git log/show etc. replaces the terminal screen

Question

I recently started to use zsh (oh-my-zsh, without customizations) on iTerm2. But, I'm having a trouble in git log or git show.

Previously, for example, the git log results were just a part of the terminal, just like ls -l result. After quitting git log by pressing q key, the result was remained in the terminal screen. I was able to pick some hash id easily.

However, the current problem is that git log (or git show) results replace the screen. So, after quitting git log, the terminal completely removes all git results and returns to the original screen. This behavior is like vim.

This behavior is the same even with bash or Mac's default terminal app. This is not a problem of --no-pager.

Any helps would be appreciated.

Do you have `PAGER` set to anything? `PAGER=/bin/cat` or `PAGER=/usr/bin/less` seem like sane options. Default in my environment is to operator like `/usr/bin/less`, when the value is not set. — Jameson, Nov 08 '15 at 08:23
sounds like a `less` issue discussed here: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/6977781/xterm-keep-page-from-less-in-terminal-after-exit — max630, Nov 08 '15 at 12:43

score 58 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 08 '15 at 08:57

58

Can you try with:

git config --global --replace-all core.pager "less -F -X"

From "How do I prevent git diff from using a pager?":

passing the -F option to less causes it to quit if the content is less than one screen, however after doing so the screen is reset and you end up not seeing the content, the -X option does away with that behaviour.

answered Nov 08 '15 at 08:57

VonC

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Thank you so much. It fixes the problem! Wow, so many hidden options and weird behaviors. – Nullptr Nov 08 '15 at 17:59

Alex Maystrenko · Answer 2 · 2020-06-11T09:34:22.373

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oh-my-zsh executes less with -R flag, You may run unset LESS to fallback to default behaviour.

If you want to make this change persistent, put this command to .zshrc.

edited Jun 11 '20 at 09:34

answered Mar 13 '18 at 23:52

Alex Maystrenko

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Thanks, it works. I also think it's change from oh-my-szh because `git log` still working fine in normal bash shell – banhbaochay May 14 '18 at 16:56
You may dig into .zshrc and other zsh settings to set correct flags for `less`. – Alex Maystrenko Feb 02 '19 at 16:42
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I think this is the better answer, as it mitigates the root cause. Changing `git` config did not help me with e.g. `aws` aliases. – Jan Groth Mar 18 '20 at 09:29
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I much prefer this method. Just finally upgraded to Catalina and this whole 'new page' thing was bugging me! :D – Rob Hodges Jun 10 '20 at 17:06
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combining these two answers, you can also set `LESS=-RFX` – redbmk Oct 17 '21 at 22:19
My saviour! I have almost set down to Tony Buzan's "Use Your Memory" again to help me memorize those SHA1s. Now I can again just copy them – Pshemy108 May 29 '23 at 20:16

git log/show etc. replaces the terminal screen

2 Answers2