Refined-github: Add "view file before commit/PR"

[OliverJAsh]

When viewing a commit page, GitHub provides a link to view each file. The link points to the file at the current commit. Example.

However, sometimes we want to view the version of a file _before the commit was made_.

For the longest time I have been doing this manually, by clicking "view file" and then editing the URL to add a ^ at the end of the commit (to reference the parent commit).

It would be very useful if this was added as a link in the menu, so we don't have to resort to hacking the URL like this.

This would also be useful in PRs, where GitHub similarly shows a "view file" link for each file in the diff. Sometimes we want to view the version of a file _before all of the commits in this PR_.

[yakov116]

For the longest time I have been doing this manually, by clicking "view file" and then editing the URL to add a ^ at the end of the commit (to reference the parent commit).

What about an alt-click to go to the parent commit?

Sometimes we want to view the version of a file _before all of the commits in this PR_.

I think this would make sense as its own button. Also it would need to handle files created with this pr.

[OliverJAsh]

@yakov116 That would work, although it's less discoverable.

[fregante]

I find the lack of this really annoying. Is it possible that there’s no path to that page? I think it’s at least 3 clicks/pages away, which isn’t good.

Suggestions welcome. Alt-click isn’t ideal in this case.

[OliverJAsh]

Is it possible that there’s no path to that page?

Isn't it just as simple as replacing the commit param in the URL with the following?

• For commits, ${COMMIT}^
• For PRs, the name of the base branch

[fregante]

My question was: how is it possible that GitHub didn’t add this feature? Is there any other non-obvious way to reach that page?

I’m not talking about “how to fix it,” because as you said it’s pretty easy.

[yakov116]

How about this?

[yakov116]

@OliverJAsh Where do you expect to see the commit on the base branch or the head branch?

[OliverJAsh]

On the base branch/commit I think? (The existing "view file" points to the head branch/commit.)

[fregante]

This is possible:

Made by:

1. Wrap the existing .dropdown-item link into .d-flex
2. Add identical link but use icon instead of text
3. width: min-content; padding-left: 8px

<div class="d-flex">
  {previousLink}
  <a {… previousLink attrs} style="padding-left: 8px !important;width: min-content;">
    <GitHistoryIcon/>
  </a>
</div>

This should be applied to regular commits as well.

If a file is deleted by the current commit, the "View file" already points to the old commit, so in that case perhaps we should add the icon inside the existing link; this would indicate that the link points to the old commit.