List pairs of files when using vimdiff as git difftool

Question

I'm using vimdiff as tool when comparing with git difftool.

I want to compare 2 commits with git difftool <commit1> <commit2>. Today, I have to exit every vimdiff view with :qa to get to the next file pair. Sometimes, the list of file pairs can be huge with this type of comparison. Then, I have to type :qa dozens of times (or :cq when done).

Is there a way to display all compared file pairs (with at least 1 change) in a QuickFix, Location List or something similar?

Then, it would be must easier to get an overview and to scroll through all changes and show only the diff of selected files.

---

Extract of my .gitconfig:

[diff]
    tool = vimdiff
[difftool]
    prompt = false
    # Be able to abort all diffs with `:cq` or `:cquit`
    trustExitCode = true

vimdiff --version:

VIM - Vi IMproved 8.2 (2019 Dec 12, compiled Apr 18 2022 19:26:30)
Included patches: 1-3995

git --version:

git version 2.34.1

Answer 1

The vimdiff in tool = vimdiff is not actually vimdiff. It's a script that doesn't really allow for what you want.

Sadly, the -d flag, as in $ git difftool -d, is not helpful as is. It opens two Netrw windows where you can effectively see which files have changes but the whole user experience is a lot more clunky than repeating :qa<CR>, even a hundred times:

IMO, it's a pain in the ass compared to the UX provided in GUI difftools:

But, since you mentioned the quickfix, you might like git-jump, which lets you do:

$ git jump diff

Which is pretty good for navigating from one change to another but doesn't really help solving the problem of seeing the actual diff.

Maybe a third-party plugin like this one could help but you would have to come up with a proper Git integration.

That sounds like a cool week-end project.