Have `_commit` in `.copier-answers.yml` always point to the HEAD?

[huxuan]

Have `_commit` in `.copier-answers.yml` always point to the HEAD?

[sisp]

I don't think your suggested solution would work because Copier's update algorithm relies on a stable Git ref for replaying a fresh project creation using the old template version. If _commit: HEAD were to be logged, then the Git ref would be ambiguous and the update algorithm wouldn't be able to determine the old template version.

I'm not sure I understand your use case of collocating a template and a project generated by that template in the same Git repo. Is this project the only project that uses the template? If so, why do you need a template at all?

[yajo]

I guess you do that because it's easy for testing, right? I do the same, but I use https://github.com/KyleKing/copier-template-tester, which was made for that and already works around the problem you're talking about.

I'll close this issue because I think this will work for you, but feel free to reopen otherwise.

[huxuan]

BTW, HEAD is not a valid branch name, so it will not be a problem as mention here: #184 (comment)

[huxuan]

I don't think your suggested solution would work because Copier's update algorithm relies on a stable Git ref for replaying a fresh project creation using the old template version. If _commit: HEAD were to be logged, then the Git ref would be ambiguous and the update algorithm wouldn't be able to determine the old template version.

Thanks for the explanation, I did not think of that problem before.

I'm not sure I understand your use case of collocating a template and a project generated by that template in the same Git repo. Is this project the only project that uses the template? If so, why do you need a template at all?

Actually, I want to use the generated project with default values as a straightforward demo for the template. Maybe that is not a good choice, I may consider split them in the future.

I guess you do that because it's easy for testing, right? I do the same, but I use https://github.com/KyleKing/copier-template-tester, which was made for that and already works around the problem you're talking about.

I'll close this issue because I think this will work for you, but feel free to reopen otherwise.

Thanks for the information, I will look into that. Yes, it is OK to close this issue, since the request is not valid as explained by @sisp.