8 Use Cases for the `dolt add` Command (with examples)
The dolt add command is used to stage tables in Dolt, which means adding the contents of a table to the list of staged tables. This command allows users to prepare changes to tables for the next commit. In this article, we will explore eight different use cases of the dolt add command, along with detailed explanations and code examples.
Use Case 1: Add a Table to the List of Staged Tables
To stage (add) a specific table, use the following command:
dolt add <table>
Motivation: This use case is helpful when you want to selectively stage changes made to a particular table before committing them. It enables you to control which tables are included in the next commit and separate changes logically.
Arguments:
<table>: The name of the table to be staged.
Example:
dolt add customers
Output:
Staged changes to customers.
Use Case 2: Stage All Tables
To stage all tables in Dolt, use the --all option:
dolt add --all
Motivation: This use case is useful when you want to stage all the changes made to multiple tables. It streamlines the process of adding changes to all tables efficiently.
Arguments:
--all: Stages changes for all tables.
Example:
dolt add --all
Output:
Staged changes to table_1.
Staged changes to table_2.
Staged changes to table_3.
...
Use Case 3: Stage Tables Matching a Pattern
To stage tables matching a specific pattern, use the following command:
dolt add -p <pattern>
Motivation: This use case is beneficial when you want to stage changes made to tables that match a specific pattern. It allows you to selectively include or exclude tables based on their names and patterns.
Arguments:
-p, --pattern <pattern>: A pattern to match tables against.
Example:
dolt add -p "sales_*"
Output:
Staged changes to sales_2020.
Staged changes to sales_2021.
Staged changes to sales_2022.
...
Use Case 4: Stage Tables from a Specific Directory
To stage tables from a specific directory, use the following command:
dolt add <directory>
Motivation: This use case is helpful when you want to stage changes made to tables in a specific directory. It allows you to separate tables logically according to different directories and stage changes based on your requirements.
Arguments:
<directory>: The path to the directory containing the tables to be staged.
Example:
dolt add ./data
Output:
Staged changes to data/customers.
Staged changes to data/orders.
...
Use Case 5: Specify Changes for Staging
To specify changes for staging, use the following command:
dolt add -e <expression>
Motivation: This use case is useful when you want to stage specific changes made to tables based on an expression. It gives you fine-grained control to include or exclude changes based on the specified expression.
Arguments:
-e, --expr <expression>: An expression to specify changes for staging.
Example:
dolt add -e "MODIFY|DELETE"
Output:
Staged changes made by MODIFY operation.
Staged changes made by DELETE operation.
...
Use Case 6: Stage Tables Excluding Changes
To stage tables excluding specified changes, use the following command:
dolt add -n <expression>
Motivation: This use case is beneficial when you want to stage changes made to tables, excluding specific changes. It enables you to be more selective while staging changes and omit any undesired modifications.
Arguments:
-n, --exclude <expression>: An expression to exclude changes from staging.
Example:
dolt add -n "users@head"
Output:
Staged changes, excluding modifications to users table at HEAD.
...
Use Case 7: Stage Tables Interactively
To stage tables interactively, use the following command:
dolt add -i
Motivation: This use case is helpful when you want to interactively select which changes to stage. It allows you to review each change and decide whether to include it or not, providing a more controlled staging experience.
Arguments:
-i, --interactive: Enables interactive mode for staging.
Example:
dolt add -i
Output:
Staged changes to customers.
Staged changes to orders.
...
Use Case 8: Stage Changes Including Renames
To stage changes including renames, use the following command:
dolt add --renames
Motivation: This use case is important when you want to track renames as changes and stage them explicitly. By default, Dolt detects renames and tracks them as changes, but this command ensures you explicitly include the rename changes while staging.
Arguments:
--renames: Includes rename changes while staging.
Example:
dolt add --renames
Output:
Staged changes with rename operations.
...
Conclusion
In this article, we explored eight different use cases for the dolt add command. By leveraging these use cases, you can effectively stage tables in Dolt while having more control over the changes to be included in the next commit. Whether you want to stage specific tables, include or exclude changes based on patterns or expressions, or even perform an interactive staging process, the dolt add command provides the flexibility to suit your needs.
