chezmoi add, purpose of the create flag

[matmaer]

Why was the --create flag added to the chezmoi add command?

From the docs: "Add files that should exist, irrespective of their contents."

What's the meaning of "should exist"? I guess in the source state? I'm sorry to be lazy and just ask and not test myself but chezmoi is such a vast universe I'm shamelessly trying to take a shortcut by asking here...

[twpayne]

--create sets the create_ attribute on the added file.

The create_ attribute means "create a file with the given contents if the file does not exist. If the file already exists, then do not change its contents." It's for managing files that need an initial state but should not be changed by chezmoi afterwards.

[matmaer]

Very good to know, I will actually start using this feature and as such, include it in my TUI. I need to have a closer look at all the prefixes. Thanks a lot!