Why does "git difftool" not open the tool directly?

Question

I configured git like this:

git config --global diff.tool meld

When I run:

git difftool

I get the following message:

Viewing: 'hello.txt'
Hit return to launch 'meld':

Then, if I press Enter, meld will launch.

How can I disable this message, so that meld will be launched straight away after typing git difftool?

See also: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1220309/git-difftool-open-all-diff-files-immediately-not-in-serial — Mechanical snail, Dec 13 '12 at 02:57
I think also valid question is: why by default additional approval is needed? — Radek Postołowicz, Sep 04 '15 at 13:09
Сonfirmation can be useful when difftool runs a new window for each file (like vscode), then You can decide for each file, should it be opened or not. — Daniil Palii, Sep 10 '20 at 11:40

ZJR · Answer 1 · 2020-06-24T13:55:05.700

395

There's also an option:

difftool.prompt
  Prompt before each invocation of the diff tool.

The following command turns off the prompt globally (for all repos):

git config --global difftool.prompt false

Which is like writing in ~/.gitconfig:
(or in %HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH%\.gitconfig)

[difftool]
  prompt = false

edited Jun 24 '20 at 13:55

answered Mar 16 '12 at 15:36

ZJR

18

This is the proper solution. The answer flagged a solution, does not save any key presses. Thanks a lot. – sweisgerber.dev Jun 06 '14 at 10:17
2

@sebweisgerber I just paraphrased the marked answer and discovered how to make it permanent, though. I wouldn't have probably found the option otherwise. – ZJR Sep 17 '14 at 22:18
1

This is a better answer because it will handle the case as the default action, which will allow the question writer to continue using git-difftool as they want. – Neil Monroe Oct 19 '15 at 18:56
1

Actually the `--add` option is misplaced here. It means to add the setting "prompt=false" to whatever entries of "promt" are there already, whereas the goal is to replace the current value or add it in the first place. This behaviour is achieved without `--add`. – user905686 Aug 11 '16 at 18:30
23

Make sure you don't put `propmt = false` under [difftool "toolname"]` section by accident. It doesn't work. It should be under `[difftool]` section. – Fosna Jul 14 '17 at 08:42
Don't set `difftool.prompt false` without also setting `diff.tool vimdiff` (or whatever you prefer). Some day you will copy your config to a new system and you are going to get launched into a strange env. Might as well do your future self a favor and take care of everything at once. – Bruno Bronosky Nov 12 '18 at 19:35
Thank you @Fosna – m1m1k Jun 20 '20 at 16:56

score 64 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 26 '11 at 03:24

64

man git-difftool

OPTIONS
   -y, --no-prompt
       Do not prompt before launching a diff tool.

answered Oct 26 '11 at 03:24

Bill Door

22

The answer by @ZJR seems to be most people's preferred answer (including me). – Jono Apr 03 '14 at 22:24
1

Ref to ZJR's answer (in case of user name change): https://stackoverflow.com/questions/7897517/why-does-git-difftool-not-open-the-tool-directly/9740221#9740221 – Peter Mortensen Jul 20 '18 at 23:00
better answer below. – m1m1k Jun 20 '20 at 16:57
@m1m1k Better comment above :-) – Duncan Jones Jul 21 '20 at 08:03

2 Answers2