Uploading multiple git repos to a project is confusing

[Alistair Buxton]

To reproduce:

1. Create a new project.
2. Import a git repo to it.
3. Check the Code tab:

    - the repo you just uploaded is called "lp:project-name" regardless of what you entered in the repo name field when creating the repo and it has clone url "https://git.launchpad.net/project-name"

4. Import another repo.
5. Check the code tab again:

Result:

The first uploaded repo has it's name and clone URL changed. The second repo takes on the name lp:project-name and the "https://git.launchpad.net/project-name" clone URL.

This can be repeated multiple times. Each imported repo will push the previous one to a different URL.

6: Delete the most recent uploaded repo.

Result:

The repo disappears and now you have no repo called "lp:project-name" at all, until you import another one.

What should actually happen:

There should be an option like "owner default" except it should say "project default" and it should control which repo, if any, occupies the "lp:project-name" and "https://git.launchpad.net/project-name". Even better, just kill the idea of project default repo entirely, and make repos have consistent names.

[Alistair Buxton (a-j-buxton)]

Note that the "owner default" textbox has the label which says:

    "Whether this repository is the default for its owner and target."

But ticking it has no effect on the target default repo, if the target is a project.

[Colin Watson (cjwatson)]

We won't be killing the idea of a project default repository; it's a core part of Launchpad's git layout, and very useful in other contexts. You've gone a few steps too far in your diagnosis as a result of being confused by the UI, I think.

It is already possible to 'control which repo, if any, occupies the "lp:project-name" ...' slot. https://code.launchpad.net/PROJECT/+configure-code has a "Link to a Git repository already on Launchpad" option which does exactly that. However, that's not really the root of the UI confusion here.

Stepping back a bit, the point where things started to go wrong for you was that you found yourself on the UI page that's designed specifically for importing a project's default repository, rather than https://code.launchpad.net/+code-imports/+new which lets you import additional non-default repositories. I accept that this is confusing, and we need to either let you select what you want more explicitly or at least give you a link to the other page.

(And yes, the "owner default" UI could use some work too. Perhaps this should be redesigned as a set of radio buttons or similar, and it should explicitly tell you what the result is going to be in terms of URLs.)

[Alistair Buxton (a-j-buxton)]

Yes, you nailed it, thanks :)