Subject: [PATCH] Option for vc-delete-file to keep file on disk

From: Ashwin Kafle <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 15 Dec 2021 10:23:42 +0000

Hello,
I've created the attached patch to have vc-delete file to keep files on
disk using a prefix argument. I've only tested it for vc-git.

I've already signed the copyright papers.

>From 8bfbc34afa760c4d526fa15d8dddc78f2be78a81 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Ashwin Kafle <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 15 Dec 2021 15:25:04 +0545
Subject: [PATCH] Option for vc-delete-file to keep file on disk

Add a prefix argument on vc-delete-file to keep affected
file on disk and keep the current buffer intact. This option
relies on the backends to not delete files themselves.

* doc/emacs/vc1-xtra.texi: Document the change.
* lisp/vc/vc-git.el: Make git leave files on disk.
* lisp/vc/vc.el: Change vc-delete-file to accept optional prefix argument.
---
 doc/emacs/vc1-xtra.texi |  3 ++-
 etc/NEWS                |  4 ++++
 lisp/vc/vc-git.el       |  4 ++--
 lisp/vc/vc.el           | 20 +++++++++++---------
 4 files changed, 19 insertions(+), 12 deletions(-)

diff --git a/doc/emacs/vc1-xtra.texi b/doc/emacs/vc1-xtra.texi
index 4cd00cba6c..2cf69583b3 100644
--- a/doc/emacs/vc1-xtra.texi
+++ b/doc/emacs/vc1-xtra.texi
@@ -122,7 +122,8 @@ VC Delete/Rename
   If you wish to delete a version-controlled file, use the command
 @kbd{M-x vc-delete-file}.  This prompts for the file name, and deletes
 it via the version control system.  The file is removed from the
-working tree, and in the VC Directory buffer
+working tree, and in the VC Directory buffer. If you give a prefix argument,
+the file is not deleted from disk.
 @iftex
 (@pxref{VC Directory Mode,,, emacs, the Emacs Manual}),
 @end iftex
diff --git a/etc/NEWS b/etc/NEWS
index 8d83b2a7e3..2469060a3d 100644
--- a/etc/NEWS
+++ b/etc/NEWS
@@ -372,6 +372,10 @@ info node.  This command only works for the Emacs and Emacs Lisp manuals.
 
 ** vc
 
+*** 'C-x v x' accepts a prefix argument to keep file on disk
+Previously 'C-x v x' always deleted the selected file. Now if you give it
+prefix argument, it will keep the buffer and file on disk intact.
+Currently this is only implemented for vc-git.
 ---
 *** 'C-x v v' on an unregistered file will now use the most specific backend.
 Previously, if you had an SVN-covered "~/" directory, and a Git-covered
diff --git a/lisp/vc/vc-git.el b/lisp/vc/vc-git.el
index 5c6a39aec9..69ef216529 100644
--- a/lisp/vc/vc-git.el
+++ b/lisp/vc/vc-git.el
@@ -1569,8 +1569,8 @@ vc-git-next-revision
     (or (vc-git-symbolic-commit next-rev) next-rev)))
 
 (defun vc-git-delete-file (file)
-  (vc-git-command nil 0 (vc-git--literal-pathspec file) "rm" "-f" "--"))
-
+  (vc-git-command nil 0 (vc-git--literal-pathspec file) "rm" "-f" "--cached" "--"))
+)
 (defun vc-git-rename-file (old new)
   (vc-git-command nil 0 (list old new) "mv" "-f" "--"))
 
diff --git a/lisp/vc/vc.el b/lisp/vc/vc.el
index 64f752f248..43fc0e787e 100644
--- a/lisp/vc/vc.el
+++ b/lisp/vc/vc.el
@@ -2970,14 +2970,13 @@ vc-transfer-file
       (vc-checkin file new-backend comment (stringp comment)))))
 
 ;;;###autoload
-(defun vc-delete-file (file)
+(defun vc-delete-file (file &optional keep-file)
   "Delete file and mark it as such in the version control system.
 If called interactively, read FILE, defaulting to the current
-buffer's file name if it's under version control."
-  (interactive (list (read-file-name "VC delete file: " nil
-                                     (when (vc-backend buffer-file-name)
-                                       buffer-file-name)
-                                     t)))
+buffer's file name if it's under version control.
+If a prefix argument is given (optional argument KEEP-FILE) then
+don't delete the file from the disk"
+  (interactive "f\nP")
   (setq file (expand-file-name file))
   (let ((buf (get-file-buffer file))
         (backend (vc-backend file)))
@@ -2999,19 +2998,22 @@ vc-delete-file
     (unless (or (file-directory-p file) (null make-backup-files)
                 (not (file-exists-p file)))
       (with-current-buffer (or buf (find-file-noselect file))
-	(let ((backup-inhibited nil))
+	(let ((backup-inhibited nil)
+              ;; if you don't set this, then for some reason, the file is never brought back
+              (backup-by-copying t))
 	  (backup-buffer))))
     ;; Bind `default-directory' so that the command that the backend
     ;; runs to remove the file is invoked in the correct context.
     (let ((default-directory (file-name-directory file)))
       (vc-call-backend backend 'delete-file file))
     ;; If the backend hasn't deleted the file itself, let's do it for him.
-    (when (file-exists-p file) (delete-file file))
+    (when (and (file-exists-p file) (null keep-file))
+      (delete-file file))
     ;; Forget what VC knew about the file.
     (vc-file-clearprops file)
     ;; Make sure the buffer is deleted and the *vc-dir* buffers are
     ;; updated after this.
-    (vc-resynch-buffer file nil t)))
+    (vc-resynch-buffer file keep-file t)))
 
 ;;;###autoload
 (defun vc-rename-file (old new)
-- 
2.34.1