse_from_to_diffinfo {
 
 sub git_get_heads_list {
 	my ($limit, @classes) = @_;
-	@classes = ('heads') unless @classes;
+	@classes = get_branch_refs() unless @classes;
 	my @patterns = map { "refs/$_" } @classes;
 	my @headslist;
 
@@ -3662,9 +3728,16 @@ sub git_get_heads_list {
 		my ($committer, $epoch, $tz) =
 			($committerinfo =~ /^(.*) ([0-9]+) (.*)$/);
 		$ref_item{'fullname'}  = $name;
-		$name =~ s!^refs/(?:head|remote)s/!!;
+		my $strip_refs = join '|', map { quotemeta } get_branch_refs();
+		$name =~ s!^refs/($strip_refs|remotes)/!!;
+		$ref_item{'name'} = $name;
+		# for refs neither in 'heads' nor 'remotes' we want to
+		# show their ref dir
+		my $ref_dir = (defined $1) ? $1 : '';
+		if ($ref_dir ne '' and $ref_dir ne 'heads' and $ref_dir ne 'remotes') {
+		    $ref_item{'name'} .= ' (' . $ref_dir . ')';
+		}
 
-		$ref_item{'name'}  = $name;
 		$ref_item{'id'}    = $hash;
 		$ref_item{'title'} = $title || '(no commit message)';
 		$ref_item{'epoch'} = $epoch;
@@ -7156,6 +7229,15 @@ sub git_tree {
 	git_footer_html();
 }
 
+sub sanitize_for_filename {
+    my $name = shift;
+
+    $name =~ s!/!-!g;
+    $name =~ s/[^[:alnum:]_.-]//g;
+
+    return $name;
+}
+
 sub snapshot_name {
 	my ($project, $hash) = @_;
 
@@ -7163,9 +7245,7 @@ sub snapshot_name {
 	# path/to/project/.git -> project
 	my $name = to_utf8($project);
 	$name =~ s,([^/])/*\.git$,$1,;
-	$name = basename($name);
-	# sanitize name
-	$name =~ s/[[:cntrl:]]/?/g;
+	$name = sanitize_for_filename(basename($name));
 
 	my $ver = $hash;
 	if ($hash =~ /^[0-9a-fA-F]+$/) {
@@ -7179,13 +7259,25 @@ sub snapshot_name {
 		$ver = $1;
 	} else {
 		# branches and other need shortened SHA-1 hash
-		if ($hash =~ m!^refs/(?:heads|remotes)/(.*)$!) {
-			$ver = $1;
+		my $strip_refs = join '|', map { quotemeta } get_branch_refs();
+		if ($hash =~ m!^refs/($strip_refs|remotes)/(.*)$!) {
+			my $ref_dir = (defined $1) ? $1 : '';
+			$ver = $2;
+
+			$ref_dir = sanitize_for_filename($ref_dir);
+			# for refs neither in heads nor remotes we want to
+			# add a ref dir to archive name
+			if ($ref_dir ne '' and $ref_dir ne 'heads' and $ref_dir ne 'remotes') {
+				$ver = $ref_dir . '-' . $ver;
+			}
 		}
 		$ver .= '-' . git_get_short_hash($project, $hash);
 	}
+	# special case of sanitization for filename - we change
+	# slashes to dots instead of dashes
 	# in case of hierarchical branch names
 	$ver =~ s!/!.!g;
+	$ver =~ s/[^[:alnum:]_.-]//g;
 
 	# name = project-version_string
 	$name = "$name-$ver";
diff --git a/help.c b/help.c
index f068925bb7..df7d16d7ce 100644
--- a/help.c
+++ b/help.c
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ static void list_commands_in_dir(struct cmdnames *cmds,
 	while ((de = readdir(dir)) != NULL) {
 		int entlen;
 
-		if (prefixcmp(de->d_name, prefix))
+		if (!starts_with(de->d_name, prefix))
 			continue;
 
 		strbuf_setlen(&buf, len);
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ static int git_unknown_cmd_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 	if (!strcmp(var, "help.autocorrect"))
 		autocorrect = git_config_int(var,value);
 	/* Also use aliases for command lookup */
-	if (!prefixcmp(var, "alias."))
+	if (starts_with(var, "alias."))
 		add_cmdname(&aliases, var + 6, strlen(var + 6));
 
 	return git_default_config(var, value, cb);
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ const char *help_unknown_cmd(const char *cmd)
 		if ((n < ARRAY_SIZE(common_cmds)) && !cmp) {
 			/* Yes, this is one of the common commands */
 			n++; /* use the entry from common_cmds[] */
-			if (!prefixcmp(candidate, cmd)) {
+			if (starts_with(candidate, cmd)) {
 				/* Give prefix match a very good score */
 				main_cmds.names[i]->len = 0;
 				continue;
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ static int append_similar_ref(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
 	struct similar_ref_cb *cb = (struct similar_ref_cb *)(cb_data);
 	char *branch = strrchr(refname, '/') + 1;
 	/* A remote branch of the same name is deemed similar */
-	if (!prefixcmp(refname, "refs/remotes/") &&
+	if (starts_with(refname, "refs/remotes/") &&
 	    !strcmp(branch, cb->base_ref))
 		string_list_append(cb->similar_refs,
 				   refname + strlen("refs/remotes/"));
diff --git a/http-backend.c b/http-backend.c
index 8c464bd805..d2c0a625ce 100644
--- a/http-backend.c
+++ b/http-backend.c
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ static int http_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(var, "http.")) {
+	if (starts_with(var, "http.")) {
 		int i;
 
 		for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(rpc_service); i++) {
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ static struct rpc_service *select_service(const char *name)
 	struct rpc_service *svc = NULL;
 	int i;
 
-	if (prefixcmp(name, "git-"))
+	if (!starts_with(name, "git-"))
 		forbidden("Unsupported service: '%s'", name);
 
 	for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(rpc_service); i++) {
diff --git a/http-push.c b/http-push.c
index 34cb70f90e..d4b40c9c60 100644
--- a/http-push.c
+++ b/http-push.c
@@ -771,7 +771,7 @@ static void handle_new_lock_ctx(struct xml_ctx *ctx, int tag_closed)
 			lock->owner = xmalloc(strlen(ctx->cdata) + 1);
 			strcpy(lock->owner, ctx->cdata);
 		} else if (!strcmp(ctx->name, DAV_ACTIVELOCK_TIMEOUT)) {
-			if (!prefixcmp(ctx->cdata, "Second-"))
+			if (starts_with(ctx->cdata, "Second-"))
 				lock->timeout =
 					strtol(ctx->cdata + 7, NULL, 10);
 		} else if (!strcmp(ctx->name, DAV_ACTIVELOCK_TOKEN)) {
@@ -1579,7 +1579,7 @@ static void fetch_symref(const char *path, char **symref, unsigned char *sha1)
 		return;
 
 	/* If it's a symref, set the refname; otherwise try for a sha1 */
-	if (!prefixcmp((char *)buffer.buf, "ref: ")) {
+	if (starts_with((char *)buffer.buf, "ref: ")) {
 		*symref = xmemdupz((char *)buffer.buf + 5, buffer.len - 6);
 	} else {
 		get_sha1_hex(buffer.buf, sha1);
diff --git a/http.c b/http.c
index ccb813b86f..70eaa26e88 100644
--- a/http.c
+++ b/http.c
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ void http_init(struct remote *remote, const char *url, int proactive_auth)
 		credential_from_url(&http_auth, url);
 		if (!ssl_cert_password_required &&
 		    getenv("GIT_SSL_CERT_PASSWORD_PROTECTED") &&
-		    !prefixcmp(url, "https://"))
+		    starts_with(url, "https://"))
 			ssl_cert_password_required = 1;
 	}
 
@@ -1000,7 +1000,7 @@ static int update_url_from_redirect(struct strbuf *base,
 	if (!strcmp(asked, got->buf))
 		return 0;
 
-	if (prefixcmp(asked, base->buf))
+	if (!starts_with(asked, base->buf))
 		die("BUG: update_url_from_redirect: %s is not a superset of %s",
 		    asked, base->buf);
 
@@ -1106,7 +1106,7 @@ int http_fetch_ref(const char *base, struct ref *ref)
 		strbuf_rtrim(&buffer);
 		if (buffer.len == 40)
 			ret = get_sha1_hex(buffer.buf, ref->old_sha1);
-		else if (!prefixcmp(buffer.buf, "ref: ")) {
+		else if (starts_with(buffer.buf, "ref: ")) {
 			ref->symref = xstrdup(buffer.buf + 5);
 			ret = 0;
 		}
@@ -1207,8 +1207,8 @@ int http_get_info_packs(const char *base_url, struct packed_git **packs_head)
 		case 'P':
 			i++;
 			if (i + 52 <= buf.len &&
-			    !prefixcmp(data + i, " pack-") &&
-			    !prefixcmp(data + i + 46, ".pack\n")) {
+			    starts_with(data + i, " pack-") &&
+			    starts_with(data + i + 46, ".pack\n")) {
 				get_sha1_hex(data + i + 6, sha1);
 				fetch_and_setup_pack_index(packs_head, sha1,
 						      base_url);
diff --git a/imap-send.c b/imap-send.c
index 6f5cc4f782..0bc6f7fae1 100644
--- a/imap-send.c
+++ b/imap-send.c
@@ -1263,7 +1263,7 @@ static int count_messages(struct strbuf *all_msgs)
 	char *p = all_msgs->buf;
 
 	while (1) {
-		if (!prefixcmp(p, "From ")) {
+		if (starts_with(p, "From ")) {
 			p = strstr(p+5, "\nFrom: ");
 			if (!p) break;
 			p = strstr(p+7, "\nDate: ");
@@ -1297,7 +1297,7 @@ static int split_msg(struct strbuf *all_msgs, struct strbuf *msg, int *ofs)
 	data = &all_msgs->buf[*ofs];
 	len = all_msgs->len - *ofs;
 
-	if (len < 5 || prefixcmp(data, "From "))
+	if (len < 5 || !starts_with(data, "From "))
 		return 0;
 
 	p = strchr(data, '\n');
@@ -1339,13 +1339,13 @@ static int git_imap_config(const char *key, const char *val, void *cb)
 	if (!strcmp("folder", key)) {
 		imap_folder = xstrdup(val);
 	} else if (!strcmp("host", key)) {
-		if (!prefixcmp(val, "imap:"))
+		if (starts_with(val, "imap:"))
 			val += 5;
-		else if (!prefixcmp(val, "imaps:")) {
+		else if (starts_with(val, "imaps:")) {
 			val += 6;
 			server.use_ssl = 1;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(val, "//"))
+		if (starts_with(val, "//"))
 			val += 2;
 		server.host = xstrdup(val);
 	} else if (!strcmp("user", key))
diff --git a/log-tree.c b/log-tree.c
index e958d0748f..642faffdb7 100644
--- a/log-tree.c
+++ b/log-tree.c
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ static int add_ref_decoration(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1, in
 	struct object *obj;
 	enum decoration_type type = DECORATION_NONE;
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(refname, "refs/replace/")) {
+	if (starts_with(refname, "refs/replace/")) {
 		unsigned char original_sha1[20];
 		if (!read_replace_refs)
 			return 0;
@@ -116,11 +116,11 @@ static int add_ref_decoration(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1, in
 	if (!obj)
 		return 0;
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(refname, "refs/heads/"))
+	if (starts_with(refname, "refs/heads/"))
 		type = DECORATION_REF_LOCAL;
-	else if (!prefixcmp(refname, "refs/remotes/"))
+	else if (starts_with(refname, "refs/remotes/"))
 		type = DECORATION_REF_REMOTE;
-	else if (!prefixcmp(refname, "refs/tags/"))
+	else if (starts_with(refname, "refs/tags/"))
 		type = DECORATION_REF_TAG;
 	else if (!strcmp(refname, "refs/stash"))
 		type = DECORATION_REF_STASH;
diff --git a/merge-recursive.c b/merge-recursive.c
index dbb7104c04..a18bd15dd3 100644
--- a/merge-recursive.c
+++ b/merge-recursive.c
@@ -2063,13 +2063,13 @@ int parse_merge_opt(struct merge_options *o, const char *s)
 		o->recursive_variant = MERGE_RECURSIVE_THEIRS;
 	else if (!strcmp(s, "subtree"))
 		o->subtree_shift = "";
-	else if (!prefixcmp(s, "subtree="))
+	else if (starts_with(s, "subtree="))
 		o->subtree_shift = s + strlen("subtree=");
 	else if (!strcmp(s, "patience"))
 		o->xdl_opts = DIFF_WITH_ALG(o, PATIENCE_DIFF);
 	else if (!strcmp(s, "histogram"))
 		o->xdl_opts = DIFF_WITH_ALG(o, HISTOGRAM_DIFF);
-	else if (!prefixcmp(s, "diff-algorithm=")) {
+	else if (starts_with(s, "diff-algorithm=")) {
 		long value = parse_algorithm_value(s + strlen("diff-algorithm="));
 		if (value < 0)
 			return -1;
@@ -2088,7 +2088,7 @@ int parse_merge_opt(struct merge_options *o, const char *s)
 		o->renormalize = 1;
 	else if (!strcmp(s, "no-renormalize"))
 		o->renormalize = 0;
-	else if (!prefixcmp(s, "rename-threshold=")) {
+	else if (starts_with(s, "rename-threshold=")) {
 		const char *score = s + strlen("rename-threshold=");
 		if ((o->rename_score = parse_rename_score(&score)) == -1 || *score != 0)
 			return -1;
diff --git a/notes-utils.c b/notes-utils.c
index 7bb3473dbe..2975dcd581 100644
--- a/notes-utils.c
+++ b/notes-utils.c
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ static combine_notes_fn parse_combine_notes_fn(const char *v)
 static int notes_rewrite_config(const char *k, const char *v, void *cb)
 {
 	struct notes_rewrite_cfg *c = cb;
-	if (!prefixcmp(k, "notes.rewrite.") && !strcmp(k+14, c->cmd)) {
+	if (starts_with(k, "notes.rewrite.") && !strcmp(k+14, c->cmd)) {
 		c->enabled = git_config_bool(k, v);
 		return 0;
 	} else if (!c->mode_from_env && !strcmp(k, "notes.rewritemode")) {
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ static int notes_rewrite_config(const char *k, const char *v, void *cb)
 	} else if (!c->refs_from_env && !strcmp(k, "notes.rewriteref")) {
 		/* note that a refs/ prefix is implied in the
 		 * underlying for_each_glob_ref */
-		if (!prefixcmp(v, "refs/notes/"))
+		if (starts_with(v, "refs/notes/"))
 			string_list_add_refs_by_glob(c->refs, v);
 		else
 			warning(_("Refusing to rewrite notes in %s"
diff --git a/notes.c b/notes.c
index b69c0b8257..5f07c0b7f2 100644
--- a/notes.c
+++ b/notes.c
@@ -1243,9 +1243,9 @@ static void format_note(struct notes_tree *t, const unsigned char *object_sha1,
 		if (!ref || !strcmp(ref, GIT_NOTES_DEFAULT_REF)) {
 			strbuf_addstr(sb, "\nNotes:\n");
 		} else {
-			if (!prefixcmp(ref, "refs/"))
+			if (starts_with(ref, "refs/"))
 				ref += 5;
-			if (!prefixcmp(ref, "notes/"))
+			if (starts_with(ref, "notes/"))
 				ref += 6;
 			strbuf_addf(sb, "\nNotes (%s):\n", ref);
 		}
@@ -1293,9 +1293,9 @@ int copy_note(struct notes_tree *t,
 
 void expand_notes_ref(struct strbuf *sb)
 {
-	if (!prefixcmp(sb->buf, "refs/notes/"))
+	if (starts_with(sb->buf, "refs/notes/"))
 		return; /* we're happy */
-	else if (!prefixcmp(sb->buf, "notes/"))
+	else if (starts_with(sb->buf, "notes/"))
 		strbuf_insert(sb, 0, "refs/", 5);
 	else
 		strbuf_insert(sb, 0, "refs/notes/", 11);
diff --git a/pack-write.c b/pack-write.c
index ca9e63be18..ddc174e1ad 100644
--- a/pack-write.c
+++ b/pack-write.c
@@ -44,14 +44,13 @@ static int need_large_offset(off_t offset, const struct pack_idx_option *opts)
  */
 const char *write_idx_file(const char *index_name, struct pack_idx_entry **objects,
 			   int nr_objects, const struct pack_idx_option *opts,
-			   unsigned char *sha1)
+			   const unsigned char *sha1)
 {
 	struct sha1file *f;
 	struct pack_idx_entry **sorted_by_sha, **list, **last;
 	off_t last_obj_offset = 0;
 	uint32_t array[256];
 	int i, fd;
-	git_SHA_CTX ctx;
 	uint32_t index_version;
 
 	if (nr_objects) {
@@ -114,9 +113,6 @@ const char *write_idx_file(const char *index_name, struct pack_idx_entry **objec
 	}
 	sha1write(f, array, 256 * 4);
 
-	/* compute the SHA1 hash of sorted object names. */
-	git_SHA1_Init(&ctx);
-
 	/*
 	 * Write the actual SHA1 entries..
 	 */
@@ -128,7 +124,6 @@ const char *write_idx_file(const char *index_name, struct pack_idx_entry **objec
 			sha1write(f, &offset, 4);
 		}
 		sha1write(f, obj->sha1, 20);
-		git_SHA1_Update(&ctx, obj->sha1, 20);
 		if ((opts->flags & WRITE_IDX_STRICT) &&
 		    (i && !hashcmp(list[-2]->sha1, obj->sha1)))
 			die("The same object %s appears twice in the pack",
@@ -178,7 +173,6 @@ const char *write_idx_file(const char *index_name, struct pack_idx_entry **objec
 	sha1write(f, sha1, 20);
 	sha1close(f, NULL, ((opts->flags & WRITE_IDX_VERIFY)
 			    ? CSUM_CLOSE : CSUM_FSYNC));
-	git_SHA1_Final(sha1, &ctx);
 	return index_name;
 }
 
diff --git a/pack.h b/pack.h
index aa6ee7d606..12d951659c 100644
--- a/pack.h
+++ b/pack.h
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ struct pack_idx_entry {
 struct progress;
 typedef int (*verify_fn)(const unsigned char*, enum object_type, unsigned long, void*, int*);
 
-extern const char *write_idx_file(const char *index_name, struct pack_idx_entry **objects, int nr_objects, const struct pack_idx_option *, unsigned char *sha1);
+extern const char *write_idx_file(const char *index_name, struct pack_idx_entry **objects, int nr_objects, const struct pack_idx_option *, const unsigned char *sha1);
 extern int check_pack_crc(struct packed_git *p, struct pack_window **w_curs, off_t offset, off_t len, unsigned int nr);
 extern int verify_pack_index(struct packed_git *);
 extern int verify_pack(struct packed_git *, verify_fn fn, struct progress *, uint32_t);
diff --git a/pager.c b/pager.c
index fa19765eb9..345b0bc4b5 100644
--- a/pager.c
+++ b/pager.c
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ int decimal_width(int number)
 static int pager_command_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *data)
 {
 	struct pager_config *c = data;
-	if (!prefixcmp(var, "pager.") && !strcmp(var + 6, c->cmd)) {
+	if (starts_with(var, "pager.") && !strcmp(var + 6, c->cmd)) {
 		int b = git_config_maybe_bool(var, value);
 		if (b >= 0)
 			c->want = b;
diff --git a/parse-options.c b/parse-options.c
index 62e9b1cc68..7b8d3faa17 100644
--- a/parse-options.c
+++ b/parse-options.c
@@ -273,13 +273,13 @@ static int parse_long_opt(struct parse_opt_ctx_t *p, const char *arg,
 			if (options->flags & PARSE_OPT_NONEG)
 				continue;
 			/* negated and abbreviated very much? */
-			if (!prefixcmp("no-", arg)) {
+			if (starts_with("no-", arg)) {
 				flags |= OPT_UNSET;
 				goto is_abbreviated;
 			}
 			/* negated? */
-			if (prefixcmp(arg, "no-")) {
-				if (!prefixcmp(long_name, "no-")) {
+			if (!starts_with(arg, "no-")) {
+				if (starts_with(long_name, "no-")) {
 					long_name += 3;
 					opt_flags |= OPT_UNSET;
 					goto again;
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ static int parse_long_opt(struct parse_opt_ctx_t *p, const char *arg,
 			flags |= OPT_UNSET;
 			rest = skip_prefix(arg + 3, long_name);
 			/* abbreviated and negated? */
-			if (!rest && !prefixcmp(long_name, arg + 3))
+			if (!rest && starts_with(long_name, arg + 3))
 				goto is_abbreviated;
 			if (!rest)
 				continue;
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ static void check_typos(const char *arg, const struct option *options)
 	if (strlen(arg) < 3)
 		return;
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(arg, "no-")) {
+	if (starts_with(arg, "no-")) {
 		error ("did you mean `--%s` (with two dashes ?)", arg);
 		exit(129);
 	}
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ static void check_typos(const char *arg, const struct option *options)
 	for (; options->type != OPTION_END; options++) {
 		if (!options->long_name)
 			continue;
-		if (!prefixcmp(options->long_name, arg)) {
+		if (starts_with(options->long_name, arg)) {
 			error ("did you mean `--%s` (with two dashes ?)", arg);
 			exit(129);
 		}
diff --git a/parse-options.h b/parse-options.h
index 8736006ed7..d670cb9669 100644
--- a/parse-options.h
+++ b/parse-options.h
@@ -161,9 +161,6 @@ struct option {
 	  N_("no-op (backward compatibility)"),		\
 	  PARSE_OPT_HIDDEN | PARSE_OPT_NOARG, parse_opt_noop_cb }
 
-/* Deprecated synonym */
-#define OPT_BOOLEAN OPT_COUNTUP
-
 /* parse_options() will filter out the processed options and leave the
  * non-option arguments in argv[]. usagestr strings should be marked
  * for translation with N_().
@@ -232,15 +229,15 @@ extern int parse_opt_tertiary(const struct option *, const char *, int);
 extern int parse_opt_string_list(const struct option *, const char *, int);
 extern int parse_opt_noop_cb(const struct option *, const char *, int);
 
-#define OPT__VERBOSE(var, h)  OPT_BOOLEAN('v', "verbose", (var), (h))
-#define OPT__QUIET(var, h)    OPT_BOOLEAN('q', "quiet",   (var), (h))
+#define OPT__VERBOSE(var, h)  OPT_COUNTUP('v', "verbose", (var), (h))
+#define OPT__QUIET(var, h)    OPT_COUNTUP('q', "quiet",   (var), (h))
 #define OPT__VERBOSITY(var) \
 	{ OPTION_CALLBACK, 'v', "verbose", (var), NULL, N_("be more verbose"), \
 	  PARSE_OPT_NOARG, &parse_opt_verbosity_cb, 0 }, \
 	{ OPTION_CALLBACK, 'q', "quiet", (var), NULL, N_("be more quiet"), \
 	  PARSE_OPT_NOARG, &parse_opt_verbosity_cb, 0 }
-#define OPT__DRY_RUN(var, h)  OPT_BOOLEAN('n', "dry-run", (var), (h))
-#define OPT__FORCE(var, h)    OPT_BOOLEAN('f', "force",   (var), (h))
+#define OPT__DRY_RUN(var, h)  OPT_BOOL('n', "dry-run", (var), (h))
+#define OPT__FORCE(var, h)    OPT_COUNTUP('f', "force",   (var), (h))
 #define OPT__ABBREV(var)  \
 	{ OPTION_CALLBACK, 0, "abbrev", (var), N_("n"),	\
 	  N_("use <n> digits to display SHA-1s"),	\
diff --git a/pathspec.c b/pathspec.c
index 87b3b82f1f..6cb9fd3014 100644
--- a/pathspec.c
+++ b/pathspec.c
@@ -71,8 +71,23 @@ static struct pathspec_magic {
 	{ PATHSPEC_LITERAL,   0, "literal" },
 	{ PATHSPEC_GLOB,   '\0', "glob" },
 	{ PATHSPEC_ICASE,  '\0', "icase" },
+	{ PATHSPEC_EXCLUDE, '!', "exclude" },
 };
 
+static void prefix_short_magic(struct strbuf *sb, int prefixlen,
+			       unsigned short_magic)
+{
+	int i;
+	strbuf_addstr(sb, ":(");
+	for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(pathspec_magic); i++)
+		if (short_magic & pathspec_magic[i].bit) {
+			if (sb->buf[sb->len - 1] != '(')
+				strbuf_addch(sb, ',');
+			strbuf_addstr(sb, pathspec_magic[i].name);
+		}
+	strbuf_addf(sb, ",prefix:%d)", prefixlen);
+}
+
 /*
  * Take an element of a pathspec and check for magic signatures.
  * Append the result to the prefix. Return the magic bitmap.
@@ -154,7 +169,7 @@ static unsigned prefix_pathspec(struct pathspec_item *item,
 					magic |= pathspec_magic[i].bit;
 					break;
 				}
-				if (!prefixcmp(copyfrom, "prefix:")) {
+				if (starts_with(copyfrom, "prefix:")) {
 					char *endptr;
 					pathspec_prefix = strtol(copyfrom + 7,
 								 &endptr, 10);
@@ -232,22 +247,16 @@ static unsigned prefix_pathspec(struct pathspec_item *item,
 	 */
 	if (flags & PATHSPEC_PREFIX_ORIGIN) {
 		struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
-		const char *start = elt;
 		if (prefixlen && !literal_global) {
 			/* Preserve the actual prefix length of each pattern */
 			if (short_magic)
-				die("BUG: prefixing on short magic is not supported");
+				prefix_short_magic(&sb, prefixlen, short_magic);
 			else if (long_magic_end) {
-				strbuf_add(&sb, start, long_magic_end - start);
-				strbuf_addf(&sb, ",prefix:%d", prefixlen);
-				start = long_magic_end;
-			} else {
-				if (*start == ':')
-					start++;
+				strbuf_add(&sb, elt, long_magic_end - elt);
+				strbuf_addf(&sb, ",prefix:%d)", prefixlen);
+			} else
 				strbuf_addf(&sb, ":(prefix:%d)", prefixlen);
-			}
 		}
-		strbuf_add(&sb, start, copyfrom - start);
 		strbuf_addstr(&sb, match);
 		item->original = strbuf_detach(&sb, NULL);
 	} else
@@ -355,7 +364,7 @@ void parse_pathspec(struct pathspec *pathspec,
 {
 	struct pathspec_item *item;
 	const char *entry = argv ? *argv : NULL;
-	int i, n, prefixlen;
+	int i, n, prefixlen, nr_exclude = 0;
 
 	memset(pathspec, 0, sizeof(*pathspec));
 
@@ -412,6 +421,8 @@ void parse_pathspec(struct pathspec *pathspec,
 		if ((flags & PATHSPEC_LITERAL_PATH) &&
 		    !(magic_mask & PATHSPEC_LITERAL))
 			item[i].magic |= PATHSPEC_LITERAL;
+		if (item[i].magic & PATHSPEC_EXCLUDE)
+			nr_exclude++;
 		if (item[i].magic & magic_mask)
 			unsupported_magic(entry,
 					  item[i].magic & magic_mask,
@@ -427,6 +438,10 @@ void parse_pathspec(struct pathspec *pathspec,
 		pathspec->magic |= item[i].magic;
 	}
 
+	if (nr_exclude == n)
+		die(_("There is nothing to exclude from by :(exclude) patterns.\n"
+		      "Perhaps you forgot to add either ':/' or '.' ?"));
+
 
 	if (pathspec->magic & PATHSPEC_MAXDEPTH) {
 		if (flags & PATHSPEC_KEEP_ORDER)
diff --git a/pathspec.h b/pathspec.h
index a75e9242d1..0c1126264a 100644
--- a/pathspec.h
+++ b/pathspec.h
@@ -7,12 +7,14 @@
 #define PATHSPEC_LITERAL	(1<<2)
 #define PATHSPEC_GLOB		(1<<3)
 #define PATHSPEC_ICASE		(1<<4)
+#define PATHSPEC_EXCLUDE	(1<<5)
 #define PATHSPEC_ALL_MAGIC	  \
 	(PATHSPEC_FROMTOP	| \
 	 PATHSPEC_MAXDEPTH	| \
 	 PATHSPEC_LITERAL	| \
 	 PATHSPEC_GLOB		| \
-	 PATHSPEC_ICASE)
+	 PATHSPEC_ICASE		| \
+	 PATHSPEC_EXCLUDE)
 
 #define PATHSPEC_ONESTAR 1	/* the pathspec pattern satisfies GFNM_ONESTAR */
 
diff --git a/perl/Git/SVN/Editor.pm b/perl/Git/SVN/Editor.pm
index b3bcd476da..34e8af966c 100644
--- a/perl/Git/SVN/Editor.pm
+++ b/perl/Git/SVN/Editor.pm
@@ -304,8 +304,12 @@ sub C {
 	my ($self, $m, $deletions) = @_;
 	my ($dir, $file) = split_path($m->{file_b});
 	my $pbat = $self->ensure_path($dir, $deletions);
+	# workaround for a bug in svn serf backend (v1.8.5 and below):
+	# store third argument to ->add_file() in a local variable, to make it
+	# have the same lifetime as $fbat
+	my $upa = $self->url_path($m->{file_a});
 	my $fbat = $self->add_file($self->repo_path($m->{file_b}), $pbat,
-				$self->url_path($m->{file_a}), $self->{r});
+				$upa, $self->{r});
 	print "\tC\t$m->{file_a} => $m->{file_b}\n" unless $::_q;
 	$self->chg_file($fbat, $m);
 	$self->close_file($fbat,undef,$self->{pool});
@@ -323,8 +327,10 @@ sub R {
 	my ($self, $m, $deletions) = @_;
 	my ($dir, $file) = split_path($m->{file_b});
 	my $pbat = $self->ensure_path($dir, $deletions);
+	# workaround for a bug in svn serf backend, see comment in C() above
+	my $upa = $self->url_path($m->{file_a});
 	my $fbat = $self->add_file($self->repo_path($m->{file_b}), $pbat,
-				$self->url_path($m->{file_a}), $self->{r});
+				$upa, $self->{r});
 	print "\tR\t$m->{file_a} => $m->{file_b}\n" unless $::_q;
 	$self->apply_autoprops($file, $fbat);
 	$self->chg_file($fbat, $m);
diff --git a/pkt-line.c b/pkt-line.c
index 70f19501d0..bc63b3b80e 100644
--- a/pkt-line.c
+++ b/pkt-line.c
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ static void packet_trace(const char *buf, unsigned int len, int write)
 	strbuf_addf(&out, "packet: %12s%c ",
 		    packet_trace_prefix, write ? '>' : '<');
 
-	if ((len >= 4 && !prefixcmp(buf, "PACK")) ||
-	    (len >= 5 && !prefixcmp(buf+1, "PACK"))) {
+	if ((len >= 4 && starts_with(buf, "PACK")) ||
+	    (len >= 5 && starts_with(buf+1, "PACK"))) {
 		strbuf_addstr(&out, "PACK ...");
 		unsetenv(trace_key);
 	}
diff --git a/po/de.po b/po/de.po
index 5e2d709e15..c0bbb65bf6 100644
--- a/po/de.po
+++ b/po/de.po
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ msgstr "Archivformat"
 
 #: archive.c:328 builtin/log.c:1193
 msgid "prefix"
-msgstr "Prefix"
+msgstr "Präfix"
 
 #: archive.c:329
 msgid "prepend prefix to each pathname in the archive"
@@ -3716,7 +3716,7 @@ msgid ""
 msgstr ""
 "Eingabehilfe:\n"
 "1          - nummeriertes Element auswählen\n"
-"foo        - Element anhand eines eindeutigen Prefix auswählen\n"
+"foo        - Element anhand eines eindeutigen Präfix auswählen\n"
 "           - (leer) nichts auswählen"
 
 #: builtin/clean.c:298
@@ -3734,7 +3734,7 @@ msgstr ""
 "1          - einzelnes Element auswählen\n"
 "3-5        - Bereich von Elementen auswählen\n"
 "2-3,6-9    - mehrere Bereiche auswählen\n"
-"foo        - Element anhand eines eindeutigen Prefix auswählen\n"
+"foo        - Element anhand eines eindeutigen Präfix auswählen\n"
 "-...       - angegebenes Element abwählen\n"
 "*          - alle Elemente auswählen\n"
 "           - (leer) Auswahl beenden"
@@ -6452,7 +6452,7 @@ msgstr "kennzeichnet die Serie als n-te Fassung"
 
 #: builtin/log.c:1194
 msgid "Use [<prefix>] instead of [PATCH]"
-msgstr "verwendet [<Prefix>] anstatt [PATCH]"
+msgstr "verwendet [<Präfix>] anstatt [PATCH]"
 
 #: builtin/log.c:1197
 msgid "store resulting files in <dir>"
@@ -8182,7 +8182,7 @@ msgid ""
 "[-u [--exclude-per-directory=<gitignore>] | -i]] [--no-sparse-checkout] [--"
 "index-output=<file>] (--empty | <tree-ish1> [<tree-ish2> [<tree-ish3>]])"
 msgstr ""
-"git read-tree [[-m [--trivial] [--aggressive] | --reset | --prefix=<Prefix>] "
+"git read-tree [[-m [--trivial] [--aggressive] | --reset | --prefix=<Präfix>] "
 "[-u [--exclude-per-directory=<gitignore>] | -i]] [--no-sparse-checkout] [--"
 "index-output=<Datei>] (--empty | <Commit-Referenz1> [<Commit-Referenz2> "
 "[<Commit-Referenz3>]])"
@@ -9782,15 +9782,15 @@ msgstr "gibt Tag-Inhalte aus"
 
 #: builtin/write-tree.c:13
 msgid "git write-tree [--missing-ok] [--prefix=<prefix>/]"
-msgstr "git write-tree [--missing-ok] [--prefix=<Prefix>/]"
+msgstr "git write-tree [--missing-ok] [--prefix=<Präfix>/]"
 
 #: builtin/write-tree.c:26
 msgid "<prefix>/"
-msgstr "<Prefix>/"
+msgstr "<Präfix>/"
 
 #: builtin/write-tree.c:27
 msgid "write tree object for a subdirectory <prefix>"
-msgstr "schreibt das \"Tree\"-Objekt für ein Unterverzeichnis <Prefix>"
+msgstr "schreibt das \"Tree\"-Objekt für ein Unterverzeichnis <Präfix>"
 
 #: builtin/write-tree.c:30
 msgid "only useful for debugging"
diff --git a/pretty.c b/pretty.c
index 962e82be86..87db08bd74 100644
--- a/pretty.c
+++ b/pretty.c
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ static int git_pretty_formats_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *c
 	const char *fmt;
 	int i;
 
-	if (prefixcmp(var, "pretty."))
+	if (!starts_with(var, "pretty."))
 		return 0;
 
 	name = var + strlen("pretty.");
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ static int git_pretty_formats_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *c
 	commit_format->name = xstrdup(name);
 	commit_format->format = CMIT_FMT_USERFORMAT;
 	git_config_string(&fmt, var, value);
-	if (!prefixcmp(fmt, "format:") || !prefixcmp(fmt, "tformat:")) {
+	if (starts_with(fmt, "format:") || starts_with(fmt, "tformat:")) {
 		commit_format->is_tformat = fmt[0] == 't';
 		fmt = strchr(fmt, ':') + 1;
 	} else if (strchr(fmt, '%'))
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ static struct cmt_fmt_map *find_commit_format_recursive(const char *sought,
 	for (i = 0; i < commit_formats_len; i++) {
 		size_t match_len;
 
-		if (prefixcmp(commit_formats[i].name, sought))
+		if (!starts_with(commit_formats[i].name, sought))
 			continue;
 
 		match_len = strlen(commit_formats[i].name);
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ void get_commit_format(const char *arg, struct rev_info *rev)
 		rev->commit_format = CMIT_FMT_DEFAULT;
 		return;
 	}
-	if (!prefixcmp(arg, "format:") || !prefixcmp(arg, "tformat:")) {
+	if (starts_with(arg, "format:") || starts_with(arg, "tformat:")) {
 		save_user_format(rev, strchr(arg, ':') + 1, arg[0] == 't');
 		return;
 	}
@@ -840,10 +840,10 @@ static void parse_commit_header(struct format_commit_context *context)
 
 		if (i == eol) {
 			break;
-		} else if (!prefixcmp(msg + i, "author ")) {
+		} else if (starts_with(msg + i, "author ")) {
 			context->author.off = i + 7;
 			context->author.len = eol - i - 7;
-		} else if (!prefixcmp(msg + i, "committer ")) {
+		} else if (starts_with(msg + i, "committer ")) {
 			context->committer.off = i + 10;
 			context->committer.len = eol - i - 10;
 		}
@@ -983,7 +983,7 @@ static size_t parse_color(struct strbuf *sb, /* in UTF-8 */
 
 		if (!end)
 			return 0;
-		if (!prefixcmp(begin, "auto,")) {
+		if (starts_with(begin, "auto,")) {
 			if (!want_color(c->pretty_ctx->color))
 				return end - placeholder + 1;
 			begin += 5;
@@ -994,16 +994,16 @@ static size_t parse_color(struct strbuf *sb, /* in UTF-8 */
 		strbuf_addstr(sb, color);
 		return end - placeholder + 1;
 	}
-	if (!prefixcmp(placeholder + 1, "red")) {
+	if (starts_with(placeholder + 1, "red")) {
 		strbuf_addstr(sb, GIT_COLOR_RED);
 		return 4;
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(placeholder + 1, "green")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(placeholder + 1, "green")) {
 		strbuf_addstr(sb, GIT_COLOR_GREEN);
 		return 6;
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(placeholder + 1, "blue")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(placeholder + 1, "blue")) {
 		strbuf_addstr(sb, GIT_COLOR_BLUE);
 		return 5;
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(placeholder + 1, "reset")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(placeholder + 1, "reset")) {
 		strbuf_addstr(sb, GIT_COLOR_RESET);
 		return 6;
 	} else
@@ -1060,11 +1060,11 @@ static size_t parse_padding_placeholder(struct strbuf *sb,
 			end = strchr(start, ')');
 			if (!end || end == start)
 				return 0;
-			if (!prefixcmp(start, "trunc)"))
+			if (starts_with(start, "trunc)"))
 				c->truncate = trunc_right;
-			else if (!prefixcmp(start, "ltrunc)"))
+			else if (starts_with(start, "ltrunc)"))
 				c->truncate = trunc_left;
-			else if (!prefixcmp(start, "mtrunc)"))
+			else if (starts_with(start, "mtrunc)"))
 				c->truncate = trunc_middle;
 			else
 				return 0;
@@ -1089,7 +1089,7 @@ static size_t format_commit_one(struct strbuf *sb, /* in UTF-8 */
 	/* these are independent of the commit */
 	switch (placeholder[0]) {
 	case 'C':
-		if (!prefixcmp(placeholder + 1, "(auto)")) {
+		if (starts_with(placeholder + 1, "(auto)")) {
 			c->auto_color = 1;
 			return 7; /* consumed 7 bytes, "C(auto)" */
 		} else {
@@ -1556,7 +1556,7 @@ static void pp_header(struct pretty_print_context *pp,
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		if (!prefixcmp(line, "parent ")) {
+		if (starts_with(line, "parent ")) {
 			if (linelen != 48)
 				die("bad parent line in commit");
 			continue;
@@ -1580,11 +1580,11 @@ static void pp_header(struct pretty_print_context *pp,
 		 * FULL shows both authors but not dates.
 		 * FULLER shows both authors and dates.
 		 */
-		if (!prefixcmp(line, "author ")) {
+		if (starts_with(line, "author ")) {
 			strbuf_grow(sb, linelen + 80);
 			pp_user_info(pp, "Author", sb, line + 7, encoding);
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(line, "committer ") &&
+		if (starts_with(line, "committer ") &&
 		    (pp->fmt == CMIT_FMT_FULL || pp->fmt == CMIT_FMT_FULLER)) {
 			strbuf_grow(sb, linelen + 80);
 			pp_user_info(pp, "Commit", sb, line + 10, encoding);
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 5e5a3824b9..39261368f5 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -637,7 +637,7 @@ static int do_one_ref(struct ref_entry *entry, void *cb_data)
 	struct ref_entry *old_current_ref;
 	int retval;
 
-	if (prefixcmp(entry->name, data->base))
+	if (!starts_with(entry->name, data->base))
 		return 0;
 
 	if (!(data->flags & DO_FOR_EACH_INCLUDE_BROKEN) &&
@@ -1042,7 +1042,7 @@ static void read_packed_refs(FILE *f, struct ref_dir *dir)
 		if (refname) {
 			last = create_ref_entry(refname, sha1, REF_ISPACKED, 1);
 			if (peeled == PEELED_FULLY ||
-			    (peeled == PEELED_TAGS && !prefixcmp(refname, "refs/tags/")))
+			    (peeled == PEELED_TAGS && starts_with(refname, "refs/tags/")))
 				last->flag |= REF_KNOWS_PEELED;
 			add_ref(dir, last);
 			continue;
@@ -1376,7 +1376,7 @@ const char *resolve_ref_unsafe(const char *refname, unsigned char *sha1, int rea
 					return NULL;
 			}
 			buffer[len] = 0;
-			if (!prefixcmp(buffer, "refs/") &&
+			if (starts_with(buffer, "refs/") &&
 					!check_refname_format(buffer, 0)) {
 				strcpy(refname_buffer, buffer);
 				refname = refname_buffer;
@@ -1415,7 +1415,7 @@ const char *resolve_ref_unsafe(const char *refname, unsigned char *sha1, int rea
 		/*
 		 * Is it a symbolic ref?
 		 */
-		if (prefixcmp(buffer, "ref:")) {
+		if (!starts_with(buffer, "ref:")) {
 			/*
 			 * Please note that FETCH_HEAD has a second
 			 * line containing other data.
@@ -1837,7 +1837,7 @@ int for_each_glob_ref_in(each_ref_fn fn, const char *pattern,
 	struct ref_filter filter;
 	int ret;
 
-	if (!prefix && prefixcmp(pattern, "refs/"))
+	if (!prefix && !starts_with(pattern, "refs/"))
 		strbuf_addstr(&real_pattern, "refs/");
 	else if (prefix)
 		strbuf_addstr(&real_pattern, prefix);
@@ -1874,9 +1874,9 @@ int for_each_rawref(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 const char *prettify_refname(const char *name)
 {
 	return name + (
-		!prefixcmp(name, "refs/heads/") ? 11 :
-		!prefixcmp(name, "refs/tags/") ? 10 :
-		!prefixcmp(name, "refs/remotes/") ? 13 :
+		starts_with(name, "refs/heads/") ? 11 :
+		starts_with(name, "refs/tags/") ? 10 :
+		starts_with(name, "refs/remotes/") ? 13 :
 		0);
 }
 
@@ -2244,7 +2244,7 @@ static int pack_if_possible_fn(struct ref_entry *entry, void *cb_data)
 	struct pack_refs_cb_data *cb = cb_data;
 	enum peel_status peel_status;
 	struct ref_entry *packed_entry;
-	int is_tag_ref = !prefixcmp(entry->name, "refs/tags/");
+	int is_tag_ref = starts_with(entry->name, "refs/tags/");
 
 	/* ALWAYS pack tags */
 	if (!(cb->flags & PACK_REFS_ALL) && !is_tag_ref)
@@ -2679,9 +2679,9 @@ int log_ref_setup(const char *refname, char *logfile, int bufsize)
 
 	git_snpath(logfile, bufsize, "logs/%s", refname);
 	if (log_all_ref_updates &&
-	    (!prefixcmp(refname, "refs/heads/") ||
-	     !prefixcmp(refname, "refs/remotes/") ||
-	     !prefixcmp(refname, "refs/notes/") ||
+	    (starts_with(refname, "refs/heads/") ||
+	     starts_with(refname, "refs/remotes/") ||
+	     starts_with(refname, "refs/notes/") ||
 	     !strcmp(refname, "HEAD"))) {
 		if (safe_create_leading_directories(logfile) < 0)
 			return error("unable to create directory for %s",
@@ -2751,7 +2751,7 @@ static int log_ref_write(const char *refname, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
 
 static int is_branch(const char *refname)
 {
-	return !strcmp(refname, "HEAD") || !prefixcmp(refname, "refs/heads/");
+	return !strcmp(refname, "HEAD") || starts_with(refname, "refs/heads/");
 }
 
 int write_ref_sha1(struct ref_lock *lock,
@@ -3450,7 +3450,7 @@ int parse_hide_refs_config(const char *var, const char *value, const char *secti
 {
 	if (!strcmp("transfer.hiderefs", var) ||
 	    /* NEEDSWORK: use parse_config_key() once both are merged */
-	    (!prefixcmp(var, section) && var[strlen(section)] == '.' &&
+	    (starts_with(var, section) && var[strlen(section)] == '.' &&
 	     !strcmp(var + strlen(section), ".hiderefs"))) {
 		char *ref;
 		int len;
@@ -3478,7 +3478,7 @@ int ref_is_hidden(const char *refname)
 		return 0;
 	for_each_string_list_item(item, hide_refs) {
 		int len;
-		if (prefixcmp(refname, item->string))
+		if (!starts_with(refname, item->string))
 			continue;
 		len = strlen(item->string);
 		if (!refname[len] || refname[len] == '/')
diff --git a/remote-curl.c b/remote-curl.c
index 91b07a4145..e38c4b026f 100644
--- a/remote-curl.c
+++ b/remote-curl.c
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ static struct discovery* discover_refs(const char *service, int for_push)
 	free_discovery(last);
 
 	strbuf_addf(&refs_url, "%sinfo/refs", url.buf);
-	if ((!prefixcmp(url.buf, "http://") || !prefixcmp(url.buf, "https://")) &&
+	if ((starts_with(url.buf, "http://") || starts_with(url.buf, "https://")) &&
 	     git_env_bool("GIT_SMART_HTTP", 1)) {
 		maybe_smart = 1;
 		if (!strchr(url.buf, '?'))
@@ -766,7 +766,7 @@ static void parse_fetch(struct strbuf *buf)
 	int alloc_heads = 0, nr_heads = 0;
 
 	do {
-		if (!prefixcmp(buf->buf, "fetch ")) {
+		if (starts_with(buf->buf, "fetch ")) {
 			char *p = buf->buf + strlen("fetch ");
 			char *name;
 			struct ref *ref;
@@ -889,7 +889,7 @@ static void parse_push(struct strbuf *buf)
 	int alloc_spec = 0, nr_spec = 0, i, ret;
 
 	do {
-		if (!prefixcmp(buf->buf, "push ")) {
+		if (starts_with(buf->buf, "push ")) {
 			ALLOC_GROW(specs, nr_spec + 1, alloc_spec);
 			specs[nr_spec++] = xstrdup(buf->buf + 5);
 		}
@@ -952,19 +952,19 @@ int main(int argc, const char **argv)
 		}
 		if (buf.len == 0)
 			break;
-		if (!prefixcmp(buf.buf, "fetch ")) {
+		if (starts_with(buf.buf, "fetch ")) {
 			if (nongit)
 				die("Fetch attempted without a local repo");
 			parse_fetch(&buf);
 
-		} else if (!strcmp(buf.buf, "list") || !prefixcmp(buf.buf, "list ")) {
+		} else if (!strcmp(buf.buf, "list") || starts_with(buf.buf, "list ")) {
 			int for_push = !!strstr(buf.buf + 4, "for-push");
 			output_refs(get_refs(for_push));
 
-		} else if (!prefixcmp(buf.buf, "push ")) {
+		} else if (starts_with(buf.buf, "push ")) {
 			parse_push(&buf);
 
-		} else if (!prefixcmp(buf.buf, "option ")) {
+		} else if (starts_with(buf.buf, "option ")) {
 			char *name = buf.buf + strlen("option ");
 			char *value = strchr(name, ' ');
 			int result;
diff --git a/remote-testsvn.c b/remote-testsvn.c
index d7cd5d272f..078f1ffa41 100644
--- a/remote-testsvn.c
+++ b/remote-testsvn.c
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ static int parse_rev_note(const char *msg, struct rev_note *res)
 		len = end ? end - msg : strlen(msg);
 
 		key = "Revision-number: ";
-		if (!prefixcmp(msg, key)) {
+		if (starts_with(msg, key)) {
 			long i;
 			char *end;
 			value = msg + strlen(key);
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ static void check_or_regenerate_marks(int latestrev)
 	} else {
 		strbuf_addf(&sb, ":%d ", latestrev);
 		while (strbuf_getline(&line, marksfile, '\n') != EOF) {
-			if (!prefixcmp(line.buf, sb.buf)) {
+			if (starts_with(line.buf, sb.buf)) {
 				found++;
 				break;
 			}
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ static int do_command(struct strbuf *line)
 		return 1;	/* end of command stream, quit */
 	}
 	if (batch_cmd) {
-		if (prefixcmp(batch_cmd->name, line->buf))
+		if (!starts_with(batch_cmd->name, line->buf))
 			die("Active %s batch interrupted by %s", batch_cmd->name, line->buf);
 		/* buffer batch lines */
 		string_list_append(&batchlines, line->buf);
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ static int do_command(struct strbuf *line)
 	}
 
 	for (p = input_command_list; p->name; p++) {
-		if (!prefixcmp(line->buf, p->name) && (strlen(p->name) == line->len ||
+		if (starts_with(line->buf, p->name) && (strlen(p->name) == line->len ||
 				line->buf[strlen(p->name)] == ' ')) {
 			if (p->batchable) {
 				batch_cmd = p;
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	remote = remote_get(argv[1]);
 	url_in = (argc == 3) ? argv[2] : remote->url[0];
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(url_in, "file://")) {
+	if (starts_with(url_in, "file://")) {
 		dump_from_file = 1;
 		url = url_decode(url_in + sizeof("file://")-1);
 	} else {
diff --git a/remote.c b/remote.c
index 15e6e5efcf..a89efab5b7 100644
--- a/remote.c
+++ b/remote.c
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ static const char *alias_url(const char *url, struct rewrites *r)
 		if (!r->rewrite[i])
 			continue;
 		for (j = 0; j < r->rewrite[i]->instead_of_nr; j++) {
-			if (!prefixcmp(url, r->rewrite[i]->instead_of[j].s) &&
+			if (starts_with(url, r->rewrite[i]->instead_of[j].s) &&
 			    (!longest ||
 			     longest->len < r->rewrite[i]->instead_of[j].len)) {
 				longest = &(r->rewrite[i]->instead_of[j]);
@@ -239,13 +239,13 @@ static void read_remotes_file(struct remote *remote)
 		int value_list;
 		char *s, *p;
 
-		if (!prefixcmp(buffer, "URL:")) {
+		if (starts_with(buffer, "URL:")) {
 			value_list = 0;
 			s = buffer + 4;
-		} else if (!prefixcmp(buffer, "Push:")) {
+		} else if (starts_with(buffer, "Push:")) {
 			value_list = 1;
 			s = buffer + 5;
-		} else if (!prefixcmp(buffer, "Pull:")) {
+		} else if (starts_with(buffer, "Pull:")) {
 			value_list = 2;
 			s = buffer + 5;
 		} else
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ static int handle_config(const char *key, const char *value, void *cb)
 	const char *subkey;
 	struct remote *remote;
 	struct branch *branch;
-	if (!prefixcmp(key, "branch.")) {
+	if (starts_with(key, "branch.")) {
 		name = key + 7;
 		subkey = strrchr(name, '.');
 		if (!subkey)
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ static int handle_config(const char *key, const char *value, void *cb)
 		}
 		return 0;
 	}
-	if (!prefixcmp(key, "url.")) {
+	if (starts_with(key, "url.")) {
 		struct rewrite *rewrite;
 		name = key + 4;
 		subkey = strrchr(name, '.');
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ static int handle_config(const char *key, const char *value, void *cb)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (prefixcmp(key,  "remote."))
+	if (!starts_with(key,  "remote."))
 		return 0;
 	name = key + 7;
 
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ static void read_config(void)
 	current_branch = NULL;
 	head_ref = resolve_ref_unsafe("HEAD", sha1, 0, &flag);
 	if (head_ref && (flag & REF_ISSYMREF) &&
-	    !prefixcmp(head_ref, "refs/heads/")) {
+	    starts_with(head_ref, "refs/heads/")) {
 		current_branch =
 			make_branch(head_ref + strlen("refs/heads/"), 0);
 	}
@@ -852,7 +852,7 @@ static int match_name_with_pattern(const char *key, const char *name,
 	return ret;
 }
 
-static int query_refspecs(struct refspec *refs, int ref_count, struct refspec *query)
+int query_refspecs(struct refspec *refs, int ref_count, struct refspec *query)
 {
 	int i;
 	int find_src = !query->src;
@@ -986,9 +986,9 @@ void sort_ref_list(struct ref **l, int (*cmp)(const void *, const void *))
 	*l = llist_mergesort(*l, ref_list_get_next, ref_list_set_next, cmp);
 }
 
-static int count_refspec_match(const char *pattern,
-			       struct ref *refs,
-			       struct ref **matched_ref)
+int count_refspec_match(const char *pattern,
+			struct ref *refs,
+			struct ref **matched_ref)
 {
 	int patlen = strlen(pattern);
 	struct ref *matched_weak = NULL;
@@ -1013,8 +1013,8 @@ static int count_refspec_match(const char *pattern,
 		 */
 		if (namelen != patlen &&
 		    patlen != namelen - 5 &&
-		    prefixcmp(name, "refs/heads/") &&
-		    prefixcmp(name, "refs/tags/")) {
+		    !starts_with(name, "refs/heads/") &&
+		    !starts_with(name, "refs/tags/")) {
 			/* We want to catch the case where only weak
 			 * matches are found and there are multiple
 			 * matches, and where more than one strong
@@ -1085,9 +1085,9 @@ static char *guess_ref(const char *name, struct ref *peer)
 	if (!r)
 		return NULL;
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(r, "refs/heads/"))
+	if (starts_with(r, "refs/heads/"))
 		strbuf_addstr(&buf, "refs/heads/");
-	else if (!prefixcmp(r, "refs/tags/"))
+	else if (starts_with(r, "refs/tags/"))
 		strbuf_addstr(&buf, "refs/tags/");
 	else
 		return NULL;
@@ -1135,7 +1135,7 @@ static int match_explicit(struct ref *src, struct ref *dst,
 		dst_value = resolve_ref_unsafe(matched_src->name, sha1, 1, &flag);
 		if (!dst_value ||
 		    ((flag & REF_ISSYMREF) &&
-		     prefixcmp(dst_value, "refs/heads/")))
+		     !starts_with(dst_value, "refs/heads/")))
 			die("%s cannot be resolved to branch.",
 			    matched_src->name);
 	}
@@ -1224,7 +1224,7 @@ static char *get_ref_match(const struct refspec *rs, int rs_nr, const struct ref
 		 * including refs outside refs/heads/ hierarchy, but
 		 * that does not make much sense these days.
 		 */
-		if (!send_mirror && prefixcmp(ref->name, "refs/heads/"))
+		if (!send_mirror && !starts_with(ref->name, "refs/heads/"))
 			return NULL;
 		name = xstrdup(ref->name);
 	}
@@ -1279,7 +1279,7 @@ static void add_missing_tags(struct ref *src, struct ref **dst, struct ref ***ds
 			add_to_tips(&sent_tips, ref->peer_ref->new_sha1);
 		else
 			add_to_tips(&sent_tips, ref->old_sha1);
-		if (!prefixcmp(ref->name, "refs/tags/"))
+		if (starts_with(ref->name, "refs/tags/"))
 			string_list_append(&dst_tag, ref->name);
 	}
 	clear_commit_marks_many(sent_tips.nr, sent_tips.tip, TMP_MARK);
@@ -1288,7 +1288,7 @@ static void add_missing_tags(struct ref *src, struct ref **dst, struct ref ***ds
 
 	/* Collect tags they do not have. */
 	for (ref = src; ref; ref = ref->next) {
-		if (prefixcmp(ref->name, "refs/tags/"))
+		if (!starts_with(ref->name, "refs/tags/"))
 			continue; /* not a tag */
 		if (string_list_has_string(&dst_tag, ref->name))
 			continue; /* they already have it */
@@ -1512,7 +1512,7 @@ void set_ref_status_for_push(struct ref *remote_refs, int send_mirror,
 		 */
 
 		else if (!ref->deletion && !is_null_sha1(ref->old_sha1)) {
-			if (!prefixcmp(ref->name, "refs/tags/"))
+			if (starts_with(ref->name, "refs/tags/"))
 				reject_reason = REF_STATUS_REJECT_ALREADY_EXISTS;
 			else if (!has_sha1_file(ref->old_sha1))
 				reject_reason = REF_STATUS_REJECT_FETCH_FIRST;
@@ -1645,12 +1645,12 @@ static struct ref *get_local_ref(const char *name)
 	if (!name || name[0] == '\0')
 		return NULL;
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(name, "refs/"))
+	if (starts_with(name, "refs/"))
 		return alloc_ref(name);
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(name, "heads/") ||
-	    !prefixcmp(name, "tags/") ||
-	    !prefixcmp(name, "remotes/"))
+	if (starts_with(name, "heads/") ||
+	    starts_with(name, "tags/") ||
+	    starts_with(name, "remotes/"))
 		return alloc_ref_with_prefix("refs/", 5, name);
 
 	return alloc_ref_with_prefix("refs/heads/", 11, name);
@@ -1685,7 +1685,7 @@ int get_fetch_map(const struct ref *remote_refs,
 
 	for (rmp = &ref_map; *rmp; ) {
 		if ((*rmp)->peer_ref) {
-			if (prefixcmp((*rmp)->peer_ref->name, "refs/") ||
+			if (!starts_with((*rmp)->peer_ref->name, "refs/") ||
 			    check_refname_format((*rmp)->peer_ref->name, 0)) {
 				struct ref *ignore = *rmp;
 				error("* Ignoring funny ref '%s' locally",
@@ -1969,7 +1969,7 @@ struct ref *guess_remote_head(const struct ref *head,
 	/* Look for another ref that points there */
 	for (r = refs; r; r = r->next) {
 		if (r != head &&
-		    !prefixcmp(r->name, "refs/heads/") &&
+		    starts_with(r->name, "refs/heads/") &&
 		    !hashcmp(r->old_sha1, head->old_sha1)) {
 			*tail = copy_ref(r);
 			tail = &((*tail)->next);
diff --git a/remote.h b/remote.h
index c07eb9950a..00c6a76ef8 100644
--- a/remote.h
+++ b/remote.h
@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@ struct ref *alloc_ref(const char *name);
 struct ref *copy_ref(const struct ref *ref);
 struct ref *copy_ref_list(const struct ref *ref);
 void sort_ref_list(struct ref **, int (*cmp)(const void *, const void *));
+extern int count_refspec_match(const char *, struct ref *refs, struct ref **matched_ref);
 int ref_compare_name(const void *, const void *);
 
 int check_ref_type(const struct ref *ref, int flags);
@@ -162,6 +163,7 @@ struct refspec *parse_fetch_refspec(int nr_refspec, const char **refspec);
 
 void free_refspec(int nr_refspec, struct refspec *refspec);
 
+extern int query_refspecs(struct refspec *specs, int nr, struct refspec *query);
 char *apply_refspecs(struct refspec *refspecs, int nr_refspec,
 		     const char *name);
 
diff --git a/replace_object.c b/replace_object.c
index d0b1548726..cdcaf8cbe2 100644
--- a/replace_object.c
+++ b/replace_object.c
@@ -97,9 +97,6 @@ const unsigned char *do_lookup_replace_object(const unsigned char *sha1)
 	int pos, depth = MAXREPLACEDEPTH;
 	const unsigned char *cur = sha1;
 
-	if (!read_replace_refs)
-		return sha1;
-
 	prepare_replace_object();
 
 	/* Try to recursively replace the object */
diff --git a/revision.c b/revision.c
index 05d2d7763a..a68fde6e95 100644
--- a/revision.c
+++ b/revision.c
@@ -1627,9 +1627,9 @@ static int handle_revision_opt(struct rev_info *revs, int argc, const char **arg
 	    !strcmp(arg, "--tags") || !strcmp(arg, "--remotes") ||
 	    !strcmp(arg, "--reflog") || !strcmp(arg, "--not") ||
 	    !strcmp(arg, "--no-walk") || !strcmp(arg, "--do-walk") ||
-	    !strcmp(arg, "--bisect") || !prefixcmp(arg, "--glob=") ||
-	    !prefixcmp(arg, "--branches=") || !prefixcmp(arg, "--tags=") ||
-	    !prefixcmp(arg, "--remotes=") || !prefixcmp(arg, "--no-walk="))
+	    !strcmp(arg, "--bisect") || starts_with(arg, "--glob=") ||
+	    starts_with(arg, "--branches=") || starts_with(arg, "--tags=") ||
+	    starts_with(arg, "--remotes=") || starts_with(arg, "--no-walk="))
 	{
 		unkv[(*unkc)++] = arg;
 		return 1;
@@ -1652,7 +1652,7 @@ static int handle_revision_opt(struct rev_info *revs, int argc, const char **arg
 		revs->max_count = atoi(argv[1]);
 		revs->no_walk = 0;
 		return 2;
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "-n")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(arg, "-n")) {
 		revs->max_count = atoi(arg + 2);
 		revs->no_walk = 0;
 	} else if ((argcount = parse_long_opt("max-age", argv, &optarg))) {
@@ -1712,7 +1712,7 @@ static int handle_revision_opt(struct rev_info *revs, int argc, const char **arg
 	} else if (!strcmp(arg, "--author-date-order")) {
 		revs->sort_order = REV_SORT_BY_AUTHOR_DATE;
 		revs->topo_order = 1;
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--early-output")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(arg, "--early-output")) {
 		int count = 100;
 		switch (arg[14]) {
 		case '=':
@@ -1737,13 +1737,13 @@ static int handle_revision_opt(struct rev_info *revs, int argc, const char **arg
 		revs->min_parents = 2;
 	} else if (!strcmp(arg, "--no-merges")) {
 		revs->max_parents = 1;
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--min-parents=")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(arg, "--min-parents=")) {
 		revs->min_parents = atoi(arg+14);
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--no-min-parents")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(arg, "--no-min-parents")) {
 		revs->min_parents = 0;
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--max-parents=")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(arg, "--max-parents=")) {
 		revs->max_parents = atoi(arg+14);
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--no-max-parents")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(arg, "--no-max-parents")) {
 		revs->max_parents = -1;
 	} else if (!strcmp(arg, "--boundary")) {
 		revs->boundary = 1;
@@ -1793,7 +1793,7 @@ static int handle_revision_opt(struct rev_info *revs, int argc, const char **arg
 		revs->verify_objects = 1;
 	} else if (!strcmp(arg, "--unpacked")) {
 		revs->unpacked = 1;
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--unpacked=")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(arg, "--unpacked=")) {
 		die("--unpacked=<packfile> no longer supported.");
 	} else if (!strcmp(arg, "-r")) {
 		revs->diff = 1;
@@ -1818,7 +1818,7 @@ static int handle_revision_opt(struct rev_info *revs, int argc, const char **arg
 		revs->verbose_header = 1;
 		revs->pretty_given = 1;
 		get_commit_format(arg+8, revs);
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--pretty=") || !prefixcmp(arg, "--format=")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(arg, "--pretty=") || starts_with(arg, "--format=")) {
 		/*
 		 * Detached form ("--pretty X" as opposed to "--pretty=X")
 		 * not allowed, since the argument is optional.
@@ -1832,12 +1832,12 @@ static int handle_revision_opt(struct rev_info *revs, int argc, const char **arg
 		revs->notes_opt.use_default_notes = 1;
 	} else if (!strcmp(arg, "--show-signature")) {
 		revs->show_signature = 1;
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--show-notes=") ||
-		   !prefixcmp(arg, "--notes=")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(arg, "--show-notes=") ||
+		   starts_with(arg, "--notes=")) {
 		struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
 		revs->show_notes = 1;
 		revs->show_notes_given = 1;
-		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--show-notes")) {
+		if (starts_with(arg, "--show-notes")) {
 			if (revs->notes_opt.use_default_notes < 0)
 				revs->notes_opt.use_default_notes = 1;
 			strbuf_addstr(&buf, arg+13);
@@ -1880,7 +1880,7 @@ static int handle_revision_opt(struct rev_info *revs, int argc, const char **arg
 		revs->abbrev = 0;
 	} else if (!strcmp(arg, "--abbrev")) {
 		revs->abbrev = DEFAULT_ABBREV;
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--abbrev=")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(arg, "--abbrev=")) {
 		revs->abbrev = strtoul(arg + 9, NULL, 10);
 		if (revs->abbrev < MINIMUM_ABBREV)
 			revs->abbrev = MINIMUM_ABBREV;
@@ -2027,17 +2027,17 @@ static int handle_revision_pseudo_opt(const char *submodule,
 	} else if ((argcount = parse_long_opt("exclude", argv, &optarg))) {
 		add_ref_exclusion(&revs->ref_excludes, optarg);
 		return argcount;
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--branches=")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(arg, "--branches=")) {
 		struct all_refs_cb cb;
 		init_all_refs_cb(&cb, revs, *flags);
 		for_each_glob_ref_in(handle_one_ref, arg + 11, "refs/heads/", &cb);
 		clear_ref_exclusion(&revs->ref_excludes);
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--tags=")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(arg, "--tags=")) {
 		struct all_refs_cb cb;
 		init_all_refs_cb(&cb, revs, *flags);
 		for_each_glob_ref_in(handle_one_ref, arg + 7, "refs/tags/", &cb);
 		clear_ref_exclusion(&revs->ref_excludes);
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--remotes=")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(arg, "--remotes=")) {
 		struct all_refs_cb cb;
 		init_all_refs_cb(&cb, revs, *flags);
 		for_each_glob_ref_in(handle_one_ref, arg + 10, "refs/remotes/", &cb);
@@ -2048,7 +2048,7 @@ static int handle_revision_pseudo_opt(const char *submodule,
 		*flags ^= UNINTERESTING | BOTTOM;
 	} else if (!strcmp(arg, "--no-walk")) {
 		revs->no_walk = REVISION_WALK_NO_WALK_SORTED;
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--no-walk=")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(arg, "--no-walk=")) {
 		/*
 		 * Detached form ("--no-walk X" as opposed to "--no-walk=X")
 		 * not allowed, since the argument is optional.
diff --git a/send-pack.c b/send-pack.c
index 9ee8cf50a8..ac14a4d090 100644
--- a/send-pack.c
+++ b/send-pack.c
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ static int receive_status(int in, struct ref *refs)
 	struct ref *hint;
 	int ret = 0;
 	char *line = packet_read_line(in, NULL);
-	if (prefixcmp(line, "unpack "))
+	if (!starts_with(line, "unpack "))
 		return error("did not receive remote status");
 	if (strcmp(line, "unpack ok")) {
 		error("unpack failed: %s", line + 7);
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ static int receive_status(int in, struct ref *refs)
 		line = packet_read_line(in, NULL);
 		if (!line)
 			break;
-		if (prefixcmp(line, "ok ") && prefixcmp(line, "ng ")) {
+		if (!starts_with(line, "ok ") && !starts_with(line, "ng ")) {
 			error("invalid ref status from remote: %s", line);
 			ret = -1;
 			break;
diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index 06e52b4c83..90cac7b02e 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ static int is_cherry_picked_from_line(const char *buf, int len)
 	 * We only care that it looks roughly like (cherry picked from ...)
 	 */
 	return len > strlen(cherry_picked_prefix) + 1 &&
-		!prefixcmp(buf, cherry_picked_prefix) && buf[len - 1] == ')';
+		starts_with(buf, cherry_picked_prefix) && buf[len - 1] == ')';
 }
 
 /*
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ static char *get_encoding(const char *message)
 	while (*p && *p != '\n') {
 		for (eol = p + 1; *eol && *eol != '\n'; eol++)
 			; /* do nothing */
-		if (!prefixcmp(p, "encoding ")) {
+		if (starts_with(p, "encoding ")) {
 			char *result = xmalloc(eol - 8 - p);
 			strlcpy(result, p + 9, eol - 8 - p);
 			return result;
@@ -705,10 +705,10 @@ static struct commit *parse_insn_line(char *bol, char *eol, struct replay_opts *
 	char *end_of_object_name;
 	int saved, status, padding;
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(bol, "pick")) {
+	if (starts_with(bol, "pick")) {
 		action = REPLAY_PICK;
 		bol += strlen("pick");
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(bol, "revert")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(bol, "revert")) {
 		action = REPLAY_REVERT;
 		bol += strlen("revert");
 	} else
diff --git a/setup.c b/setup.c
index 5432a31b62..6c3f85ff7a 100644
--- a/setup.c
+++ b/setup.c
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ int check_filename(const char *prefix, const char *arg)
 	const char *name;
 	struct stat st;
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(arg, ":/")) {
+	if (starts_with(arg, ":/")) {
 		if (arg[2] == '\0') /* ":/" is root dir, always exists */
 			return 1;
 		name = arg + 2;
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ const char *read_gitfile(const char *path)
 	if (len != st.st_size)
 		die("Error reading %s", path);
 	buf[len] = '\0';
-	if (prefixcmp(buf, "gitdir: "))
+	if (!starts_with(buf, "gitdir: "))
 		die("Invalid gitfile format: %s", path);
 	while (buf[len - 1] == '\n' || buf[len - 1] == '\r')
 		len--;
diff --git a/sha1_file.c b/sha1_file.c
index daacc0cfb0..ee224e4128 100644
--- a/sha1_file.c
+++ b/sha1_file.c
@@ -2443,13 +2443,14 @@ static int sha1_loose_object_info(const unsigned char *sha1,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int sha1_object_info_extended(const unsigned char *sha1, struct object_info *oi)
+int sha1_object_info_extended(const unsigned char *sha1, struct object_info *oi, unsigned flags)
 {
 	struct cached_object *co;
 	struct pack_entry e;
 	int rtype;
+	const unsigned char *real = lookup_replace_object_extended(sha1, flags);
 
-	co = find_cached_object(sha1);
+	co = find_cached_object(real);
 	if (co) {
 		if (oi->typep)
 			*(oi->typep) = co->type;
@@ -2461,23 +2462,23 @@ int sha1_object_info_extended(const unsigned char *sha1, struct object_info *oi)
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	if (!find_pack_entry(sha1, &e)) {
+	if (!find_pack_entry(real, &e)) {
 		/* Most likely it's a loose object. */
-		if (!sha1_loose_object_info(sha1, oi)) {
+		if (!sha1_loose_object_info(real, oi)) {
 			oi->whence = OI_LOOSE;
 			return 0;
 		}
 
 		/* Not a loose object; someone else may have just packed it. */
 		reprepare_packed_git();
-		if (!find_pack_entry(sha1, &e))
+		if (!find_pack_entry(real, &e))
 			return -1;
 	}
 
 	rtype = packed_object_info(e.p, e.offset, oi);
 	if (rtype < 0) {
-		mark_bad_packed_object(e.p, sha1);
-		return sha1_object_info_extended(sha1, oi);
+		mark_bad_packed_object(e.p, real);
+		return sha1_object_info_extended(real, oi, 0);
 	} else if (in_delta_base_cache(e.p, e.offset)) {
 		oi->whence = OI_DBCACHED;
 	} else {
@@ -2499,7 +2500,7 @@ int sha1_object_info(const unsigned char *sha1, unsigned long *sizep)
 
 	oi.typep = &type;
 	oi.sizep = sizep;
-	if (sha1_object_info_extended(sha1, &oi) < 0)
+	if (sha1_object_info_extended(sha1, &oi, LOOKUP_REPLACE_OBJECT) < 0)
 		return -1;
 	return type;
 }
@@ -2591,8 +2592,7 @@ void *read_sha1_file_extended(const unsigned char *sha1,
 	void *data;
 	char *path;
 	const struct packed_git *p;
-	const unsigned char *repl = (flag & READ_SHA1_FILE_REPLACE)
-		? lookup_replace_object(sha1) : sha1;
+	const unsigned char *repl = lookup_replace_object_extended(sha1, flag);
 
 	errno = 0;
 	data = read_object(repl, type, size);
diff --git a/sha1_name.c b/sha1_name.c
index 2f37488b96..b1873d8113 100644
--- a/sha1_name.c
+++ b/sha1_name.c
@@ -546,7 +546,7 @@ static int get_sha1_basic(const char *str, int len, unsigned char *sha1)
 		if (read_ref_at(real_ref, at_time, nth, sha1, NULL,
 				&co_time, &co_tz, &co_cnt)) {
 			if (!len) {
-				if (!prefixcmp(real_ref, "refs/heads/")) {
+				if (starts_with(real_ref, "refs/heads/")) {
 					str = real_ref + 11;
 					len = strlen(real_ref + 11);
 				} else {
@@ -674,15 +674,15 @@ static int peel_onion(const char *name, int len, unsigned char *sha1)
 		return -1;
 
 	sp++; /* beginning of type name, or closing brace for empty */
-	if (!prefixcmp(sp, "commit}"))
+	if (starts_with(sp, "commit}"))
 		expected_type = OBJ_COMMIT;
-	else if (!prefixcmp(sp, "tag}"))
+	else if (starts_with(sp, "tag}"))
 		expected_type = OBJ_TAG;
-	else if (!prefixcmp(sp, "tree}"))
+	else if (starts_with(sp, "tree}"))
 		expected_type = OBJ_TREE;
-	else if (!prefixcmp(sp, "blob}"))
+	else if (starts_with(sp, "blob}"))
 		expected_type = OBJ_BLOB;
-	else if (!prefixcmp(sp, "object}"))
+	else if (starts_with(sp, "object}"))
 		expected_type = OBJ_ANY;
 	else if (sp[0] == '}')
 		expected_type = OBJ_NONE;
@@ -909,7 +909,7 @@ static int grab_nth_branch_switch(unsigned char *osha1, unsigned char *nsha1,
 	const char *match = NULL, *target = NULL;
 	size_t len;
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(message, "checkout: moving from ")) {
+	if (starts_with(message, "checkout: moving from ")) {
 		match = message + strlen("checkout: moving from ");
 		target = strstr(match, " to ");
 	}
@@ -1302,7 +1302,7 @@ static void diagnose_invalid_index_path(int stage,
 
 static char *resolve_relative_path(const char *rel)
 {
-	if (prefixcmp(rel, "./") && prefixcmp(rel, "../"))
+	if (!starts_with(rel, "./") && !starts_with(rel, "../"))
 		return NULL;
 
 	if (!startup_info)
diff --git a/shell.c b/shell.c
index 66350b220c..5c0d47a5cc 100644
--- a/shell.c
+++ b/shell.c
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ static int do_generic_cmd(const char *me, char *arg)
 	setup_path();
 	if (!arg || !(arg = sq_dequote(arg)))
 		die("bad argument");
-	if (prefixcmp(me, "git-"))
+	if (!starts_with(me, "git-"))
 		die("bad command");
 
 	my_argv[0] = me + 4;
diff --git a/strbuf.c b/strbuf.c
index 1170d01c43..83caf4a914 100644
--- a/strbuf.c
+++ b/strbuf.c
@@ -1,6 +1,15 @@
 #include "cache.h"
 #include "refs.h"
 
+int starts_with(const char *str, const char *prefix)
+{
+	for (; ; str++, prefix++)
+		if (!*prefix)
+			return 1;
+		else if (*str != *prefix)
+			return 0;
+}
+
 int prefixcmp(const char *str, const char *prefix)
 {
 	for (; ; str++, prefix++)
@@ -10,6 +19,15 @@ int prefixcmp(const char *str, const char *prefix)
 			return (unsigned char)*prefix - (unsigned char)*str;
 }
 
+int ends_with(const char *str, const char *suffix)
+{
+	int len = strlen(str), suflen = strlen(suffix);
+	if (len < suflen)
+		return 0;
+	else
+		return !strcmp(str + len - suflen, suffix);
+}
+
 int suffixcmp(const char *str, const char *suffix)
 {
 	int len = strlen(str), suflen = strlen(suffix);
diff --git a/streaming.c b/streaming.c
index debe904523..9659f18be2 100644
--- a/streaming.c
+++ b/streaming.c
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ static enum input_source istream_source(const unsigned char *sha1,
 
 	oi->typep = type;
 	oi->sizep = &size;
-	status = sha1_object_info_extended(sha1, oi);
+	status = sha1_object_info_extended(sha1, oi, 0);
 	if (status < 0)
 		return stream_error;
 
diff --git a/submodule.c b/submodule.c
index 1905d75b2b..613857e400 100644
--- a/submodule.c
+++ b/submodule.c
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ void set_diffopt_flags_from_submodule_config(struct diff_options *diffopt,
 
 int submodule_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 {
-	if (!prefixcmp(var, "submodule."))
+	if (starts_with(var, "submodule."))
 		return parse_submodule_config_option(var, value);
 	else if (!strcmp(var, "fetch.recursesubmodules")) {
 		config_fetch_recurse_submodules = parse_fetch_recurse_submodules_arg(var, value);
diff --git a/t/perf/p4001-diff-no-index.sh b/t/perf/p4001-diff-no-index.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..683be6984f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/t/perf/p4001-diff-no-index.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+test_description="Test diff --no-index performance"
+
+. ./perf-lib.sh
+
+test_perf_large_repo
+test_checkout_worktree
+
+file1=$(git ls-files | tail -n 2 | head -1)
+file2=$(git ls-files | tail -n 1 | head -1)
+
+test_expect_success "empty files, so they take no time to diff" "
+	echo >$file1 &&
+	echo >$file2
+"
+
+test_perf "diff --no-index" "
+	git diff --no-index $file1 $file2 >/dev/null
+"
+
+test_done
diff --git a/t/t0002-gitfile.sh b/t/t0002-gitfile.sh
index cb144258cc..37e9396e5d 100755
--- a/t/t0002-gitfile.sh
+++ b/t/t0002-gitfile.sh
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ Verify that plumbing commands work when .git is a file
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
 objpath() {
-    echo "$1" | sed -e 's|\(..\)|\1/|'
+	echo "$1" | sed -e 's|\(..\)|\1/|'
 }
 
 objck() {
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ objck() {
 	fi
 }
 
-
 test_expect_success 'initial setup' '
 	REAL="$(pwd)/.real" &&
 	mv .git "$REAL"
diff --git a/t/t0003-attributes.sh b/t/t0003-attributes.sh
index 0b98b6f8d0..b9d79476e2 100755
--- a/t/t0003-attributes.sh
+++ b/t/t0003-attributes.sh
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ attr_check () {
 	test_line_count = 0 err
 }
 
-
 test_expect_success 'setup' '
 	mkdir -p a/b/d a/c b &&
 	(
diff --git a/t/t1006-cat-file.sh b/t/t1006-cat-file.sh
index 8a1bc5c532..1687098355 100755
--- a/t/t1006-cat-file.sh
+++ b/t/t1006-cat-file.sh
@@ -85,6 +85,28 @@ $content"
 		git cat-file --batch-check="%(objecttype) %(rest)" >actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
     '
+
+    test -z "$content" ||
+    test_expect_success "--batch without type ($type)" '
+	{
+		echo "$size" &&
+		maybe_remove_timestamp "$content" $no_ts
+	} >expect &&
+	echo $sha1 | git cat-file --batch="%(objectsize)" >actual.full &&
+	maybe_remove_timestamp "$(cat actual.full)" $no_ts >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+    '
+
+    test -z "$content" ||
+    test_expect_success "--batch without size ($type)" '
+	{
+		echo "$type" &&
+		maybe_remove_timestamp "$content" $no_ts
+	} >expect &&
+	echo $sha1 | git cat-file --batch="%(objecttype)" >actual.full &&
+	maybe_remove_timestamp "$(cat actual.full)" $no_ts >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+    '
 }
 
 hello_content="Hello World"
diff --git a/t/t1506-rev-parse-diagnosis.sh b/t/t1506-rev-parse-diagnosis.sh
index f950c10128..613d9bfe1b 100755
--- a/t/t1506-rev-parse-diagnosis.sh
+++ b/t/t1506-rev-parse-diagnosis.sh
@@ -196,4 +196,28 @@ test_expect_success 'dotdot is not an empty set' '
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'arg before dashdash must be a revision (missing)' '
+	test_must_fail git rev-parse foobar -- 2>stderr &&
+	test_i18ngrep "bad revision" stderr
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'arg before dashdash must be a revision (file)' '
+	>foobar &&
+	test_must_fail git rev-parse foobar -- 2>stderr &&
+	test_i18ngrep "bad revision" stderr
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'arg before dashdash must be a revision (ambiguous)' '
+	>foobar &&
+	git update-ref refs/heads/foobar HEAD &&
+	{
+		# we do not want to use rev-parse here, because
+		# we are testing it
+		cat .git/refs/heads/foobar &&
+		printf "%s\n" --
+	} >expect &&
+	git rev-parse foobar -- >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
 test_done
diff --git a/t/t3400-rebase.sh b/t/t3400-rebase.sh
index ebf93b0695..998503db12 100755
--- a/t/t3400-rebase.sh
+++ b/t/t3400-rebase.sh
@@ -134,12 +134,14 @@ test_expect_success 'fail when upstream arg is missing and not configured' '
 	test_must_fail git rebase
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'default to @{upstream} when upstream arg is missing' '
+test_expect_success 'default to common base in @{upstream}s reflog if no upstream arg' '
 	git checkout -b default topic &&
 	git config branch.default.remote . &&
 	git config branch.default.merge refs/heads/master &&
 	git rebase &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse default~1)" = "$(git rev-parse master)"
+	git rev-parse --verify master >expect &&
+	git rev-parse default~1 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'rebase -q is quiet' '
diff --git a/t/t4020-diff-external.sh b/t/t4020-diff-external.sh
index 8a309795c9..bcae35ac1c 100755
--- a/t/t4020-diff-external.sh
+++ b/t/t4020-diff-external.sh
@@ -193,6 +193,19 @@ test_expect_success 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF with more than one changed files' '
 	GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF=echo git diff
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF path counter/total' '
+	write_script external-diff.sh <<-\EOF &&
+	echo $GIT_DIFF_PATH_COUNTER of $GIT_DIFF_PATH_TOTAL >>counter.txt
+	EOF
+	>counter.txt &&
+	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
+	1 of 2
+	2 of 2
+	EOF
+	GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF=./external-diff.sh git diff &&
+	test_cmp expect counter.txt
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF generates pretty paths' '
 	touch file.ext &&
 	git add file.ext &&
diff --git a/t/t4053-diff-no-index.sh b/t/t4053-diff-no-index.sh
index 979e98398b..2ab3c48734 100755
--- a/t/t4053-diff-no-index.sh
+++ b/t/t4053-diff-no-index.sh
@@ -29,4 +29,30 @@ test_expect_success 'git diff --no-index relative path outside repo' '
 	)
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'git diff --no-index with broken index' '
+	(
+		cd repo &&
+		echo broken >.git/index &&
+		git diff --no-index a ../non/git/a
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'git diff outside repo with broken index' '
+	(
+		cd repo &&
+		git diff ../non/git/a ../non/git/b
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'git diff --no-index executed outside repo gives correct error message' '
+	(
+		GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES=$TRASH_DIRECTORY/non &&
+		export GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES &&
+		cd non/git &&
+		test_must_fail git diff --no-index a 2>actual.err &&
+		echo "usage: git diff --no-index <path> <path>" >expect.err &&
+		test_cmp expect.err actual.err
+	)
+'
+
 test_done
diff --git a/t/t5000-tar-tree.sh b/t/t5000-tar-tree.sh
index 11bf0b8bda..05f011d38e 100755
--- a/t/t5000-tar-tree.sh
+++ b/t/t5000-tar-tree.sh
@@ -25,8 +25,6 @@ commit id embedding:
 '
 
 . ./test-lib.sh
-GZIP=${GZIP:-gzip}
-GUNZIP=${GUNZIP:-gzip -d}
 
 SUBSTFORMAT=%H%n
 
@@ -39,6 +37,8 @@ test_lazy_prereq TAR_NEEDS_PAX_FALLBACK '
 	)
 '
 
+test_lazy_prereq GZIP 'gzip --version'
+
 get_pax_header() {
 	file=$1
 	header=$2=
@@ -265,12 +265,6 @@ test_expect_success 'only enabled filters are available remotely' '
 	test_cmp remote.bar config.bar
 '
 
-if $GZIP --version >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-	test_set_prereq GZIP
-else
-	say "Skipping some tar.gz tests because gzip not found"
-fi
-
 test_expect_success GZIP 'git archive --format=tgz' '
 	git archive --format=tgz HEAD >j.tgz
 '
@@ -290,14 +284,8 @@ test_expect_success GZIP 'infer tgz from .tar.gz filename' '
 	test_cmp j.tgz j3.tar.gz
 '
 
-if $GUNZIP --version >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-	test_set_prereq GUNZIP
-else
-	say "Skipping some tar.gz tests because gunzip was not found"
-fi
-
-test_expect_success GZIP,GUNZIP 'extract tgz file' '
-	$GUNZIP -c <j.tgz >j.tar &&
+test_expect_success GZIP 'extract tgz file' '
+	gzip -d -c <j.tgz >j.tar &&
 	test_cmp b.tar j.tar
 '
 
diff --git a/t/t5302-pack-index.sh b/t/t5302-pack-index.sh
index fe82025d4a..4bbb718751 100755
--- a/t/t5302-pack-index.sh
+++ b/t/t5302-pack-index.sh
@@ -174,11 +174,11 @@ test_expect_success \
 test_expect_success \
     '[index v1] 5) pack-objects happily reuses corrupted data' \
     'pack4=$(git pack-objects test-4 <obj-list) &&
-     test -f "test-4-${pack1}.pack"'
+     test -f "test-4-${pack4}.pack"'
 
 test_expect_success \
     '[index v1] 6) newly created pack is BAD !' \
-    'test_must_fail git verify-pack -v "test-4-${pack1}.pack"'
+    'test_must_fail git verify-pack -v "test-4-${pack4}.pack"'
 
 test_expect_success \
     '[index v2] 1) stream pack to repository' \
diff --git a/t/t5500-fetch-pack.sh b/t/t5500-fetch-pack.sh
index d87ddf73b7..5b2b1c2c13 100755
--- a/t/t5500-fetch-pack.sh
+++ b/t/t5500-fetch-pack.sh
@@ -531,5 +531,92 @@ test_expect_success 'shallow fetch with tags does not break the repository' '
 		git fsck
 	)
 '
+check_prot_path () {
+	cat >expected <<-EOF &&
+	Diag: url=$1
+	Diag: protocol=$2
+	Diag: path=$3
+	EOF
+	git fetch-pack --diag-url "$1" | grep -v hostandport= >actual &&
+	test_cmp expected actual
+}
+
+check_prot_host_path () {
+	cat >expected <<-EOF &&
+	Diag: url=$1
+	Diag: protocol=$2
+	Diag: hostandport=$3
+	Diag: path=$4
+	EOF
+	git fetch-pack --diag-url "$1" >actual &&
+	test_cmp expected actual
+}
+
+for r in repo re:po re/po
+do
+	# git or ssh with scheme
+	for p in "ssh+git" "git+ssh" git ssh
+	do
+		for h in host host:12 [::1] [::1]:23
+		do
+			case "$p" in
+			*ssh*)
+				pp=ssh
+				;;
+			*)
+				pp=$p
+			;;
+			esac
+			test_expect_success "fetch-pack --diag-url $p://$h/$r" '
+				check_prot_host_path $p://$h/$r $pp "$h" "/$r"
+			'
+			# "/~" -> "~" conversion
+			test_expect_success "fetch-pack --diag-url $p://$h/~$r" '
+				check_prot_host_path $p://$h/~$r $pp "$h" "~$r"
+			'
+		done
+	done
+	# file with scheme
+	for p in file
+	do
+		test_expect_success "fetch-pack --diag-url $p://$h/$r" '
+			check_prot_path $p://$h/$r $p "/$r"
+		'
+		# No "/~" -> "~" conversion for file
+		test_expect_success "fetch-pack --diag-url $p://$h/~$r" '
+			check_prot_path $p://$h/~$r $p "/~$r"
+		'
+	done
+	# file without scheme
+	for h in nohost nohost:12 [::1] [::1]:23 [ [:aa
+	do
+		test_expect_success "fetch-pack --diag-url ./$h:$r" '
+			check_prot_path ./$h:$r $p "./$h:$r"
+		'
+		# No "/~" -> "~" conversion for file
+		test_expect_success "fetch-pack --diag-url ./$p:$h/~$r" '
+		check_prot_path ./$p:$h/~$r $p "./$p:$h/~$r"
+		'
+	done
+	#ssh without scheme
+	p=ssh
+	for h in host [::1]
+	do
+		test_expect_success "fetch-pack --diag-url $h:$r" '
+			check_prot_path $h:$r $p "$r"
+		'
+		# Do "/~" -> "~" conversion
+		test_expect_success "fetch-pack --diag-url $h:/~$r" '
+			check_prot_host_path $h:/~$r $p "$h" "~$r"
+		'
+	done
+done
+
+test_expect_success MINGW 'fetch-pack --diag-url file://c:/repo' '
+	check_prot_path file://c:/repo file c:/repo
+'
+test_expect_success MINGW 'fetch-pack --diag-url c:repo' '
+	check_prot_path c:repo file c:repo
+'
 
 test_done
diff --git a/t/t5516-fetch-push.sh b/t/t5516-fetch-push.sh
index 99c32d7539..926e7f6b97 100755
--- a/t/t5516-fetch-push.sh
+++ b/t/t5516-fetch-push.sh
@@ -1126,6 +1126,81 @@ test_expect_success 'fetch follows tags by default' '
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'pushing a specific ref applies remote.$name.push as refmap' '
+	mk_test testrepo heads/master &&
+	rm -fr src dst &&
+	git init src &&
+	git init --bare dst &&
+	(
+		cd src &&
+		git pull ../testrepo master &&
+		git branch next &&
+		git config remote.dst.url ../dst &&
+		git config remote.dst.push "+refs/heads/*:refs/remotes/src/*" &&
+		git push dst master &&
+		git show-ref refs/heads/master |
+		sed -e "s|refs/heads/|refs/remotes/src/|" >../dst/expect
+	) &&
+	(
+		cd dst &&
+		test_must_fail git show-ref refs/heads/next &&
+		test_must_fail git show-ref refs/heads/master &&
+		git show-ref refs/remotes/src/master >actual
+	) &&
+	test_cmp dst/expect dst/actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'with no remote.$name.push, it is not used as refmap' '
+	mk_test testrepo heads/master &&
+	rm -fr src dst &&
+	git init src &&
+	git init --bare dst &&
+	(
+		cd src &&
+		git pull ../testrepo master &&
+		git branch next &&
+		git config remote.dst.url ../dst &&
+		git config push.default matching &&
+		git push dst master &&
+		git show-ref refs/heads/master >../dst/expect
+	) &&
+	(
+		cd dst &&
+		test_must_fail git show-ref refs/heads/next &&
+		git show-ref refs/heads/master >actual
+	) &&
+	test_cmp dst/expect dst/actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'with no remote.$name.push, upstream mapping is used' '
+	mk_test testrepo heads/master &&
+	rm -fr src dst &&
+	git init src &&
+	git init --bare dst &&
+	(
+		cd src &&
+		git pull ../testrepo master &&
+		git branch next &&
+		git config remote.dst.url ../dst &&
+		git config remote.dst.fetch "+refs/heads/*:refs/remotes/dst/*" &&
+		git config push.default upstream &&
+
+		git config branch.master.merge refs/heads/trunk &&
+		git config branch.master.remote dst &&
+
+		git push dst master &&
+		git show-ref refs/heads/master |
+		sed -e "s|refs/heads/master|refs/heads/trunk|" >../dst/expect
+	) &&
+	(
+		cd dst &&
+		test_must_fail git show-ref refs/heads/master &&
+		test_must_fail git show-ref refs/heads/next &&
+		git show-ref refs/heads/trunk >actual
+	) &&
+	test_cmp dst/expect dst/actual
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'push does not follow tags by default' '
 	mk_test testrepo heads/master &&
 	rm -fr src dst &&
diff --git a/t/t5601-clone.sh b/t/t5601-clone.sh
index 1d1c8755ea..62fbd7e664 100755
--- a/t/t5601-clone.sh
+++ b/t/t5601-clone.sh
@@ -280,25 +280,26 @@ test_expect_success 'clone checking out a tag' '
 	test_cmp fetch.expected fetch.actual
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'setup ssh wrapper' '
-	write_script "$TRASH_DIRECTORY/ssh-wrapper" <<-\EOF &&
-	echo >>"$TRASH_DIRECTORY/ssh-output" "ssh: $*" &&
-	# throw away all but the last argument, which should be the
-	# command
-	while test $# -gt 1; do shift; done
-	eval "$1"
-	EOF
-
-	GIT_SSH="$TRASH_DIRECTORY/ssh-wrapper" &&
-	export GIT_SSH &&
-	export TRASH_DIRECTORY
-'
-
-clear_ssh () {
-	>"$TRASH_DIRECTORY/ssh-output"
+setup_ssh_wrapper () {
+	test_expect_success 'setup ssh wrapper' '
+		write_script "$TRASH_DIRECTORY/ssh-wrapper" <<-\EOF &&
+		echo >>"$TRASH_DIRECTORY/ssh-output" "ssh: $*" &&
+		# throw away all but the last argument, which should be the
+		# command
+		while test $# -gt 1; do shift; done
+		eval "$1"
+		EOF
+		GIT_SSH="$TRASH_DIRECTORY/ssh-wrapper" &&
+		export GIT_SSH &&
+		export TRASH_DIRECTORY &&
+		>"$TRASH_DIRECTORY"/ssh-output
+	'
 }
 
 expect_ssh () {
+	test_when_finished '
+		(cd "$TRASH_DIRECTORY" && rm -f ssh-expect && >ssh-output)
+	' &&
 	{
 		case "$1" in
 		none)
@@ -310,25 +311,114 @@ expect_ssh () {
 	(cd "$TRASH_DIRECTORY" && test_cmp ssh-expect ssh-output)
 }
 
-test_expect_success 'cloning myhost:src uses ssh' '
-	clear_ssh &&
+setup_ssh_wrapper
+
+test_expect_success 'clone myhost:src uses ssh' '
 	git clone myhost:src ssh-clone &&
 	expect_ssh myhost src
 '
 
 test_expect_success NOT_MINGW,NOT_CYGWIN 'clone local path foo:bar' '
-	clear_ssh &&
 	cp -R src "foo:bar" &&
-	git clone "./foo:bar" foobar &&
+	git clone "foo:bar" foobar &&
 	expect_ssh none
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'bracketed hostnames are still ssh' '
-	clear_ssh &&
 	git clone "[myhost:123]:src" ssh-bracket-clone &&
 	expect_ssh myhost:123 src
 '
 
+counter=0
+# $1 url
+# $2 none|host
+# $3 path
+test_clone_url () {
+	counter=$(($counter + 1))
+	test_might_fail git clone "$1" tmp$counter &&
+	expect_ssh "$2" "$3"
+}
+
+test_expect_success NOT_MINGW 'clone c:temp is ssl' '
+	test_clone_url c:temp c temp
+'
+
+test_expect_success MINGW 'clone c:temp is dos drive' '
+	test_clone_url c:temp none
+'
+
+#ip v4
+for repo in rep rep/home/project 123
+do
+	test_expect_success "clone host:$repo" '
+		test_clone_url host:$repo host $repo
+	'
+done
+
+#ipv6
+for repo in rep rep/home/project 123
+do
+	test_expect_success "clone [::1]:$repo" '
+		test_clone_url [::1]:$repo ::1 $repo
+	'
+done
+#home directory
+test_expect_success "clone host:/~repo" '
+	test_clone_url host:/~repo host "~repo"
+'
+
+test_expect_success "clone [::1]:/~repo" '
+	test_clone_url [::1]:/~repo ::1 "~repo"
+'
+
+# Corner cases
+for url in foo/bar:baz [foo]bar/baz:qux [foo/bar]:baz
+do
+	test_expect_success "clone $url is not ssh" '
+		test_clone_url $url none
+	'
+done
+
+#with ssh:// scheme
+test_expect_success 'clone ssh://host.xz/home/user/repo' '
+	test_clone_url "ssh://host.xz/home/user/repo" host.xz "/home/user/repo"
+'
+
+# from home directory
+test_expect_success 'clone ssh://host.xz/~repo' '
+	test_clone_url "ssh://host.xz/~repo" host.xz "~repo"
+'
+
+# with port number
+test_expect_success 'clone ssh://host.xz:22/home/user/repo' '
+	test_clone_url "ssh://host.xz:22/home/user/repo" "-p 22 host.xz" "/home/user/repo"
+'
+
+# from home directory with port number
+test_expect_success 'clone ssh://host.xz:22/~repo' '
+	test_clone_url "ssh://host.xz:22/~repo" "-p 22 host.xz" "~repo"
+'
+
+#IPv6
+test_expect_success 'clone ssh://[::1]/home/user/repo' '
+	test_clone_url "ssh://[::1]/home/user/repo" "::1" "/home/user/repo"
+'
+
+#IPv6 from home directory
+test_expect_success 'clone ssh://[::1]/~repo' '
+	test_clone_url "ssh://[::1]/~repo" "::1" "~repo"
+'
+
+#IPv6 with port number
+test_expect_success 'clone ssh://[::1]:22/home/user/repo' '
+	test_clone_url "ssh://[::1]:22/home/user/repo" "-p 22 ::1" "/home/user/repo"
+'
+
+#IPv6 from home directory with port number
+test_expect_success 'clone ssh://[::1]:22/~repo' '
+	test_clone_url "ssh://[::1]:22/~repo" "-p 22 ::1" "~repo"
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'clone from a repository with two identical branches' '
 
 	(
diff --git a/t/t6050-replace.sh b/t/t6050-replace.sh
index 7d47984352..719a11673b 100755
--- a/t/t6050-replace.sh
+++ b/t/t6050-replace.sh
@@ -276,6 +276,48 @@ test_expect_success '-f option bypasses the type check' '
 	git replace -f HEAD^ $BLOB
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'git cat-file --batch works on replace objects' '
+	git replace | grep $PARA3 &&
+	echo $PARA3 | git cat-file --batch
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'test --format bogus' '
+	test_must_fail git replace --format bogus >/dev/null 2>&1
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'test --format short' '
+	git replace --format=short >actual &&
+	git replace >expected &&
+	test_cmp expected actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'test --format medium' '
+	H1=$(git --no-replace-objects rev-parse HEAD~1) &&
+	HT=$(git --no-replace-objects rev-parse HEAD^{tree}) &&
+	MYTAG=$(git --no-replace-objects rev-parse mytag) &&
+	{
+		echo "$H1 -> $BLOB" &&
+		echo "$BLOB -> $REPLACED" &&
+		echo "$HT -> $H1" &&
+		echo "$PARA3 -> $S" &&
+		echo "$MYTAG -> $HASH1"
+	} | sort >expected &&
+	git replace -l --format medium | sort > actual &&
+	test_cmp expected actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'test --format long' '
+	{
+		echo "$H1 (commit) -> $BLOB (blob)" &&
+		echo "$BLOB (blob) -> $REPLACED (blob)" &&
+		echo "$HT (tree) -> $H1 (commit)" &&
+		echo "$PARA3 (commit) -> $S (commit)" &&
+		echo "$MYTAG (tag) -> $HASH1 (commit)"
+	} | sort >expected &&
+	git replace --format=long | sort > actual &&
+	test_cmp expected actual
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'replace ref cleanup' '
 	test -n "$(git replace)" &&
 	git replace -d $(git replace) &&
diff --git a/t/t6132-pathspec-exclude.sh b/t/t6132-pathspec-exclude.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..62049be0c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/t/t6132-pathspec-exclude.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,184 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+test_description='test case exclude pathspec'
+
+. ./test-lib.sh
+
+test_expect_success 'setup' '
+	for p in file sub/file sub/sub/file sub/file2 sub/sub/sub/file sub2/file; do
+		if echo $p | grep /; then
+			mkdir -p `dirname $p`
+		fi &&
+		: >$p &&
+		git add $p &&
+		git commit -m $p
+	done &&
+	git log --oneline --format=%s >actual &&
+	cat <<EOF >expect &&
+sub2/file
+sub/sub/sub/file
+sub/file2
+sub/sub/file
+sub/file
+file
+EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'exclude only should error out' '
+	test_must_fail git log --oneline --format=%s -- ":(exclude)sub"
+'
+
+test_expect_success 't_e_i() exclude sub' '
+	git log --oneline --format=%s -- . ":(exclude)sub" >actual
+	cat <<EOF >expect &&
+sub2/file
+file
+EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 't_e_i() exclude sub/sub/file' '
+	git log --oneline --format=%s -- . ":(exclude)sub/sub/file" >actual
+	cat <<EOF >expect &&
+sub2/file
+sub/sub/sub/file
+sub/file2
+sub/file
+file
+EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 't_e_i() exclude sub using mnemonic' '
+	git log --oneline --format=%s -- . ":!sub" >actual
+	cat <<EOF >expect &&
+sub2/file
+file
+EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 't_e_i() exclude :(icase)SUB' '
+	git log --oneline --format=%s -- . ":(exclude,icase)SUB" >actual
+	cat <<EOF >expect &&
+sub2/file
+file
+EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 't_e_i() exclude sub2 from sub' '
+	(
+	cd sub &&
+	git log --oneline --format=%s -- :/ ":/!sub2" >actual
+	cat <<EOF >expect &&
+sub/sub/sub/file
+sub/file2
+sub/sub/file
+sub/file
+file
+EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 't_e_i() exclude sub/*file' '
+	git log --oneline --format=%s -- . ":(exclude)sub/*file" >actual
+	cat <<EOF >expect &&
+sub2/file
+sub/file2
+file
+EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 't_e_i() exclude :(glob)sub/*/file' '
+	git log --oneline --format=%s -- . ":(exclude,glob)sub/*/file" >actual
+	cat <<EOF >expect &&
+sub2/file
+sub/sub/sub/file
+sub/file2
+sub/file
+file
+EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'm_p_d() exclude sub' '
+	git ls-files -- . ":(exclude)sub" >actual
+	cat <<EOF >expect &&
+file
+sub2/file
+EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'm_p_d() exclude sub/sub/file' '
+	git ls-files -- . ":(exclude)sub/sub/file" >actual
+	cat <<EOF >expect &&
+file
+sub/file
+sub/file2
+sub/sub/sub/file
+sub2/file
+EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'm_p_d() exclude sub using mnemonic' '
+	git ls-files -- . ":!sub" >actual
+	cat <<EOF >expect &&
+file
+sub2/file
+EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'm_p_d() exclude :(icase)SUB' '
+	git ls-files -- . ":(exclude,icase)SUB" >actual
+	cat <<EOF >expect &&
+file
+sub2/file
+EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'm_p_d() exclude sub2 from sub' '
+	(
+	cd sub &&
+	git ls-files -- :/ ":/!sub2" >actual
+	cat <<EOF >expect &&
+../file
+file
+file2
+sub/file
+sub/sub/file
+EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'm_p_d() exclude sub/*file' '
+	git ls-files -- . ":(exclude)sub/*file" >actual
+	cat <<EOF >expect &&
+file
+sub/file2
+sub2/file
+EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'm_p_d() exclude :(glob)sub/*/file' '
+	git ls-files -- . ":(exclude,glob)sub/*/file" >actual
+	cat <<EOF >expect &&
+file
+sub/file
+sub/file2
+sub/sub/sub/file
+sub2/file
+EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_done
diff --git a/t/t7001-mv.sh b/t/t7001-mv.sh
index b90e985a48..3bfdfed1f7 100755
--- a/t/t7001-mv.sh
+++ b/t/t7001-mv.sh
@@ -70,6 +70,35 @@ test_expect_success \
 rm -f idontexist untracked1 untracked2 \
      path0/idontexist path0/untracked1 path0/untracked2 \
      .git/index.lock
+rmdir path1
+
+test_expect_success \
+    'moving to absent target with trailing slash' \
+    'test_must_fail git mv path0/COPYING no-such-dir/ &&
+     test_must_fail git mv path0/COPYING no-such-dir// &&
+     git mv path0/ no-such-dir/ &&
+     test_path_is_dir no-such-dir'
+
+test_expect_success \
+    'clean up' \
+    'git reset --hard'
+
+test_expect_success \
+    'moving to existing untracked target with trailing slash' \
+    'mkdir path1 &&
+     git mv path0/ path1/ &&
+     test_path_is_dir path1/path0/'
+
+test_expect_success \
+    'moving to existing tracked target with trailing slash' \
+    'mkdir path2 &&
+     >path2/file && git add path2/file &&
+     git mv path1/path0/ path2/ &&
+     test_path_is_dir path2/path0/'
+
+test_expect_success \
+    'clean up' \
+    'git reset --hard'
 
 test_expect_success \
     'adding another file' \
diff --git a/t/t7507-commit-verbose.sh b/t/t7507-commit-verbose.sh
index da5bd3b5a5..2ddf28c984 100755
--- a/t/t7507-commit-verbose.sh
+++ b/t/t7507-commit-verbose.sh
@@ -65,9 +65,35 @@ test_expect_success 'diff in message is retained without -v' '
 	check_message diff
 '
 
-test_expect_failure 'diff in message is retained with -v' '
+test_expect_success 'diff in message is retained with -v' '
 	git commit --amend -F diff -v &&
 	check_message diff
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'submodule log is stripped out too with -v' '
+	git config diff.submodule log &&
+	git submodule add ./. sub &&
+	git commit -m "sub added" &&
+	(
+		cd sub &&
+		echo "more" >>file &&
+		git commit -a -m "submodule commit"
+	) &&
+	(
+		GIT_EDITOR=cat &&
+		export GIT_EDITOR &&
+		test_must_fail git commit -a -v 2>err
+	) &&
+	test_i18ngrep "Aborting commit due to empty commit message." err
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'verbose diff is stripped out with set core.commentChar' '
+	(
+		GIT_EDITOR=cat &&
+		export GIT_EDITOR &&
+		test_must_fail git -c core.commentchar=";" commit -a -v 2>err
+	) &&
+	test_i18ngrep "Aborting commit due to empty commit message." err
+'
+
 test_done
diff --git a/tag.c b/tag.c
index 78d272b863..7b07921b30 100644
--- a/tag.c
+++ b/tag.c
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ int parse_tag_buffer(struct tag *item, const void *data, unsigned long size)
 		return -1;
 	bufptr += 48; /* "object " + sha1 + "\n" */
 
-	if (prefixcmp(bufptr, "type "))
+	if (!starts_with(bufptr, "type "))
 		return -1;
 	bufptr += 5;
 	nl = memchr(bufptr, '\n', tail - bufptr);
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ int parse_tag_buffer(struct tag *item, const void *data, unsigned long size)
 		item->tagged = NULL;
 	}
 
-	if (bufptr + 4 < tail && !prefixcmp(bufptr, "tag "))
+	if (bufptr + 4 < tail && starts_with(bufptr, "tag "))
 		; 		/* good */
 	else
 		return -1;
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ int parse_tag_buffer(struct tag *item, const void *data, unsigned long size)
 	item->tag = xmemdupz(bufptr, nl - bufptr);
 	bufptr = nl + 1;
 
-	if (bufptr + 7 < tail && !prefixcmp(bufptr, "tagger "))
+	if (bufptr + 7 < tail && starts_with(bufptr, "tagger "))
 		item->date = parse_tag_date(bufptr, tail);
 	else
 		item->date = 0;
@@ -160,8 +160,8 @@ size_t parse_signature(const char *buf, unsigned long size)
 {
 	char *eol;
 	size_t len = 0;
-	while (len < size && prefixcmp(buf + len, PGP_SIGNATURE) &&
-			prefixcmp(buf + len, PGP_MESSAGE)) {
+	while (len < size && !starts_with(buf + len, PGP_SIGNATURE) &&
+			!starts_with(buf + len, PGP_MESSAGE)) {
 		eol = memchr(buf + len, '\n', size - len);
 		len += eol ? eol - (buf + len) + 1 : size - len;
 	}
diff --git a/test-line-buffer.c b/test-line-buffer.c
index ef1d7bae14..1e58f0476f 100644
--- a/test-line-buffer.c
+++ b/test-line-buffer.c
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ static void handle_command(const char *command, const char *arg, struct line_buf
 {
 	switch (*command) {
 	case 'b':
-		if (!prefixcmp(command, "binary ")) {
+		if (starts_with(command, "binary ")) {
 			struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
 			strbuf_addch(&sb, '>');
 			buffer_read_binary(buf, &sb, strtouint32(arg));
@@ -28,12 +28,12 @@ static void handle_command(const char *command, const char *arg, struct line_buf
 			return;
 		}
 	case 'c':
-		if (!prefixcmp(command, "copy ")) {
+		if (starts_with(command, "copy ")) {
 			buffer_copy_bytes(buf, strtouint32(arg));
 			return;
 		}
 	case 's':
-		if (!prefixcmp(command, "skip ")) {
+		if (starts_with(command, "skip ")) {
 			buffer_skip_bytes(buf, strtouint32(arg));
 			return;
 		}
diff --git a/test-string-list.c b/test-string-list.c
index 00ce6c9a12..14bdf9d215 100644
--- a/test-string-list.c
+++ b/test-string-list.c
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ static void write_list_compact(const struct string_list *list)
 static int prefix_cb(struct string_list_item *item, void *cb_data)
 {
 	const char *prefix = (const char *)cb_data;
-	return !prefixcmp(item->string, prefix);
+	return starts_with(item->string, prefix);
 }
 
 int main(int argc, char **argv)
diff --git a/transport-helper.c b/transport-helper.c
index 673b7c214f..2010674bb4 100644
--- a/transport-helper.c
+++ b/transport-helper.c
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ static struct child_process *get_helper(struct transport *transport)
 			data->export = 1;
 		else if (!strcmp(capname, "check-connectivity"))
 			data->check_connectivity = 1;
-		else if (!data->refspecs && !prefixcmp(capname, "refspec ")) {
+		else if (!data->refspecs && starts_with(capname, "refspec ")) {
 			ALLOC_GROW(refspecs,
 				   refspec_nr + 1,
 				   refspec_alloc);
@@ -199,17 +199,17 @@ static struct child_process *get_helper(struct transport *transport)
 			data->connect = 1;
 		} else if (!strcmp(capname, "signed-tags")) {
 			data->signed_tags = 1;
-		} else if (!prefixcmp(capname, "export-marks ")) {
+		} else if (starts_with(capname, "export-marks ")) {
 			struct strbuf arg = STRBUF_INIT;
 			strbuf_addstr(&arg, "--export-marks=");
 			strbuf_addstr(&arg, capname + strlen("export-marks "));
 			data->export_marks = strbuf_detach(&arg, NULL);
-		} else if (!prefixcmp(capname, "import-marks")) {
+		} else if (starts_with(capname, "import-marks")) {
 			struct strbuf arg = STRBUF_INIT;
 			strbuf_addstr(&arg, "--import-marks=");
 			strbuf_addstr(&arg, capname + strlen("import-marks "));
 			data->import_marks = strbuf_detach(&arg, NULL);
-		} else if (!prefixcmp(capname, "no-private-update")) {
+		} else if (starts_with(capname, "no-private-update")) {
 			data->no_private_update = 1;
 		} else if (mandatory) {
 			die("Unknown mandatory capability %s. This remote "
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ static int set_helper_option(struct transport *transport,
 
 	if (!strcmp(buf.buf, "ok"))
 		ret = 0;
-	else if (!prefixcmp(buf.buf, "error")) {
+	else if (starts_with(buf.buf, "error")) {
 		ret = -1;
 	} else if (!strcmp(buf.buf, "unsupported"))
 		ret = 1;
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ static int fetch_with_fetch(struct transport *transport,
 	while (1) {
 		recvline(data, &buf);
 
-		if (!prefixcmp(buf.buf, "lock ")) {
+		if (starts_with(buf.buf, "lock ")) {
 			const char *name = buf.buf + 5;
 			if (transport->pack_lockfile)
 				warning("%s also locked %s", data->name, name);
@@ -646,10 +646,10 @@ static int push_update_ref_status(struct strbuf *buf,
 	char *refname, *msg;
 	int status;
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(buf->buf, "ok ")) {
+	if (starts_with(buf->buf, "ok ")) {
 		status = REF_STATUS_OK;
 		refname = buf->buf + 3;
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(buf->buf, "error ")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(buf->buf, "error ")) {
 		status = REF_STATUS_REMOTE_REJECT;
 		refname = buf->buf + 6;
 	} else
diff --git a/transport.c b/transport.c
index 7202b7777d..824c5b93f9 100644
--- a/transport.c
+++ b/transport.c
@@ -169,13 +169,13 @@ static void set_upstreams(struct transport *transport, struct ref *refs,
 		remotename = ref->name;
 		tmp = resolve_ref_unsafe(localname, sha, 1, &flag);
 		if (tmp && flag & REF_ISSYMREF &&
-			!prefixcmp(tmp, "refs/heads/"))
+			starts_with(tmp, "refs/heads/"))
 			localname = tmp;
 
 		/* Both source and destination must be local branches. */
-		if (!localname || prefixcmp(localname, "refs/heads/"))
+		if (!localname || !starts_with(localname, "refs/heads/"))
 			continue;
-		if (!remotename || prefixcmp(remotename, "refs/heads/"))
+		if (!remotename || !starts_with(remotename, "refs/heads/"))
 			continue;
 
 		if (!pretend)
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ static void set_upstreams(struct transport *transport, struct ref *refs,
 
 static const char *rsync_url(const char *url)
 {
-	return prefixcmp(url, "rsync://") ? skip_prefix(url, "rsync:") : url;
+	return !starts_with(url, "rsync://") ? skip_prefix(url, "rsync:") : url;
 }
 
 static struct ref *get_refs_via_rsync(struct transport *transport, int for_push)
@@ -296,8 +296,8 @@ static int write_one_ref(const char *name, const unsigned char *sha1,
 	FILE *f;
 
 	/* when called via for_each_ref(), flags is non-zero */
-	if (flags && prefixcmp(name, "refs/heads/") &&
-			prefixcmp(name, "refs/tags/"))
+	if (flags && !starts_with(name, "refs/heads/") &&
+			!starts_with(name, "refs/tags/"))
 		return 0;
 
 	strbuf_addstr(buf, name);
@@ -652,7 +652,7 @@ static void print_ok_ref_status(struct ref *ref, int porcelain)
 		print_ref_status('-', "[deleted]", ref, NULL, NULL, porcelain);
 	else if (is_null_sha1(ref->old_sha1))
 		print_ref_status('*',
-			(!prefixcmp(ref->name, "refs/tags/") ? "[new tag]" :
+			(starts_with(ref->name, "refs/tags/") ? "[new tag]" :
 			"[new branch]"),
 			ref, ref->peer_ref, NULL, porcelain);
 	else {
@@ -885,14 +885,6 @@ void transport_take_over(struct transport *transport,
 	transport->cannot_reuse = 1;
 }
 
-static int is_local(const char *url)
-{
-	const char *colon = strchr(url, ':');
-	const char *slash = strchr(url, '/');
-	return !colon || (slash && slash < colon) ||
-		has_dos_drive_prefix(url);
-}
-
 static int is_file(const char *url)
 {
 	struct stat buf;
@@ -930,18 +922,18 @@ struct transport *transport_get(struct remote *remote, const char *url)
 
 		while (is_urlschemechar(p == url, *p))
 			p++;
-		if (!prefixcmp(p, "::"))
+		if (starts_with(p, "::"))
 			helper = xstrndup(url, p - url);
 	}
 
 	if (helper) {
 		transport_helper_init(ret, helper);
-	} else if (!prefixcmp(url, "rsync:")) {
+	} else if (starts_with(url, "rsync:")) {
 		ret->get_refs_list = get_refs_via_rsync;
 		ret->fetch = fetch_objs_via_rsync;
 		ret->push = rsync_transport_push;
 		ret->smart_options = NULL;
-	} else if (is_local(url) && is_file(url) && is_bundle(url, 1)) {
+	} else if (url_is_local_not_ssh(url) && is_file(url) && is_bundle(url, 1)) {
 		struct bundle_transport_data *data = xcalloc(1, sizeof(*data));
 		ret->data = data;
 		ret->get_refs_list = get_refs_from_bundle;
@@ -949,11 +941,11 @@ struct transport *transport_get(struct remote *remote, const char *url)
 		ret->disconnect = close_bundle;
 		ret->smart_options = NULL;
 	} else if (!is_url(url)
-		|| !prefixcmp(url, "file://")
-		|| !prefixcmp(url, "git://")
-		|| !prefixcmp(url, "ssh://")
-		|| !prefixcmp(url, "git+ssh://")
-		|| !prefixcmp(url, "ssh+git://")) {
+		|| starts_with(url, "file://")
+		|| starts_with(url, "git://")
+		|| starts_with(url, "ssh://")
+		|| starts_with(url, "git+ssh://")
+		|| starts_with(url, "ssh+git://")) {
 		/* These are builtin smart transports. */
 		struct git_transport_data *data = xcalloc(1, sizeof(*data));
 		ret->data = data;
@@ -1297,7 +1289,7 @@ char *transport_anonymize_url(const char *url)
 	size_t anon_len, prefix_len = 0;
 
 	anon_part = strchr(url, '@');
-	if (is_local(url) || !anon_part)
+	if (url_is_local_not_ssh(url) || !anon_part)
 		goto literal_copy;
 
 	anon_len = strlen(++anon_part);
diff --git a/tree-walk.c b/tree-walk.c
index 5ece8c3477..680afda060 100644
--- a/tree-walk.c
+++ b/tree-walk.c
@@ -662,9 +662,10 @@ static int match_wildcard_base(const struct pathspec_item *item,
  * Pre-condition: either baselen == base_offset (i.e. empty path)
  * or base[baselen-1] == '/' (i.e. with trailing slash).
  */
-enum interesting tree_entry_interesting(const struct name_entry *entry,
-					struct strbuf *base, int base_offset,
-					const struct pathspec *ps)
+static enum interesting do_match(const struct name_entry *entry,
+				 struct strbuf *base, int base_offset,
+				 const struct pathspec *ps,
+				 int exclude)
 {
 	int i;
 	int pathlen, baselen = base->len - base_offset;
@@ -676,7 +677,8 @@ enum interesting tree_entry_interesting(const struct name_entry *entry,
 		       PATHSPEC_MAXDEPTH |
 		       PATHSPEC_LITERAL |
 		       PATHSPEC_GLOB |
-		       PATHSPEC_ICASE);
+		       PATHSPEC_ICASE |
+		       PATHSPEC_EXCLUDE);
 
 	if (!ps->nr) {
 		if (!ps->recursive ||
@@ -697,6 +699,10 @@ enum interesting tree_entry_interesting(const struct name_entry *entry,
 		const char *base_str = base->buf + base_offset;
 		int matchlen = item->len, matched = 0;
 
+		if ((!exclude &&   item->magic & PATHSPEC_EXCLUDE) ||
+		    ( exclude && !(item->magic & PATHSPEC_EXCLUDE)))
+			continue;
+
 		if (baselen >= matchlen) {
 			/* If it doesn't match, move along... */
 			if (!match_dir_prefix(item, base_str, match, matchlen))
@@ -782,3 +788,72 @@ enum interesting tree_entry_interesting(const struct name_entry *entry,
 	}
 	return never_interesting; /* No matches */
 }
+
+/*
+ * Is a tree entry interesting given the pathspec we have?
+ *
+ * Pre-condition: either baselen == base_offset (i.e. empty path)
+ * or base[baselen-1] == '/' (i.e. with trailing slash).
+ */
+enum interesting tree_entry_interesting(const struct name_entry *entry,
+					struct strbuf *base, int base_offset,
+					const struct pathspec *ps)
+{
+	enum interesting positive, negative;
+	positive = do_match(entry, base, base_offset, ps, 0);
+
+	/*
+	 * case | entry | positive | negative | result
+	 * -----+-------+----------+----------+-------
+	 *   1  |  file |   -1     |  -1..2   |  -1
+	 *   2  |  file |    0     |  -1..2   |   0
+	 *   3  |  file |    1     |   -1     |   1
+	 *   4  |  file |    1     |    0     |   1
+	 *   5  |  file |    1     |    1     |   0
+	 *   6  |  file |    1     |    2     |   0
+	 *   7  |  file |    2     |   -1     |   2
+	 *   8  |  file |    2     |    0     |   2
+	 *   9  |  file |    2     |    1     |   0
+	 *  10  |  file |    2     |    2     |  -1
+	 * -----+-------+----------+----------+-------
+	 *  11  |  dir  |   -1     |  -1..2   |  -1
+	 *  12  |  dir  |    0     |  -1..2   |   0
+	 *  13  |  dir  |    1     |   -1     |   1
+	 *  14  |  dir  |    1     |    0     |   1
+	 *  15  |  dir  |    1     |    1     |   1 (*)
+	 *  16  |  dir  |    1     |    2     |   0
+	 *  17  |  dir  |    2     |   -1     |   2
+	 *  18  |  dir  |    2     |    0     |   2
+	 *  19  |  dir  |    2     |    1     |   1 (*)
+	 *  20  |  dir  |    2     |    2     |  -1
+	 *
+	 * (*) An exclude pattern interested in a directory does not
+	 * necessarily mean it will exclude all of the directory. In
+	 * wildcard case, it can't decide until looking at individual
+	 * files inside. So don't write such directories off yet.
+	 */
+
+	if (!(ps->magic & PATHSPEC_EXCLUDE) ||
+	    positive <= entry_not_interesting) /* #1, #2, #11, #12 */
+		return positive;
+
+	negative = do_match(entry, base, base_offset, ps, 1);
+
+	/* #3, #4, #7, #8, #13, #14, #17, #18 */
+	if (negative <= entry_not_interesting)
+		return positive;
+
+	/* #15, #19 */
+	if (S_ISDIR(entry->mode) &&
+	    positive >= entry_interesting &&
+	    negative == entry_interesting)
+		return entry_interesting;
+
+	if ((positive == entry_interesting &&
+	     negative >= entry_interesting) || /* #5, #6, #16 */
+	    (positive == all_entries_interesting &&
+	     negative == entry_interesting)) /* #9 */
+		return entry_not_interesting;
+
+	return all_entries_not_interesting; /* #10, #20 */
+}
diff --git a/upload-pack.c b/upload-pack.c
index d30f339e70..ec56cdbce9 100644
--- a/upload-pack.c
+++ b/upload-pack.c
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ static int get_common_commits(void)
 			got_other = 0;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(line, "have ")) {
+		if (starts_with(line, "have ")) {
 			switch (got_sha1(line+5, sha1)) {
 			case -1: /* they have what we do not */
 				got_other = 1;
@@ -540,7 +540,7 @@ static void receive_needs(void)
 		if (!line)
 			break;
 
-		if (!prefixcmp(line, "shallow ")) {
+		if (starts_with(line, "shallow ")) {
 			unsigned char sha1[20];
 			struct object *object;
 			if (get_sha1_hex(line + 8, sha1))
@@ -556,14 +556,14 @@ static void receive_needs(void)
 			}
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(line, "deepen ")) {
+		if (starts_with(line, "deepen ")) {
 			char *end;
 			depth = strtol(line + 7, &end, 0);
 			if (end == line + 7 || depth <= 0)
 				die("Invalid deepen: %s", line);
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (prefixcmp(line, "want ") ||
+		if (!starts_with(line, "want ") ||
 		    get_sha1_hex(line+5, sha1_buf))
 			die("git upload-pack: protocol error, "
 			    "expected to get sha, not '%s'", line);
@@ -814,7 +814,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 			strict = 1;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--timeout=")) {
+		if (starts_with(arg, "--timeout=")) {
 			timeout = atoi(arg+10);
 			daemon_mode = 1;
 			continue;
diff --git a/vcs-svn/fast_export.c b/vcs-svn/fast_export.c
index f2b23c81de..bd0f2c2b86 100644
--- a/vcs-svn/fast_export.c
+++ b/vcs-svn/fast_export.c
@@ -162,22 +162,13 @@ static void die_short_read(struct line_buffer *input)
 	die("invalid dump: unexpected end of file");
 }
 
-static int ends_with(const char *s, size_t len, const char *suffix)
-{
-	const size_t suffixlen = strlen(suffix);
-	if (len < suffixlen)
-		return 0;
-	return !memcmp(s + len - suffixlen, suffix, suffixlen);
-}
-
 static int parse_cat_response_line(const char *header, off_t *len)
 {
-	size_t headerlen = strlen(header);
 	uintmax_t n;
 	const char *type;
 	const char *end;
 
-	if (ends_with(header, headerlen, " missing"))
+	if (ends_with(header, " missing"))
 		return error("cat-blob reports missing blob: %s", header);
 	type = strstr(header, " blob ");
 	if (!type)
diff --git a/wt-status.c b/wt-status.c
index 4625cdb900..4e55810059 100644
--- a/wt-status.c
+++ b/wt-status.c
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@
 #include "strbuf.h"
 #include "utf8.h"
 
+static char cut_line[] =
+"------------------------ >8 ------------------------\n";
+
 static char default_wt_status_colors[][COLOR_MAXLEN] = {
 	GIT_COLOR_NORMAL, /* WT_STATUS_HEADER */
 	GIT_COLOR_GREEN,  /* WT_STATUS_UPDATED */
@@ -793,6 +796,18 @@ static void wt_status_print_other(struct wt_status *s,
 	status_printf_ln(s, GIT_COLOR_NORMAL, "");
 }
 
+void wt_status_truncate_message_at_cut_line(struct strbuf *buf)
+{
+	const char *p;
+	struct strbuf pattern = STRBUF_INIT;
+
+	strbuf_addf(&pattern, "%c %s", comment_line_char, cut_line);
+	p = strstr(buf->buf, pattern.buf);
+	if (p && (p == buf->buf || p[-1] == '\n'))
+		strbuf_setlen(buf, p - buf->buf);
+	strbuf_release(&pattern);
+}
+
 static void wt_status_print_verbose(struct wt_status *s)
 {
 	struct rev_info rev;
@@ -813,10 +828,20 @@ static void wt_status_print_verbose(struct wt_status *s)
 	 * If we're not going to stdout, then we definitely don't
 	 * want color, since we are going to the commit message
 	 * file (and even the "auto" setting won't work, since it
-	 * will have checked isatty on stdout).
+	 * will have checked isatty on stdout). But we then do want
+	 * to insert the scissor line here to reliably remove the
+	 * diff before committing.
 	 */
-	if (s->fp != stdout)
+	if (s->fp != stdout) {
+		const char *explanation = _("Do not touch the line above.\nEverything below will be removed.");
+		struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
+
 		rev.diffopt.use_color = 0;
+		fprintf(s->fp, "%c %s", comment_line_char, cut_line);
+		strbuf_add_commented_lines(&buf, explanation, strlen(explanation));
+		fputs(buf.buf, s->fp);
+		strbuf_release(&buf);
+	}
 	run_diff_index(&rev, 1);
 }
 
@@ -829,7 +854,7 @@ static void wt_status_print_tracking(struct wt_status *s)
 	int i;
 
 	assert(s->branch && !s->is_initial);
-	if (prefixcmp(s->branch, "refs/heads/"))
+	if (!starts_with(s->branch, "refs/heads/"))
 		return;
 	branch = branch_get(s->branch + 11);
 	if (!format_tracking_info(branch, &sb))
@@ -1088,9 +1113,9 @@ static char *read_and_strip_branch(const char *path)
 		strbuf_setlen(&sb, sb.len - 1);
 	if (!sb.len)
 		goto got_nothing;
-	if (!prefixcmp(sb.buf, "refs/heads/"))
+	if (starts_with(sb.buf, "refs/heads/"))
 		strbuf_remove(&sb,0, strlen("refs/heads/"));
-	else if (!prefixcmp(sb.buf, "refs/"))
+	else if (starts_with(sb.buf, "refs/"))
 		;
 	else if (!get_sha1_hex(sb.buf, sha1)) {
 		const char *abbrev;
@@ -1120,7 +1145,7 @@ static int grab_1st_switch(unsigned char *osha1, unsigned char *nsha1,
 	struct grab_1st_switch_cbdata *cb = cb_data;
 	const char *target = NULL, *end;
 
-	if (prefixcmp(message, "checkout: moving from "))
+	if (!starts_with(message, "checkout: moving from "))
 		return 0;
 	message += strlen("checkout: moving from ");
 	target = strstr(message, " to ");
@@ -1155,9 +1180,9 @@ static void wt_status_get_detached_from(struct wt_status_state *state)
 	     ((commit = lookup_commit_reference_gently(sha1, 1)) != NULL &&
 	      !hashcmp(cb.nsha1, commit->object.sha1)))) {
 		int ofs;
-		if (!prefixcmp(ref, "refs/tags/"))
+		if (starts_with(ref, "refs/tags/"))
 			ofs = strlen("refs/tags/");
-		else if (!prefixcmp(ref, "refs/remotes/"))
+		else if (starts_with(ref, "refs/remotes/"))
 			ofs = strlen("refs/remotes/");
 		else
 			ofs = 0;
@@ -1246,7 +1271,7 @@ void wt_status_print(struct wt_status *s)
 	if (s->branch) {
 		const char *on_what = _("On branch ");
 		const char *branch_name = s->branch;
-		if (!prefixcmp(branch_name, "refs/heads/"))
+		if (starts_with(branch_name, "refs/heads/"))
 			branch_name += 11;
 		else if (!strcmp(branch_name, "HEAD")) {
 			branch_status_color = color(WT_STATUS_NOBRANCH, s);
@@ -1447,7 +1472,7 @@ static void wt_shortstatus_print_tracking(struct wt_status *s)
 		return;
 	branch_name = s->branch;
 
-	if (!prefixcmp(branch_name, "refs/heads/"))
+	if (starts_with(branch_name, "refs/heads/"))
 		branch_name += 11;
 	else if (!strcmp(branch_name, "HEAD")) {
 		branch_name = _("HEAD (no branch)");
diff --git a/wt-status.h b/wt-status.h
index 6c29e6f5e5..30a4812583 100644
--- a/wt-status.h
+++ b/wt-status.h
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ struct wt_status_state {
 	unsigned char cherry_pick_head_sha1[20];
 };
 
+void wt_status_truncate_message_at_cut_line(struct strbuf *);
 void wt_status_prepare(struct wt_status *s);
 void wt_status_print(struct wt_status *s);
 void wt_status_collect(struct wt_status *s);