--backend now overrides any backend configured in .gitattributes files.

Annex.hs

@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ data AnnexState = AnnexState
 	, quiet :: Bool
 	, force :: Bool
 	, fast :: Bool
-	, defaultbackend :: Maybe String
+	, forcebackend :: Maybe String
 	, defaultkey :: Maybe String
 	, toremote :: Maybe String
 	, fromremote :: Maybe String
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ newState gitrepo allbackends = AnnexState
 	, quiet = False
 	, force = False
 	, fast = False
-	, defaultbackend = Nothing
+	, forcebackend = Nothing
 	, defaultkey = Nothing
 	, toremote = Nothing
 	, fromremote = Nothing

Backend.hs

@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ module Backend (
 ) where
 
 import Control.Monad.State (liftIO, when)
+import Control.Monad (liftM)
 import System.IO.Error (try)
 import System.FilePath
 import System.Posix.Files
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ list = do
 		then return l
 		else do
 			s <- getstandard
-			d <- Annex.getState Annex.defaultbackend
+			d <- Annex.getState Annex.forcebackend
 			handle d s
 	where
 		parseBackendList l [] = l
@@ -161,9 +162,15 @@ lookupFile file = do
 chooseBackends :: [FilePath] -> Annex [(FilePath, Maybe (Backend Annex))]
 chooseBackends fs = do
 	g <- Annex.gitRepo
-	bs <- Annex.getState Annex.supportedBackends
-	pairs <- liftIO $ Git.checkAttr g "annex.backend" fs
-	return $ map (\(f,b) -> (f, maybeLookupBackendName bs b)) pairs
+	forced <- Annex.getState Annex.forcebackend
+	if forced /= Nothing
+		then do
+			l <- list
+			return $ map (\f -> (f, Just $ head l)) fs
+		else do
+			bs <- Annex.getState Annex.supportedBackends
+			pairs <- liftIO $ Git.checkAttr g "annex.backend" fs
+			return $ map (\(f,b) -> (f, maybeLookupBackendName bs b)) pairs
 
 {- Returns the backend to use for a key. -}
 keyBackend :: Key -> Annex (Backend Annex)

Options.hs

@@ -28,11 +28,11 @@ commonOptions =
 		"avoid verbose output"
 	, Option ['v'] ["verbose"] (NoArg (setquiet False))
 		"allow verbose output"
-	, Option ['b'] ["backend"] (ReqArg setdefaultbackend paramName)
-		"specify default key-value backend to use"
+	, Option ['b'] ["backend"] (ReqArg setforcebackend paramName)
+		"specify key-value backend to use"
 	]
 	where
 		setforce v = Annex.changeState $ \s -> s { Annex.force = v }
 		setfast v = Annex.changeState $ \s -> s { Annex.fast = v }
 		setquiet v = Annex.changeState $ \s -> s { Annex.quiet = v }
-		setdefaultbackend v = Annex.changeState $ \s -> s { Annex.defaultbackend = Just v }
+		setforcebackend v = Annex.changeState $ \s -> s { Annex.forcebackend = Just v }

debian/changelog

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 git-annex (0.20110517) UNRELEASED; urgency=low
 
   * status: New subcommand to show info about an annex, including its size.
+  * --backend now overrides any backend configured in .gitattributes files.
 
  -- Joey Hess <joeyh@debian.org>  Mon, 16 May 2011 20:27:46 -0400