do I need to clone a repository in order to create and change issues?

[ouboub]

Hi

I am just starting to use forge and I like very much the possiblity to generate, reply etc issues in a given repository, especially using markdown.

But it seems to be that I have to clone first the repository in question (which might be cumbersome if the repository is large)
is my understanding correct or do I miss here something?

regards

Uwe Brauer

[tarsius]

The current Git repository is used by default when adding a repository to Forge, but you are given the option to add another repository, and you are free to add a repository that hasn't been cloned locally.
Look out for ` o Add another repository'.

Support for this is a fairly recent addition, and it is likely that some commands will fail when run outside a Git repository. In fact, I just fixed a few such issues in v0.4.3, so make sure you have that.

In a later step you are also given the option to not fetch all topics for the chosen repository, which should help with:

(which might be cumbersome if the repository is large)

[ouboub]

I have a fundamental gap in my understanding. In order to avoid clone or pull repositories but still access the corresponding issues, I did

• in an empty directory: git init
• then from within emacs (forge-add-some-repository "https://github.com/magit/forge.git")
• now (forge-list-repositories) shows me

magit                forge                *   
mathworks            Emacs-MATLAB-Mode    *   /home/oub/ALLES/emacs/site-lisp/packages/src/Matlab/Github/HTTPS/Emacs-MATLAB-Mode/
ouboub               matlab-simple        *   /home/oub/tmp2/matlab-simple/

• So I can list the issues of Emacs-MATLAB-Mode and matlab-simple (but these I cloned) while I cannot do anything with the forge repository, which of course I did not clone.

So the question is how to access, read/write the forge repository without cloning it (I will clone it at some point of course, but this is an example to see how to access the issues of a repository without cloning it.

I installed forge via the package system. Does this version include the feature you mentioned, or not?

BTW, I also clone forge, and tried to access its issues, it works as expected, but the discussions (such as this) I cannot access, via forge, is this correct?

[tarsius]

You seem to be under the impression that you need a "fake" local repository for this to work. That's not the case, you can skip the git init.

So I can list the issues of Emacs-MATLAB-Mode and matlab-simple (but these I cloned) while I cannot do anything with the forge repository, which of course I did not clone.

Did you actually try pressing RET on forge's line? That should work.

the discussions (such as this) I cannot access, via forge, is this correct?

Yes, that isn't implemented yet.

[ouboub]

You seem to be under the impression that you need a "fake" local repository for this to work. That's not the case, you can skip the git init.

So I can list the issues of Emacs-MATLAB-Mode and matlab-simple (but these I cloned) while I cannot do anything with the forge repository, which of course I did not clone.

Did you actually try pressing RET on forge's line? That should work.

no that gives an error. I attach the backtrace, and if you prefer I open an issue:

Debugger entered--Lisp error: (wrong-type-argument (or eieio-object cl-structure-object oclosure) nil)
  apply(debug (error (wrong-type-argument (or eieio-object cl-structure-object oclosure) nil)))
  transient--exit-and-debug(error (wrong-type-argument (or eieio-object cl-structure-object oclosure) nil))
  signal(wrong-type-argument ((or eieio-object cl-structure-object oclosure) nil))
  #f(compiled-function (obj slot) "Return the value in OBJ at SLOT in the object vector." #<bytecode 0x1db3719d354e82e5>)(nil type)
  eieio-oref@closql-object(#f(compiled-function (obj slot) "Return the value in OBJ at SLOT in the object vector." #<bytecode 0x1db3719d354e82e5>) nil type)
  apply(eieio-oref@closql-object #f(compiled-function (obj slot) "Return the value in OBJ at SLOT in the object vector." #<bytecode 0x1db3719d354e82e5>) (nil type))
  eieio-oref(nil type)
  (oref forge--buffer-topics-spec type)
  (eq (oref forge--buffer-topics-spec type) (oref (transient-suffix-object) type))
  (closure (t) nil (eq (oref forge--buffer-topics-spec type) (oref (transient-suffix-object) type)))()
  transient--do-suffix-p((closure (t) nil (eq (oref forge--buffer-topics-spec type) (oref (transient-suffix-object) type))) nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil)
  transient--inapt-suffix-p(#<forge--topics-filter-type-command forge--topics-filter-type-command-1847ecc87102>)
  transient--init-suffix(nil (1 transient-suffix (:key "t t" :command forge-topics-all-types)) #<transient-column transient-column-1847ecd8d70c>)
  transient--init-child(nil (1 transient-suffix (:key "t t" :command forge-topics-all-types)) #<transient-column transient-column-1847ecd8d70c>)
  #f(compiled-function (c) #<bytecode 0x1eded547ad812c82>)((1 transient-suffix (:key "t t" :command forge-topics-all-types)))
  mapcan(#f(compiled-function (c) #<bytecode 0x1eded547ad812c82>) ((1 transient-suffix (:key "t t" :command forge-topics-all-types)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "t i" :command forge-topics-filter-issues)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "t p" :command forge-topics-filter-pullreqs))))
  cl-mapcan(#f(compiled-function (c) #<bytecode 0x1eded547ad812c82>) ((1 transient-suffix (:key "t t" :command forge-topics-all-types)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "t i" :command forge-topics-filter-issues)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "t p" :command forge-topics-filter-pullreqs))))
  transient--init-group(nil [1 transient-column (:description "Type") ((1 transient-suffix (:key "t t" :command forge-topics-all-types)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "t i" :command forge-topics-filter-issues)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "t p" :command forge-topics-filter-pullreqs)))] #<transient-columns transient-columns-1847ecd747be>)
  transient--init-child(nil [1 transient-column (:description "Type") ((1 transient-suffix (:key "t t" :command forge-topics-all-types)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "t i" :command forge-topics-filter-issues)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "t p" :command forge-topics-filter-pullreqs)))] #<transient-columns transient-columns-1847ecd747be>)
  #f(compiled-function (c) #<bytecode 0x1edf2d87ad812c82>)([1 transient-column (:description "Type") ((1 transient-suffix (:key "t t" :command forge-topics-all-types)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "t i" :command forge-topics-filter-issues)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "t p" :command forge-topics-filter-pullreqs)))])
  mapcan(#f(compiled-function (c) #<bytecode 0x1edf2d87ad812c82>) ([1 transient-column (:description "Menu") ((1 transient-suffix (:key "m s" :description "edit" :command forge-topic-menu)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "m f" :description "filter" :command forge-topics-menu)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "m f" :description "filter" :command forge-notifications-menu)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "m f" :description "filter" :command forge-repositories-menu)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "m d" :description "dispatch" :command forge-dispatch)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "m c" :description "configure" :command forge-configure)) "")] [1 transient-column (:description "State") ((1 transient-suffix (:key "a" :command forge-topics-filter-active)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "o" :command forge-topics-filter-state-open)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "c" :command forge-topics-filter-state-completed)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "x" :command forge-topics-filter-state-unplanned)))] [1 transient-column (:description "Status") ((1 transient-suffix (:key "i" :command forge-topics-filter-status-inbox)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "u" :command forge-topics-filter-status-unread)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "p" :command forge-topics-filter-status-pending)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "d" :command forge-topics-filter-status-done)))] [1 transient-column (:description "Type") ((1 transient-suffix (:key "t t" :command forge-topics-all-types)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "t i" :command forge-topics-filter-issues)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "t p" :command forge-topics-filter-pullreqs)))]))
  cl-mapcan(#f(compiled-function (c) #<bytecode 0x1edf2d87ad812c82>) ([1 transient-column (:description "Menu") ((1 transient-suffix (:key "m s" :description "edit" :command forge-topic-menu)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "m f" :description "filter" :command forge-topics-menu)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "m f" :description "filter" :command forge-notifications-menu)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "m f" :description "filter" :command forge-repositories-menu)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "m d" :description "dispatch" :command forge-dispatch)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "m c" :description "configure" :command forge-configure)) "")] [1 transient-column (:description "State") ((1 transient-suffix (:key "a" :command forge-topics-filter-active)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "o" :command forge-topics-filter-state-open)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "c" :command forge-topics-filter-state-completed)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "x" :command forge-topics-filter-state-unplanned)))] [1 transient-column (:description "Status") ((1 transient-suffix (:key "i" :command forge-topics-filter-status-inbox)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "u" :command forge-topics-filter-status-unread)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "p" :command forge-topics-filter-status-pending)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "d" :command forge-topics-filter-status-done)))] [1 transient-column (:description "Type") ((1 transient-suffix (:key "t t" :command forge-topics-all-types)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "t i" :command forge-topics-filter-issues)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "t p" :command forge-topics-filter-pullreqs)))]))
  transient--init-group(nil [1 transient-columns nil ([1 transient-column (:description "Menu") ((1 transient-suffix (:key "m s" :description "edit" :command forge-topic-menu)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "m f" :description "filter" :command forge-topics-menu)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "m f" :description "filter" :command forge-notifications-menu)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "m f" :description "filter" :command forge-repositories-menu)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "m d" :description "dispatch" :command forge-dispatch)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "m c" :description "configure" :command forge-configure)) "")] [1 transient-column (:description "State") ((1 transient-suffix (:key "a" :command forge-topics-filter-active)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "o" :command forge-topics-filter-state-open)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "c" :command forge-topics-filter-state-completed)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "x" :command forge-topics-filter-state-unplanned)))] [1 transient-column (:description "Status") ((1 transient-suffix (:key "i" :command forge-topics-filter-status-inbox)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "u" :command forge-topics-filter-status-unread)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "p" :command forge-topics-filter-status-pending)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "d" :command forge-topics-filter-status-done)))] [1 transient-column (:description "Type") ((1 transient-suffix (:key "t t" :command forge-topics-all-types)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "t i" :command forge-topics-filter-issues)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "t p" :command forge-topics-filter-pullreqs)))])] nil)
  transient--init-child(nil [1 transient-columns nil ([1 transient-column (:description "Menu") ((1 transient-suffix (:key "m s" :description "edit" :command forge-topic-menu)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "m f" :description "filter" :command forge-topics-menu)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "m f" :description "filter" :command forge-notifications-menu)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "m f" :description "filter" :command forge-repositories-menu)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "m d" :description "dispatch" :command forge-dispatch)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "m c" :description "configure" :command forge-configure)) "")] [1 transient-column (:description "State") ((1 transient-suffix (:key "a" :command forge-topics-filter-active)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "o" :command forge-topics-filter-state-open)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "c" :command forge-topics-filter-state-completed)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "x" :command forge-topics-filter-state-unplanned)))] [1 transient-column (:description "Status") ((1 transient-suffix (:key "i" :command forge-topics-filter-status-inbox)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "u" :command forge-topics-filter-status-unread)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "p" :command forge-topics-filter-status-pending)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "d" :command forge-topics-filter-status-done)))] [1 transient-column (:description "Type") ((1 transient-suffix (:key "t t" :command forge-topics-all-types)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "t i" :command forge-topics-filter-issues)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "t p" :command forge-topics-filter-pullreqs)))])] nil)
  #f(compiled-function (c) #<bytecode -0x142f447a9f68e59a>)([1 transient-columns nil ([1 transient-column (:description "Menu") ((1 transient-suffix (:key "m s" :description "edit" :command forge-topic-menu)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "m f" :description "filter" :command forge-topics-menu)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "m f" :description "filter" :command forge-notifications-menu)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "m f" :description "filter" :command forge-repositories-menu)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "m d" :description "dispatch" :command forge-dispatch)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "m c" :description "configure" :command forge-configure)) "")] [1 transient-column (:description "State") ((1 transient-suffix (:key "a" :command forge-topics-filter-active)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "o" :command forge-topics-filter-state-open)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "c" :command forge-topics-filter-state-completed)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "x" :command forge-topics-filter-state-unplanned)))] [1 transient-column (:description "Status") ((1 transient-suffix (:key "i" :command forge-topics-filter-status-inbox)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "u" :command forge-topics-filter-status-unread)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "p" :command forge-topics-filter-status-pending)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "d" :command forge-topics-filter-status-done)))] [1 transient-column (:description "Type") ((1 transient-suffix (:key "t t" :command forge-topics-all-types)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "t i" :command forge-topics-filter-issues)) (1 transient-suffix (:key "t p" :command forge-topics-filter-pullreqs)))])])
  mapcan(#f(compiled-function (c) #<bytecode -0x142f447a9f68e59a>) ([1 transient-column (:hide always) ((1 transient-suffix (:key "q" :command forge-menu-quit-list)))] [1 transient-columns nil ([1 transient-column (:description "Menu") ((1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) "")] [1 transient-column (:description "State") ((1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...))] [1 transient-column (:description "Status") ((1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...))] [1 transient-column (:description "Type") ((1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...))])] [1 transient-columns nil ([1 transient-column (:description "List") ((1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) "")] [1 transient-column (:description "Filter                                      ") ((1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...))] [1 transient-column (:description "Display") ((1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...))])] [1 transient-columns nil ([1 transient-column (:description "Legend" :if-non-nil forge--show-topic-legend) ((1 transient-information* ...) (1 transient-information* ...) (1 transient-information* ...))] [1 transient-column (:description "" :if-non-nil forge--show-topic-legend) ((1 transient-information* ...) (1 transient-information* ...) (1 transient-information* ...))] [1 transient-column (:description "" :if-non-nil forge--show-topic-legend) ((1 transient-information* ...) (1 transient-information* ...) (1 transient-information* ...))])] [1 transient-columns (:hide #f(compiled-function () #<bytecode 0x173d65bec481860a>)) ([1 transient-column (:description "Value commands") ((1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...))] [1 transient-column (:description "Sticky commands") ((1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...))] [1 transient-column (:description "Customize") ((1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...))])]))
  cl-mapcan(#f(compiled-function (c) #<bytecode -0x142f447a9f68e59a>) ([1 transient-column (:hide always) ((1 transient-suffix (:key "q" :command forge-menu-quit-list)))] [1 transient-columns nil ([1 transient-column (:description "Menu") ((1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) "")] [1 transient-column (:description "State") ((1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...))] [1 transient-column (:description "Status") ((1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...))] [1 transient-column (:description "Type") ((1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...))])] [1 transient-columns nil ([1 transient-column (:description "List") ((1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) "")] [1 transient-column (:description "Filter                                      ") ((1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...))] [1 transient-column (:description "Display") ((1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...))])] [1 transient-columns nil ([1 transient-column (:description "Legend" :if-non-nil forge--show-topic-legend) ((1 transient-information* ...) (1 transient-information* ...) (1 transient-information* ...))] [1 transient-column (:description "" :if-non-nil forge--show-topic-legend) ((1 transient-information* ...) (1 transient-information* ...) (1 transient-information* ...))] [1 transient-column (:description "" :if-non-nil forge--show-topic-legend) ((1 transient-information* ...) (1 transient-information* ...) (1 transient-information* ...))])] [1 transient-columns (:hide #f(compiled-function () #<bytecode 0x173d65bec481860a>)) ([1 transient-column (:description "Value commands") ((1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...))] [1 transient-column (:description "Sticky commands") ((1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...))] [1 transient-column (:description "Customize") ((1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...) (1 transient-suffix ...))])]))
  transient--init-suffixes(forge-topics-menu)
  transient--init-objects(forge-topics-menu nil nil)
  transient-setup(forge-topics-menu)
  #f(compiled-function () (interactive nil) #<bytecode -0x1b5d85def3396f67>)()
  apply(#f(compiled-function () (interactive nil) #<bytecode -0x1b5d85def3396f67>) nil)
  #f(compiled-function (fn &rest args) #<bytecode 0x56b88a2a9e648f7>)(#f(compiled-function () (interactive nil) #<bytecode -0x1b5d85def3396f67>))
  apply(#f(compiled-function (fn &rest args) #<bytecode 0x56b88a2a9e648f7>) #f(compiled-function () (interactive nil) #<bytecode -0x1b5d85def3396f67>) nil)
  (lambda (fn &rest args) (interactive #f(compiled-function (spec) #<bytecode -0x14fd0872360e6038>)) (apply '#f(compiled-function (fn &rest args) #<bytecode 0x56b88a2a9e648f7>) fn args))(#f(compiled-function () (interactive nil) #<bytecode -0x1b5d85def3396f67>))
  apply((lambda (fn &rest args) (interactive #f(compiled-function (spec) #<bytecode -0x14fd0872360e6038>)) (apply '#f(compiled-function (fn &rest args) #<bytecode 0x56b88a2a9e648f7>) fn args)) #f(compiled-function () (interactive nil) #<bytecode -0x1b5d85def3396f67>) nil)
  forge-visit-this-repository()
  funcall-interactively(forge-visit-this-repository)
  call-interactively(forge-visit-this-repository nil nil)
  command-execute(forge-visit-this-repository)

the discussions (such as this) I cannot access, via forge, is this correct?

Yes, that isn't implemented yet.

[ouboub]

Now this is odd after, restarting emacs and repeating the steps, I cannot reproduce this error. hm strange

[tarsius]

Now this is odd after, restarting emacs and repeating the steps, I cannot reproduce this error. hm strange

After updating packages, you have to restart emacs. Otherwise package that you already load before updating them, remain at the already loaded version (or worse you get a mixture of the two versions).
As a general rule of thumb; if something doesn't work, always restart. It might just do the trick.