tests: make more use of 'test_must_be_empty'

index af61d083b4..4e588eda09 100755
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ check_sub_test_lib_test () {
 	name="$1" # stdin is the expected output from the test
 	(
 		cd "$name" &&
-		! test -s err &&
+		test_must_be_empty err &&
 		sed -e 's/^> //' -e 's/Z$//' >expect &&
 		test_cmp expect out
 	)

index 0c61268fd2..9e88a56d61 100755
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ test_expect_success 'no phantom error when switching trees' '
 	>newdir/one &&
 	git add newdir/one &&
 	git checkout 2>errors &&
-	! test -s errors
+	test_must_be_empty errors
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'switching trees does not invalidate shared index' '

index 71b0d74b4d..0ce1f22eff 100755
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ test_expect_success 'git show a ISO-8859-1 commit under C locale' '
 	. "$TEST_DIRECTORY"/t3901/8859-1.txt &&
 	test_commit "iso-c-commit" iso-under-c &&
 	git show >out 2>err &&
-	! test -s err &&
+	test_must_be_empty err &&
 	grep -q "iso-c-commit" out
 '
 

@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ test_expect_success GETTEXT_LOCALE 'git show a ISO-8859-1 commit under a UTF-8 l
 	. "$TEST_DIRECTORY"/t3901/8859-1.txt &&
 	test_commit "iso-utf8-commit" iso-under-utf8 &&
 	LANGUAGE=is LC_ALL="$is_IS_locale" git show >out 2>err &&
-	! test -s err &&
+	test_must_be_empty err &&
 	grep -q "iso-utf8-commit" out
 '
 

index afcdfafe45..3498d3d55e 100755
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ test_expect_success 'setup: helper for testing rev-parse' '
 			# rev-parse --show-prefix should output
 			# a single newline when at the top of the work tree,
 			# but we test for that separately.
-			test -z "$4" && ! test -s actual.prefix ||
+			test -z "$4" && test_must_be_empty actual.prefix ||
 			test_cmp expected.prefix actual.prefix
 		fi
 	}

index 972bd9c785..9974457f56 100755
@@ -234,14 +234,14 @@ test_expect_success '#0: nonbare repo, no explicit configuration' '
 	try_repo 0 unset unset unset "" unset \
 		.git "$here/0" "$here/0" "(null)" \
 		.git "$here/0" "$here/0" sub/ 2>message &&
-	! test -s message
+	test_must_be_empty message
 '
 
 test_expect_success '#1: GIT_WORK_TREE without explicit GIT_DIR is accepted' '
 	try_repo 1 "$here" unset unset "" unset \
 		"$here/1/.git" "$here" "$here" 1/ \
 		"$here/1/.git" "$here" "$here" 1/sub/ 2>message &&
-	! test -s message
+	test_must_be_empty message
 '
 
 test_expect_success '#2: worktree defaults to cwd with explicit GIT_DIR' '

@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ test_expect_success '#4: core.worktree without GIT_DIR set is accepted' '
 	try_case 4 unset unset \
 		.git "$here/4/sub" "$here/4" "(null)" \
 		"$here/4/.git" "$here/4/sub" "$here/4/sub" "(null)" 2>message &&
-	! test -s message
+	test_must_be_empty message
 '
 
 test_expect_success '#5: core.worktree + GIT_WORK_TREE is accepted' '

@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ test_expect_success '#5: core.worktree + GIT_WORK_TREE is accepted' '
 	try_repo 5a .. unset "$here/5a" "" unset \
 		"$here/5a/.git" "$here" "$here" 5a/ \
 		"$here/5a/.git" "$here/5a" "$here/5a" sub/ &&
-	! test -s message
+	test_must_be_empty message
 '
 
 test_expect_success '#6: setting GIT_DIR brings core.worktree to life' '

@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ test_expect_success '#9: GIT_WORK_TREE accepted with gitfile' '
 	try_repo 9 wt unset unset gitfile unset \
 		"$here/9.git" "$here/9/wt" "$here/9" "(null)" \
 		"$here/9.git" "$here/9/sub/wt" "$here/9/sub" "(null)" 2>message &&
-	! test -s message
+	test_must_be_empty message
 '
 
 test_expect_success '#10: GIT_DIR can point to gitfile' '

@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ test_expect_success '#12: core.worktree with gitfile is accepted' '
 	try_repo 12 unset unset "$here/12" gitfile unset \
 		"$here/12.git" "$here/12" "$here/12" "(null)" \
 		"$here/12.git" "$here/12" "$here/12" sub/ 2>message &&
-	! test -s message
+	test_must_be_empty message
 '
 
 test_expect_success '#13: core.worktree+GIT_WORK_TREE accepted (with gitfile)' '

@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ test_expect_success '#13: core.worktree+GIT_WORK_TREE accepted (with gitfile)' '
 	try_repo 13 non-existent-too unset non-existent gitfile unset \
 		"$here/13.git" "$here/13/non-existent-too" "$here/13" "(null)" \
 		"$here/13.git" "$here/13/sub/non-existent-too" "$here/13/sub" "(null)" 2>message &&
-	! test -s message
+	test_must_be_empty message
 '
 
 # case #14.

@@ -565,7 +565,7 @@ test_expect_success '#17: GIT_WORK_TREE without explicit GIT_DIR is accepted (ba
 	try_repo 17c "$here/17c" unset unset "" true \
 		.git "$here/17c" "$here/17c" "(null)" \
 		"$here/17c/.git" "$here/17c" "$here/17c" sub/ 2>message &&
-	! test -s message
+	test_must_be_empty message
 '
 
 test_expect_success '#18: bare .git named by GIT_DIR has no worktree' '

@@ -594,7 +594,7 @@ test_expect_success '#20a: core.worktree without GIT_DIR accepted (inside .git)'
 		"$here/20a/.git" "$here/20a" "$here/20a" .git/wt/ &&
 	try_case 20a/.git/wt/sub unset unset \
 		"$here/20a/.git" "$here/20a" "$here/20a" .git/wt/sub/ &&
-	! test -s message
+	test_must_be_empty message
 '
 
 test_expect_success '#20b/c: core.worktree and core.bare conflict' '

@@ -626,7 +626,7 @@ test_expect_success '#21: setup, core.worktree warns before overriding core.bare
 		export GIT_WORK_TREE &&
 		git status >/dev/null
 	) 2>message &&
-	! test -s message
+	test_must_be_empty message
 
 '
 run_wt_tests 21

@@ -742,7 +742,7 @@ test_expect_success '#25: GIT_WORK_TREE accepted if GIT_DIR unset (bare gitfile
 	try_repo 25 "$here/25" unset unset gitfile true \
 		"$here/25.git" "$here/25" "$here/25" "(null)"  \
 		"$here/25.git" "$here/25" "$here/25" "sub/" 2>message &&
-	! test -s message
+	test_must_be_empty message
 '
 
 test_expect_success '#26: bare repo has no worktree (GIT_DIR -> gitfile case)' '

@@ -780,7 +780,7 @@ test_expect_success '#29: setup' '
 		export GIT_WORK_TREE &&
 		git status
 	) 2>message &&
-	! test -s message
+	test_must_be_empty message
 '
 run_wt_tests 29 gitfile
 

index 6ef15738e4..8f86b5f4b2 100755
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ test_expect_success '"checkout <submodule>" honors diff.ignoreSubmodules' '
 	git config diff.ignoreSubmodules dirty &&
 	echo x> submodule/untracked &&
 	git checkout HEAD >actual 2>&1 &&
-	! test -s actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success '"checkout <submodule>" honors submodule.*.ignore from .gitmodules' '

@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ test_expect_success '"checkout <submodule>" honors submodule.*.ignore from .gitm
 	git config -f .gitmodules submodule.submodule.path submodule &&
 	git config -f .gitmodules submodule.submodule.ignore untracked &&
 	git checkout HEAD >actual 2>&1 &&
-	! test -s actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success '"checkout <submodule>" honors submodule.*.ignore from .git/config' '

@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ test_expect_success '"checkout <submodule>" honors submodule.*.ignore from .git/
 	git config submodule.submodule.path submodule &&
 	git config submodule.submodule.ignore all &&
 	git checkout HEAD >actual 2>&1 &&
-	! test -s actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 KNOWN_FAILURE_DIRECTORY_SUBMODULE_CONFLICTS=1

index 8340ac2f07..2e07365bbb 100755
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ do
 		rm -f .git/index &&
 		test_must_fail git add "$i" 2>err &&
 		git ls-files "$i" >out &&
-		! test -s out
+		test_must_be_empty out
 	'
 
 	test_expect_success "complaints for ignored $i output" '

@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ do
 		rm -f .git/index &&
 		test_must_fail git add "$i" file 2>err &&
 		git ls-files "$i" >out &&
-		! test -s out
+		test_must_be_empty out
 	'
 	test_expect_success "complaints for ignored $i with unignored file output" '
 		test_i18ngrep -e "Use -f if" err

@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ do
 			cd dir &&
 			test_must_fail git add "$i" 2>err &&
 			git ls-files "$i" >out &&
-			! test -s out
+			test_must_be_empty out
 		)
 	'
 

@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ do
 			cd sub &&
 			test_must_fail git add "$i" 2>err &&
 			git ls-files "$i" >out &&
-			! test -s out
+			test_must_be_empty out
 		)
 	'
 

index b8fbdefcdc..b178a376c4 100755
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ test_expect_success 'rm does not complain when no .gitmodules file is found' '
 	git submodule update &&
 	git rm .gitmodules &&
 	git rm submod >actual 2>actual.err &&
-	! test -s actual.err &&
+	test_must_be_empty actual.err &&
 	! test -d submod &&
 	! test -f submod/.git &&
 	git status -s -uno >actual &&

@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ test_expect_success 'rm will error out on a modified .gitmodules file unless sta
 	git diff-files --quiet -- submod &&
 	git add .gitmodules &&
 	git rm submod >actual 2>actual.err &&
-	! test -s actual.err &&
+	test_must_be_empty actual.err &&
 	! test -d submod &&
 	! test -f submod/.git &&
 	git status -s -uno >actual &&

@@ -694,7 +694,7 @@ test_expect_success 'checking out a commit after submodule removal needs manual
 	test_cmp expected actual &&
 	rm -rf submod &&
 	git status -s -uno --ignore-submodules=none >actual &&
-	! test -s actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'rm of d/f when d has become a non-directory' '

index 108c012a3a..5ae19b987d 100755
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'diff symlinks with non-existing targets' '
 	ln -s take\ over brain &&
 	test_must_fail git diff --no-index pinky brain >output 2>output.err &&
 	grep narf output &&
-	! test -s output.err
+	test_must_be_empty output.err
 '
 
 test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'setup symlinks with attributes' '

index a5019759bc..c6135c7548 100755
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ test_expect_success 'trailing empty lines (2)' '
 
 	echo "F -whitespace" >.gitattributes &&
 	git diff --check >output &&
-	! test -s output
+	test_must_be_empty output
 
 '
 

index 6304130ad4..e5f9eb7a11 100755
@@ -104,19 +104,19 @@ test_expect_success 'git diff HEAD with dirty submodule (work tree, refs match)'
 	expect_from_to >expect.body $subprev $subprev-dirty &&
 	test_cmp expect.body actual.body &&
 	git diff --ignore-submodules HEAD >actual2 &&
-	! test -s actual2 &&
+	test_must_be_empty actual2 &&
 	git diff --ignore-submodules=untracked HEAD >actual3 &&
 	sed -e "1,/^@@/d" actual3 >actual3.body &&
 	expect_from_to >expect.body $subprev $subprev-dirty &&
 	test_cmp expect.body actual3.body &&
 	git diff --ignore-submodules=dirty HEAD >actual4 &&
-	! test -s actual4
+	test_must_be_empty actual4
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'git diff HEAD with dirty submodule (work tree, refs match) [.gitmodules]' '
 	git config diff.ignoreSubmodules dirty &&
 	git diff HEAD >actual &&
-	! test -s actual &&
+	test_must_be_empty actual &&
 	git config --add -f .gitmodules submodule.subname.ignore none &&
 	git config --add -f .gitmodules submodule.subname.path sub &&
 	git diff HEAD >actual &&

@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ test_expect_success 'git diff HEAD with dirty submodule (work tree, refs match)
 	git config -f .gitmodules submodule.subname.ignore all &&
 	git config -f .gitmodules submodule.subname.path sub &&
 	git diff HEAD >actual2 &&
-	! test -s actual2 &&
+	test_must_be_empty actual2 &&
 	git config -f .gitmodules submodule.subname.ignore untracked &&
 	git diff HEAD >actual3 &&
 	sed -e "1,/^@@/d" actual3 >actual3.body &&

@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ test_expect_success 'git diff HEAD with dirty submodule (work tree, refs match)
 	test_cmp expect.body actual3.body &&
 	git config -f .gitmodules submodule.subname.ignore dirty &&
 	git diff HEAD >actual4 &&
-	! test -s actual4 &&
+	test_must_be_empty actual4 &&
 	git config submodule.subname.ignore none &&
 	git config submodule.subname.path sub &&
 	git diff HEAD >actual &&

@@ -172,24 +172,24 @@ test_expect_success 'git diff HEAD with dirty submodule (untracked, refs match)'
 	expect_from_to >expect.body $subprev $subprev-dirty &&
 	test_cmp expect.body actual.body &&
 	git diff --ignore-submodules=all HEAD >actual2 &&
-	! test -s actual2 &&
+	test_must_be_empty actual2 &&
 	git diff --ignore-submodules=untracked HEAD >actual3 &&
-	! test -s actual3 &&
+	test_must_be_empty actual3 &&
 	git diff --ignore-submodules=dirty HEAD >actual4 &&
-	! test -s actual4
+	test_must_be_empty actual4
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'git diff HEAD with dirty submodule (untracked, refs match) [.gitmodules]' '
 	git config --add -f .gitmodules submodule.subname.ignore all &&
 	git config --add -f .gitmodules submodule.subname.path sub &&
 	git diff HEAD >actual2 &&
-	! test -s actual2 &&
+	test_must_be_empty actual2 &&
 	git config -f .gitmodules submodule.subname.ignore untracked &&
 	git diff HEAD >actual3 &&
-	! test -s actual3 &&
+	test_must_be_empty actual3 &&
 	git config -f .gitmodules submodule.subname.ignore dirty &&
 	git diff HEAD >actual4 &&
-	! test -s actual4 &&
+	test_must_be_empty actual4 &&
 	git config submodule.subname.ignore none &&
 	git config submodule.subname.path sub &&
 	git diff HEAD >actual &&

@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ test_expect_success 'git diff between submodule commits' '
 	expect_from_to >expect.body $subtip $subprev &&
 	test_cmp expect.body actual.body &&
 	git diff --ignore-submodules HEAD^..HEAD >actual &&
-	! test -s actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'git diff between submodule commits [.gitmodules]' '

@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ test_expect_success 'git diff between submodule commits [.gitmodules]' '
 	test_cmp expect.body actual.body &&
 	git config -f .gitmodules submodule.subname.ignore all &&
 	git diff HEAD^..HEAD >actual &&
-	! test -s actual &&
+	test_must_be_empty actual &&
 	git config submodule.subname.ignore dirty &&
 	git config submodule.subname.path sub &&
 	git diff  HEAD^..HEAD >actual &&

index 058ee0829d..302f2166a9 100755
@@ -273,17 +273,17 @@ test_expect_success 'submodule contains untracked content' '
 
 test_expect_success 'submodule contains untracked content (untracked ignored)' '
 	git diff-index -p --ignore-submodules=untracked --submodule=log HEAD >actual &&
-	! test -s actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'submodule contains untracked content (dirty ignored)' '
 	git diff-index -p --ignore-submodules=dirty --submodule=log HEAD >actual &&
-	! test -s actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'submodule contains untracked content (all ignored)' '
 	git diff-index -p --ignore-submodules=all --submodule=log HEAD >actual &&
-	! test -s actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'submodule contains untracked and modifed content' '

@@ -308,13 +308,13 @@ test_expect_success 'submodule contains untracked and modifed content (untracked
 test_expect_success 'submodule contains untracked and modifed content (dirty ignored)' '
 	echo new > sm1/foo6 &&
 	git diff-index -p --ignore-submodules=dirty --submodule=log HEAD >actual &&
-	! test -s actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'submodule contains untracked and modifed content (all ignored)' '
 	echo new > sm1/foo6 &&
 	git diff-index -p --ignore-submodules --submodule=log HEAD >actual &&
-	! test -s actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'submodule contains modifed content' '

@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ test_expect_success 'modified submodule contains untracked content (dirty ignore
 
 test_expect_success 'modified submodule contains untracked content (all ignored)' '
 	git diff-index -p --ignore-submodules=all --submodule=log HEAD >actual &&
-	! test -s actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'modified submodule contains untracked and modifed content' '

@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ test_expect_success 'modified submodule contains untracked and modifed content (
 test_expect_success 'modified submodule contains untracked and modifed content (all ignored)' '
 	echo modification >> sm1/foo6 &&
 	git diff-index -p --ignore-submodules --submodule=log HEAD >actual &&
-	! test -s actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'modified submodule contains modifed content' '

index 4b168d0ed7..6fc3da8bd2 100755
@@ -408,17 +408,17 @@ test_expect_success 'submodule contains untracked content' '
 
 test_expect_success 'submodule contains untracked content (untracked ignored)' '
 	git diff-index -p --ignore-submodules=untracked --submodule=diff HEAD >actual &&
-	! test -s actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'submodule contains untracked content (dirty ignored)' '
 	git diff-index -p --ignore-submodules=dirty --submodule=diff HEAD >actual &&
-	! test -s actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'submodule contains untracked content (all ignored)' '
 	git diff-index -p --ignore-submodules=all --submodule=diff HEAD >actual &&
-	! test -s actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'submodule contains untracked and modified content' '

@@ -458,13 +458,13 @@ test_expect_success 'submodule contains untracked and modified content (untracke
 test_expect_success 'submodule contains untracked and modified content (dirty ignored)' '
 	echo new > sm1/foo6 &&
 	git diff-index -p --ignore-submodules=dirty --submodule=diff HEAD >actual &&
-	! test -s actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'submodule contains untracked and modified content (all ignored)' '
 	echo new > sm1/foo6 &&
 	git diff-index -p --ignore-submodules --submodule=diff HEAD >actual &&
-	! test -s actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'submodule contains modified content' '

@@ -549,7 +549,7 @@ test_expect_success 'modified submodule contains untracked content (dirty ignore
 
 test_expect_success 'modified submodule contains untracked content (all ignored)' '
 	git diff-index -p --ignore-submodules=all --submodule=diff HEAD >actual &&
-	! test -s actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'modified submodule contains untracked and modified content' '

@@ -609,7 +609,7 @@ test_expect_success 'modified submodule contains untracked and modified content
 test_expect_success 'modified submodule contains untracked and modified content (all ignored)' '
 	echo modification >> sm1/foo6 &&
 	git diff-index -p --ignore-submodules --submodule=diff HEAD >actual &&
-	! test -s actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 # NOT OK

index 4fc27c51f7..7e32237a2a 100755
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ test_expect_success 'whitespace=warn, default rule' '
 test_expect_success 'whitespace=error-all, default rule' '
 
 	test_must_fail apply_patch --whitespace=error-all &&
-	! test -s target
+	test_must_be_empty target
 
 '
 

index 1ebc587f8f..38fe717c12 100755
@@ -651,7 +651,7 @@ test_expect_success 'am -3 -q is quiet' '
 	git checkout -f lorem2 &&
 	git reset base3way --hard &&
 	git am -3 -q lorem-move.patch >output.out 2>&1 &&
-	! test -s output.out
+	test_must_be_empty output.out
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'am pauses on conflict' '

@@ -874,7 +874,7 @@ test_expect_success 'am -q is quiet' '
 	git checkout first &&
 	test_tick &&
 	git am -q <patch1 >output.out 2>&1 &&
-	! test -s output.out
+	test_must_be_empty output.out
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'am empty-file does not infloop' '

index 7f278d8ce9..ce151e71c1 100755
@@ -104,17 +104,17 @@ test_expect_success 'post-update hook arguments' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'all hook stdin is /dev/null' '
-	! test -s victim.git/update.stdin &&
-	! test -s victim.git/post-update.stdin
+	test_must_be_empty victim.git/update.stdin &&
+	test_must_be_empty victim.git/post-update.stdin
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'all *-receive hook args are empty' '
-	! test -s victim.git/pre-receive.args &&
-	! test -s victim.git/post-receive.args
+	test_must_be_empty victim.git/pre-receive.args &&
+	test_must_be_empty victim.git/post-receive.args
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'send-pack produced no output' '
-	! test -s send.out
+	test_must_be_empty send.out
 '
 
 cat <<EOF >expect

index 3d33ab3875..07fcea0474 100755
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ test_expect_success 'clone shallow object count' '
 test_expect_success 'clone shallow object count (part 2)' '
 	sed -e "/^in-pack:/d" -e "/^packs:/d" -e "/^size-pack:/d" \
 	    -e "/: 0$/d" count.shallow > count_output &&
-	! test -s count_output
+	test_must_be_empty count_output
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fsck in shallow repo' '

114 lines not on this page · raw message

index 0d4c52016b..12c1e43a84 100755
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ test_expect_success 'no-op fetch -v stderr is as expected' '
 
 test_expect_success 'no-op fetch without "-v" is quiet' '
 	(cd clone && git fetch 2>../stderr) &&
-	! test -s stderr
+	test_must_be_empty stderr
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'remote detects correct HEAD' '

index cc3fd2baf2..56ca467c0a 100755
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ test_expect_success 'mv does not complain when no .gitmodules file is found' '
 	entry="$(git ls-files --stage sub | cut -f 1)" &&
 	mkdir mod &&
 	git mv sub mod/sub 2>actual.err &&
-	! test -s actual.err &&
+	test_must_be_empty actual.err &&
 	! test -e sub &&
 	[ "$entry" = "$(git ls-files --stage mod/sub | cut -f 1)" ] &&
 	(

@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ test_expect_success 'mv will error out on a modified .gitmodules file unless sta
 	git diff-files --quiet -- sub &&
 	git add .gitmodules &&
 	git mv sub mod/sub 2>actual.err &&
-	! test -s actual.err &&
+	test_must_be_empty actual.err &&
 	! test -e sub &&
 	[ "$entry" = "$(git ls-files --stage mod/sub | cut -f 1)" ] &&
 	(

@@ -469,7 +469,7 @@ test_expect_success 'checking out a commit before submodule moved needs manual u
 	git update-index --refresh &&
 	git diff-files --quiet -- sub .gitmodules &&
 	git status -s sub2 >actual &&
-	! test -s actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'mv -k does not accidentally destroy submodules' '

index ab9da61da3..0e7d4421a7 100755
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ test_expect_success "checkout -m with dirty tree, renamed" '
 	test_cmp expect uno &&
 	! test -f one &&
 	git diff --cached >current &&
-	! test -s current
+	test_must_be_empty current
 
 '
 

@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ test_expect_success 'checkout -m with merge conflict' '
 	fill d2 aT d7 aS >expect &&
 	test_cmp current expect &&
 	git diff --cached two >current &&
-	! test -s current
+	test_must_be_empty current
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'format of merge conflict from checkout -m' '

index 9e0d31700e..0fef49954f 100755
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ test_expect_success 'submodule update does not fetch already present commits' '
 	  git submodule update > ../actual 2> ../actual.err
 	) &&
 	test_i18ncmp expected actual &&
-	! test -s actual.err
+	test_must_be_empty actual.err
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'submodule update should fail due to local changes' '

index fc44ec96aa..825da1404a 100755
@@ -941,7 +941,7 @@ test_expect_success 'grep from a subdirectory to search wider area (2)' '
 	(
 		cd s || exit 1
 		( git grep xxyyzz .. >out ; echo $? >status )
-		! test -s out &&
+		test_must_be_empty out &&
 		test 1 = $(cat status)
 	)
 '

index f762038f0e..3bf4255aa3 100755
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ EOF
 test_expect_success 'clone using git svn' 'git svn clone -r1 "$svnrepo" x'
 test_expect_success 'enable broken symlink workaround' \
   '(cd x && git config svn.brokenSymlinkWorkaround true)'
-test_expect_success '"bar" is an empty file' 'test -f x/bar && ! test -s x/bar'
+test_expect_success '"bar" is an empty file' 'test_must_be_empty x/bar'
 test_expect_success 'get "bar" => symlink fix from svn' \
 		'(cd x && git svn rebase)'
 test_expect_success SYMLINKS '"bar" becomes a symlink' 'test -h x/bar'

@@ -94,14 +94,14 @@ test_expect_success SYMLINKS '"bar" becomes a symlink' 'test -h x/bar'
 test_expect_success 'clone using git svn' 'git svn clone -r1 "$svnrepo" y'
 test_expect_success 'disable broken symlink workaround' \
   '(cd y && git config svn.brokenSymlinkWorkaround false)'
-test_expect_success '"bar" is an empty file' 'test -f y/bar && ! test -s y/bar'
+test_expect_success '"bar" is an empty file' 'test_must_be_empty y/bar'
 test_expect_success 'get "bar" => symlink fix from svn' \
 		'(cd y && git svn rebase)'
 test_expect_success '"bar" does not become a symlink' '! test -L y/bar'
 
 # svn.brokenSymlinkWorkaround is unset
 test_expect_success 'clone using git svn' 'git svn clone -r1 "$svnrepo" z'
-test_expect_success '"bar" is an empty file' 'test -f z/bar && ! test -s z/bar'
+test_expect_success '"bar" is an empty file' 'test_must_be_empty z/bar'
 test_expect_success 'get "bar" => symlink fix from svn' \
 		'(cd z && git svn rebase)'
 test_expect_success '"bar" does not become a symlink' '! test -L z/bar'

index 93db45db7d..2f80b216fe 100755
@@ -13,8 +13,7 @@ test_expect_success 'test that b1 exists and is empty' '
 	(
 		cd x &&
 		git reset --hard origin/branch-c &&
-		test -f b1 &&
-		! test -s b1
+		test_must_be_empty b1
 	)
 	'
 

index 58c2773676..d3a7ce6bbb 100755
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ test_expect_success 'shortlog with revision pseudo options' '
 
 test_expect_success 'shortlog with --output=<file>' '
 	git shortlog --output=shortlog -1 master >output &&
-	test ! -s output &&
+	test_must_be_empty output &&
 	test_line_count = 3 shortlog
 '
 

index d0377fae5c..6e378b23c7 100755
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ test_expect_success '-L with --first-parent and a merge' '
 test_expect_success '-L with --output' '
 	git checkout parallel-change &&
 	git log --output=log -L :main:b.c >output &&
-	test ! -s output &&
+	test_must_be_empty output &&
 	test_line_count = 70 log
 '
 

index 0f86c19174..31de4b64dc 100755
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ test_expect_success 'cat-file --textconv --path=<path> works' '
 test_expect_success '--path=<path> complains without --textconv/--filters' '
 	sha1=$(git rev-parse -q --verify HEAD:world.txt) &&
 	test_must_fail git cat-file --path=hello.txt blob $sha1 >actual 2>err &&
-	test ! -s actual &&
+	test_must_be_empty actual &&
 	grep "path.*needs.*filters" err
 '
 

index 1fc9b33aeb..9978352d78 100755
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'empty symlink target' '
 		# p4 to sync here will make it generate errors.
 		cd "$cli" &&
 		p4 print -q //depot/empty-symlink#2 >out &&
-		test ! -s out
+		test_must_be_empty out
 	) &&
 	test_when_finished cleanup_git &&
 

index afa27ffe2d..112cbb0e62 100755
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ test_expect_success 'explicit pack-refs with dangling packed reference' '
 	git reflog expire --expire=all --all &&
 	git prune --expire=all &&
 	git pack-refs --all 2>result &&
-	test_cmp /dev/null result
+	test_must_be_empty result
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'delete ref with dangling packed version' '

@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ test_expect_success 'delete ref with dangling packed version' '
 	git reflog expire --expire=all --all &&
 	git prune --expire=all &&
 	git branch -d lamb 2>result &&
-	test_cmp /dev/null result
+	test_must_be_empty result
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'delete ref while another dangling packed ref' '

@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ test_expect_success 'delete ref while another dangling packed ref' '
 	git reflog expire --expire=all --all &&
 	git prune --expire=all &&
 	git branch -d lamb 2>result &&
-	test_cmp /dev/null result
+	test_must_be_empty result
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pack ref directly below refs/' '

index ab946a5153..d60588ec8f 100755
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ test_expect_success 'merge empty notes ref (z => y)' '
 	git notes add -m "foo" &&
 	git notes remove &&
 	git notes >output_notes_z &&
-	test_cmp /dev/null output_notes_z &&
+	test_must_be_empty output_notes_z &&
 	# Do the merge (z => y)
 	git config core.notesRef refs/notes/y &&
 	git notes merge z &&

index 9c1bf6eb3d..a1cf4ec385 100755
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ EOF
 	git notes merge --commit &&
 	# No .git/NOTES_MERGE_* files left
 	test_might_fail ls .git/NOTES_MERGE_* >output 2>/dev/null &&
-	test_cmp /dev/null output &&
+	test_must_be_empty output &&
 	# Merge commit has pre-merge y and pre-merge z as parents
 	test "$(git rev-parse refs/notes/m^1)" = "$(cat pre_merge_y)" &&
 	test "$(git rev-parse refs/notes/m^2)" = "$(cat pre_merge_z)" &&

@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ test_expect_success 'abort notes merge' '
 	git notes merge --abort &&
 	# No .git/NOTES_MERGE_* files left
 	test_might_fail ls .git/NOTES_MERGE_* >output 2>/dev/null &&
-	test_cmp /dev/null output &&
+	test_must_be_empty output &&
 	# m has not moved (still == y)
 	test "$(git rev-parse refs/notes/m)" = "$(cat pre_merge_y)" &&
 	# Verify that other notes refs has not changed (w, x, y and z)

@@ -466,7 +466,7 @@ EOF
 	git notes merge --commit &&
 	# No .git/NOTES_MERGE_* files left
 	test_might_fail ls .git/NOTES_MERGE_* >output 2>/dev/null &&
-	test_cmp /dev/null output &&
+	test_must_be_empty output &&
 	# Merge commit has pre-merge y and pre-merge z as parents
 	test "$(git rev-parse refs/notes/m^1)" = "$(cat pre_merge_y)" &&
 	test "$(git rev-parse refs/notes/m^2)" = "$(cat pre_merge_z)" &&

@@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ test_expect_success 'resolve situation by aborting the notes merge' '
 	git notes merge --abort &&
 	# No .git/NOTES_MERGE_* files left
 	test_might_fail ls .git/NOTES_MERGE_* >output 2>/dev/null &&
-	test_cmp /dev/null output &&
+	test_must_be_empty output &&
 	# m has not moved (still == w)
 	test "$(git rev-parse refs/notes/m)" = "$(git rev-parse refs/notes/w)" &&
 	# Verify that other notes refs has not changed (w, x, y and z)

index 447a8ffa3a..7fec2cb9cd 100755
@@ -940,7 +940,7 @@ test_expect_success 'diff.dirstat=0,lines' '
 test_expect_success '--dirstat=future_param,lines,0 should fail loudly' '
 	test_must_fail git diff --dirstat=future_param,lines,0 HEAD^..HEAD >actual_diff_dirstat 2>actual_error &&
 	test_debug "cat actual_error" &&
-	test_cmp /dev/null actual_diff_dirstat &&
+	test_must_be_empty actual_diff_dirstat &&
 	test_i18ngrep -q "future_param" actual_error &&
 	test_i18ngrep -q "\--dirstat" actual_error
 '

@@ -948,7 +948,7 @@ test_expect_success '--dirstat=future_param,lines,0 should fail loudly' '
 test_expect_success '--dirstat=dummy1,cumulative,2dummy should report both unrecognized parameters' '
 	test_must_fail git diff --dirstat=dummy1,cumulative,2dummy HEAD^..HEAD >actual_diff_dirstat 2>actual_error &&
 	test_debug "cat actual_error" &&
-	test_cmp /dev/null actual_diff_dirstat &&
+	test_must_be_empty actual_diff_dirstat &&
 	test_i18ngrep -q "dummy1" actual_error &&
 	test_i18ngrep -q "2dummy" actual_error &&
 	test_i18ngrep -q "\--dirstat" actual_error

index ce8567f496..b99e65c086 100755
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ test_expect_success 'apply in reverse' '
 	git reset --hard second &&
 	git apply --reverse --binary --index patch &&
 	git diff >diff &&
-	test_cmp /dev/null diff
+	test_must_be_empty diff
 
 '
 

index 75c570adca..c88df78c0b 100755
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pushing into a repository using a ref namespace' '
 		test_cmp expected actual &&
 		# Try a namespace with no content
 		git ls-remote "ext::git --namespace=garbage %s ../pushee" >actual &&
-		test_cmp /dev/null actual &&
+		test_must_be_empty actual &&
 		git ls-remote pushee-unnamespaced >actual &&
 		sed -e "s|refs/|refs/namespaces/namespace/refs/|" expected >expected.unnamespaced &&
 		test_cmp expected.unnamespaced actual

index d6981ba304..c0df81a014 100755
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ test_expect_success TTY 'quiet push' '
 	ensure_fresh_upstream &&
 
 	test_terminal git push --quiet --no-progress upstream master 2>&1 | tee output &&
-	test_cmp /dev/null output
+	test_must_be_empty output
 '
 
 test_done

index a2af693068..4319ef6ec7 100755
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ test_expect_success TTY 'push --quiet silences status and progress' '
 	cd "$ROOT_PATH"/test_repo_clone &&
 	test_commit quiet &&
 	test_terminal git push --quiet >output 2>&1 &&
-	test_cmp /dev/null output
+	test_must_be_empty output
 '
 
 test_expect_success TTY 'push --no-progress silences progress but not status' '

index 1cd12b38c5..9bc841d085 100755
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ test_expect_success 'should not fail in an empty repo' "
 	git init xyzzy &&
 	cd xyzzy &&
 	git submodule summary >output 2>&1 &&
-	test_cmp output /dev/null
+	test_must_be_empty output
 "
 
 test_done

index 825da1404a..42d5354c2a 100755
@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@ test_expect_success 'grep -L -C' '
 
 test_expect_success 'grep --files-without-match --quiet' '
 	git grep --files-without-match --quiet nonexistent_string >actual &&
-	test_cmp /dev/null actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 cat >expected <<EOF

index 4c865051e7..28f34fd3bd 100755
@@ -167,9 +167,8 @@ test_expect_success 'reinit' '
 	) &&
 	test_i18ngrep "Initialized empty" again/out1 &&
 	test_i18ngrep "Reinitialized existing" again/out2 &&
-	>again/empty &&
-	test_i18ncmp again/empty again/err1 &&
-	test_i18ncmp again/empty again/err2
+	test_must_be_empty again/err1 &&
+	test_must_be_empty again/err2
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'init with --template' '

index f19ae4f8cc..ee2f5c2389 100755
@@ -208,9 +208,8 @@ test_expect_success 'attribute test: --all option' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'attribute test: --cached option' '
-	: >empty &&
 	git check-attr --cached --stdin --all <stdin-all | sort >actual &&
-	test_cmp empty actual &&
+	test_must_be_empty actual &&
 	git add .gitattributes a/.gitattributes a/b/.gitattributes &&
 	git check-attr --cached --stdin --all <stdin-all | sort >actual &&
 	test_cmp specified-all actual

index b77948c618..5ce47e8af5 100755
@@ -320,22 +320,20 @@ test_expect_success \
 
 test_expect_success \
     'spaces with newline at end should be replaced with empty string' '
-    printf "" >expect &&
-
     echo | git stripspace >actual &&
-    test_cmp expect actual &&
+    test_must_be_empty actual &&
 
     echo "$sss" | git stripspace >actual &&
-    test_cmp expect actual &&
+    test_must_be_empty actual &&
 
     echo "$sss$sss" | git stripspace >actual &&
-    test_cmp expect actual &&
+    test_must_be_empty actual &&
 
     echo "$sss$sss$sss" | git stripspace >actual &&
-    test_cmp expect actual &&
+    test_must_be_empty actual &&
 
     echo "$sss$sss$sss$sss" | git stripspace >actual &&
-    test_cmp expect actual
+    test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success \

@@ -349,19 +347,17 @@ test_expect_success \
 
 test_expect_success \
     'spaces without newline at end should be replaced with empty string' '
-    printf "" >expect &&
-
     printf "" | git stripspace >actual &&
-    test_cmp expect actual &&
+    test_must_be_empty actual &&
 
     printf "$sss$sss" | git stripspace >actual &&
-    test_cmp expect actual &&
+    test_must_be_empty actual &&
 
     printf "$sss$sss$sss" | git stripspace >actual &&
-    test_cmp expect actual &&
+    test_must_be_empty actual &&
 
     printf "$sss$sss$sss$sss" | git stripspace >actual &&
-    test_cmp expect actual
+    test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success \

index 04d474c84f..5b0560fa20 100755
@@ -286,11 +286,9 @@ test_expect_success 'OPT_CALLBACK() and OPT_BIT() work' '
 	test_cmp expect output
 '
 
->expect
-
 test_expect_success 'OPT_CALLBACK() and callback errors work' '
 	test_must_fail test-parse-options --no-length >output 2>output.err &&
-	test_i18ncmp expect output &&
+	test_must_be_empty output &&
 	test_must_be_empty output.err
 '
 

index c887ed5b45..3e131c5325 100755
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ cat >hello-script <<-EOF
 	#!$SHELL_PATH
 	cat hello-script
 EOF
->empty
 
 test_expect_success 'start_command reports ENOENT' '
 	test-tool run-command start-command-ENOENT ./does-not-exist

@@ -23,7 +22,7 @@ test_expect_success 'run_command can run a command' '
 	test-tool run-command run-command ./hello.sh >actual 2>err &&
 
 	test_cmp hello-script actual &&
-	test_cmp empty err
+	test_must_be_empty err
 '
 
 test_expect_success !MINGW 'run_command can run a script without a #! line' '

@@ -34,7 +33,7 @@ test_expect_success !MINGW 'run_command can run a script without a #! line' '
 	test-tool run-command run-command ./hello >actual 2>err &&
 
 	test_cmp hello-script actual &&
-	test_cmp empty err
+	test_must_be_empty err
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'run_command does not try to execute a directory' '

@@ -47,7 +46,7 @@ test_expect_success 'run_command does not try to execute a directory' '
 	PATH=$PWD/bin1:$PWD/bin2:$PATH \
 		test-tool run-command run-command greet >actual 2>err &&
 	test_cmp bin2/greet actual &&
-	test_cmp empty err
+	test_must_be_empty err
 '
 
 test_expect_success POSIXPERM 'run_command passes over non-executable file' '

@@ -64,7 +63,7 @@ test_expect_success POSIXPERM 'run_command passes over non-executable file' '
 	PATH=$PWD/bin1:$PWD/bin2:$PATH \
 		test-tool run-command run-command greet >actual 2>err &&
 	test_cmp bin2/greet actual &&
-	test_cmp empty err
+	test_must_be_empty err
 '
 
 test_expect_success POSIXPERM 'run_command reports EACCES' '

index 03c223708e..84e88cf5a9 100755
@@ -346,12 +346,9 @@ test_expect_success 'working --list' '
 	git config --list > output &&
 	test_cmp expect output
 '
-cat > expect << EOF
-EOF
-
 test_expect_success '--list without repo produces empty output' '
 	git --git-dir=nonexistent config --list >output &&
-	test_cmp expect output
+	test_must_be_empty output
 '
 
 cat > expect << EOF

index 8293131001..388b0611d8 100755
@@ -290,9 +290,8 @@ test_expect_success 'stale dirs do not cause d/f conflicts (reflogs off)' '
 	# same as before, but we only create a reflog for "one" if
 	# it already exists, which it does not
 	git -c core.logallrefupdates=false branch one master &&
-	: >expect &&
 	git log -g --format="%gd %gs" one >actual &&
-	test_cmp expect actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 # Triggering the bug detected by this test requires a newline to fall

index 596907758d..26590f9a21 100755
@@ -136,13 +136,12 @@ test_expect_success '--date magic does not override explicit @{0} syntax' '
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
-: >expect
 test_expect_success 'empty reflog file' '
 	git branch empty &&
 	git reflog expire --expire=all refs/heads/empty &&
 
 	git log -g empty >actual &&
-	test_cmp expect actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 # This guards against the alternative of showing the diffs vs. the

index 91fd71444d..a652f6002a 100755
@@ -16,8 +16,7 @@ test_expect_success setup '
 	git checkout HEAD^0 &&
 	test_commit B fileB two &&
 	git tag -d A B &&
-	git reflog expire --expire=now --all &&
-	>empty
+	git reflog expire --expire=now --all
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'loose objects borrowed from alternate are not missing' '

@@ -29,12 +28,12 @@ test_expect_success 'loose objects borrowed from alternate are not missing' '
 		test_commit C fileC one &&
 		git fsck --no-dangling >../actual 2>&1
 	) &&
-	test_cmp empty actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'HEAD is part of refs, valid objects appear valid' '
 	git fsck >actual 2>&1 &&
-	test_cmp empty actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 # Corruption tests follow.  Make sure to remove all traces of the

@@ -346,12 +345,12 @@ test_expect_success 'tag with NUL in header' '
 
 test_expect_success 'cleaned up' '
 	git fsck >actual 2>&1 &&
-	test_cmp empty actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'rev-list --verify-objects' '
 	git rev-list --verify-objects --all >/dev/null 2>out &&
-	test_cmp empty out
+	test_must_be_empty out
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'rev-list --verify-objects with bad sha1' '

index c4422312f4..42962ed7d4 100755
@@ -41,8 +41,7 @@ test_expect_success 'no warning with bogus GIT_INDEX_VERSION and existing index'
 		GIT_INDEX_VERSION=1 &&
 		export GIT_INDEX_VERSION &&
 		git add a 2>actual.err &&
-		>expect.err &&
-		test_i18ncmp expect.err actual.err
+		test_must_be_empty actual.err
 	)
 '
 

index 1e81b33b2e..f85ba57803 100755
@@ -143,9 +143,7 @@ test_expect_success 'remove file not in base index' '
 test_expect_success 'remove file in base index' '
 	git update-index --force-remove one &&
 	git ls-files --stage >ls-files.actual &&
-	cat >ls-files.expect <<-EOF &&
-	EOF
-	test_cmp ls-files.expect ls-files.actual &&
+	test_must_be_empty ls-files.actual &&
 
 	test-tool dump-split-index .git/index | sed "/^own/d" >actual &&
 	cat >expect <<-EOF &&

index 314c73c5a7..f764b7e3f5 100755
@@ -88,9 +88,8 @@ test_expect_success 'non-qualified update in subdir updates from the root' '
 		echo even more >>sub2 &&
 		git add -u
 	) &&
-	: >expect &&
 	git diff-files --name-only >actual &&
-	test_cmp expect actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'replace a file with a symlink' '

index e7a400b4c7..68e54d5c44 100755
@@ -195,8 +195,7 @@ test_expect_success 'rename detection finds the right names' '
 		test_cmp expected.4 actual.4 &&
 
 		git diff --cached --stat >actual.5 &&
-		: >expected.5 &&
-		test_cmp expected.5 actual.5
+		test_must_be_empty actual.5
 
 	)
 '

@@ -241,8 +240,7 @@ test_expect_success 'diff-files/diff-cached shows ita as new/not-new files' '
 	echo " create mode 100644 new-ita" >expected &&
 	test_cmp expected actual &&
 	git diff --cached --summary >actual2 &&
-	: >expected2 &&
-	test_cmp expected2 actual2
+	test_must_be_empty actual2
 '
 
 

index 3b47647ed5..1ec7cb57c7 100755
@@ -277,9 +277,8 @@ test_expect_success 'hide empty ignored sub-directory with --no-empty-directory'
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pattern matches prefix completely' '
-	: >expect &&
 	git ls-files -i -o --exclude "/three/a.3[abc]" >actual &&
-	test_cmp expect actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'ls-files with "**" patterns' '

@@ -295,9 +294,8 @@ EOF
 
 
 test_expect_success 'ls-files with "**" patterns and no slashes' '
-	: >expect &&
 	git ls-files -o -i --exclude "one**a.1" >actual &&
-	test_cmp expect actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_done

index 9c7adbdbe1..9fd5a1f188 100755
@@ -8,16 +8,14 @@ command-line arguments.
 
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
->empty
-
 test_expect_success 'ls-files in empty repository' '
 	git ls-files >actual &&
-	test_cmp empty actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'ls-files with nonexistent path' '
 	git ls-files doesnotexist >actual &&
-	test_cmp empty actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'ls-files with nonsense option' '

index 0c0b433bd3..c4b4a94324 100755
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ test_commit_this () {
 }
 
 test_expect_success 'setup' '
-	: >empty &&
 	test_file checked-out init &&
 	test_file modify_delete modify_delete_init &&
 	test_commit_this init &&

@@ -38,7 +37,7 @@ test_expect_success 'reset --hard works after the conflict' '
 
 test_expect_success 'is reset properly' '
 	git status --porcelain -- modify_delete >out &&
-	test_cmp empty out &&
+	test_must_be_empty out &&
 	test_path_is_missing modify_delete
 '
 

@@ -52,7 +51,7 @@ test_expect_success 'Merge abort works after the conflict' '
 
 test_expect_success 'is aborted properly' '
 	git status --porcelain -- modify_delete >out &&
-	test_cmp empty out &&
+	test_must_be_empty out &&
 	test_path_is_missing modify_delete
 '
 

index 2d200fdf36..e5703a0d5b 100755
@@ -481,10 +481,8 @@ test_expect_success 'list specific note with "git notes list <object>"' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'listing non-existing notes fails' '
-	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
-	EOF
 	test_must_fail git notes list HEAD >actual &&
-	test_cmp expect actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'append to existing note with "git notes append"' '

index 01616901bd..5997770dc3 100755
@@ -787,16 +787,15 @@ test_expect_success 'always cherry-pick with --no-ff' '
 	git tag original-no-ff-branch &&
 	set_fake_editor &&
 	git rebase -i --no-ff A &&
-	touch empty &&
 	for p in 0 1 2
 	do
 		test ! $(git rev-parse HEAD~$p) = $(git rev-parse original-no-ff-branch~$p) &&
 		git diff HEAD~$p original-no-ff-branch~$p > out &&
-		test_cmp empty out
+		test_must_be_empty out
 	done &&
 	test $(git rev-parse HEAD~3) = $(git rev-parse original-no-ff-branch~3) &&
 	git diff HEAD~3 original-no-ff-branch~3 > out &&
-	test_cmp empty out
+	test_must_be_empty out
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'set up commits with funny messages' '

index 5659c2612d..1ea9e0d21d 100755
@@ -776,8 +776,6 @@ test_expect_success 'checkdiff allows new blank lines' '
 	git diff --check
 '
 
-cat <<EOF >expect
-EOF
 test_expect_success 'whitespace-only changes not reported' '
 	git reset --hard &&
 	echo >x "hello world" &&

@@ -785,7 +783,7 @@ test_expect_success 'whitespace-only changes not reported' '
 	git commit -m "hello 1" &&
 	echo >x "hello  world" &&
 	git diff -b >actual &&
-	test_cmp expect actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 cat <<EOF >expect

index e5f9eb7a11..9aa8e2b39b 100755
@@ -239,10 +239,9 @@ test_expect_success 'git diff between submodule commits [.gitmodules]' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'git diff (empty submodule dir)' '
-	: >empty &&
 	rm -rf sub/* sub/.git &&
 	git diff > actual.empty &&
-	test_cmp empty actual.empty
+	test_must_be_empty actual.empty
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'conflicted submodule setup' '

index 302f2166a9..7a4594224b 100755
@@ -257,9 +257,7 @@ test_expect_success 'typechanged submodule(blob->submodule)' '
 commit_file sm1 &&
 test_expect_success 'submodule is up to date' '
 	git diff-index -p --submodule=log HEAD >actual &&
-	cat >expected <<-EOF &&
-	EOF
-	test_cmp expected actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'submodule contains untracked content' '

index 6fc3da8bd2..60c8dc75a9 100755
@@ -392,9 +392,7 @@ test_expect_success 'typechanged submodule(blob->submodule)' '
 commit_file sm1 &&
 test_expect_success 'submodule is up to date' '
 	git diff-index -p --submodule=diff HEAD >actual &&
-	cat >expected <<-EOF &&
-	EOF
-	test_cmp expected actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'submodule contains untracked content' '

index a2bc1cd37d..fec1d6fa51 100755
@@ -49,8 +49,7 @@ test_expect_success setup '
 	sed -e "s/TS0/$timeGMT/" -e "s/TS1/$epocGMT/" <d >removeGMT.patch &&
 	sed -e "s/TS0/$timeWest/" -e "s/TS1/$epocWest2/" <d >removeWest2.patch &&
 
-	echo something >something &&
-	>empty
+	echo something >something
 '
 
 for patch in *.patch

@@ -81,7 +80,7 @@ do
 			git add file &&
 			git apply --index $patch &&
 			test -f file &&
-			test_cmp empty file
+			test_must_be_empty file
 			;;
 		remove*)
 			# must remove the file

index 0dd8b65d7c..43b1522ea2 100755
@@ -461,11 +461,9 @@ test_expect_success 'Grep author with log.mailmap' '
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
->expect
-
 test_expect_success 'Only grep replaced author with --use-mailmap' '
 	git log --use-mailmap --author "<[email protected]>" >actual &&
-	test_cmp expect actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 # git blame

index 22aa8b7c0e..03b952c90d 100755
@@ -26,22 +26,20 @@ test_expect_success 'git log with broken author email' '
 		echo
 		echo "    foo"
 	} >expect.out &&
-	: >expect.err &&
 
 	git log broken_email >actual.out 2>actual.err &&
 
 	test_cmp expect.out actual.out &&
-	test_cmp expect.err actual.err
+	test_must_be_empty actual.err
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'git log --format with broken author email' '
 	echo "A U [email protected]+Thu Apr 7 15:13:13 2005 -0700" >expect.out &&
-	: >expect.err &&
 
 	git log --format="%an+%ae+%ad" broken_email >actual.out 2>actual.err &&
 
 	test_cmp expect.out actual.out &&
-	test_cmp expect.err actual.err
+	test_must_be_empty actual.err
 '
 
 munge_author_date () {

index 9015e47654..d87cc7d9ef 100755
@@ -25,25 +25,19 @@ EXPECTED
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'file add !A, B' '
-	cat >expected <<\EXPECTED &&
-EXPECTED
-
 	git reset --hard initial &&
 	test_commit "add-not-a-b" "ONE" "AAA" &&
 	git merge-tree initial add-not-a-b initial >actual &&
-	test_cmp expected actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'file add A, B (same)' '
-	cat >expected <<\EXPECTED &&
-EXPECTED
-
 	git reset --hard initial &&
 	test_commit "add-a-b-same-A" "ONE" "AAA" &&
 	git reset --hard initial &&
 	test_commit "add-a-b-same-B" "ONE" "AAA" &&
 	git merge-tree initial add-a-b-same-A add-a-b-same-B >actual &&
-	test_cmp expected actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'file add A, B (different)' '

@@ -68,13 +62,10 @@ EXPECTED
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'file change A, !B' '
-	cat >expected <<\EXPECTED &&
-EXPECTED
-
 	git reset --hard initial &&
 	test_commit "change-a-not-b" "initial-file" "BBB" &&
 	git merge-tree initial change-a-not-b initial >actual &&
-	test_cmp expected actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'file change !A, B' '

@@ -94,15 +85,12 @@ EXPECTED
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'file change A, B (same)' '
-	cat >expected <<\EXPECTED &&
-EXPECTED
-
 	git reset --hard initial &&
 	test_commit "change-a-b-same-A" "initial-file" "AAA" &&
 	git reset --hard initial &&
 	test_commit "change-a-b-same-B" "initial-file" "AAA" &&
 	git merge-tree initial change-a-b-same-A change-a-b-same-B >actual &&
-	test_cmp expected actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'file change A, B (different)' '

@@ -175,16 +163,13 @@ AAA" &&
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'file remove A, !B' '
-	cat >expected <<\EXPECTED &&
-EXPECTED
-
 	git reset --hard initial &&
 	test_commit "rm-a-not-b-base" "ONE" "AAA" &&
 	git rm ONE &&
 	git commit -m "rm-a-not-b" &&
 	git tag "rm-a-not-b" &&
 	git merge-tree rm-a-not-b-base rm-a-not-b rm-a-not-b-base >actual &&
-	test_cmp expected actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'file remove !A, B' '

@@ -206,16 +191,13 @@ EXPECTED
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'file remove A, B (same)' '
-	cat >expected <<\EXPECTED &&
-EXPECTED
-
 	git reset --hard initial &&
 	test_commit "rm-a-b-base" "ONE" "AAA" &&
 	git rm ONE &&
 	git commit -m "rm-a-b" &&
 	git tag "rm-a-b" &&
 	git merge-tree rm-a-b-base rm-a-b rm-a-b >actual &&
-	test_cmp expected actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'file change A, remove B' '

@@ -260,13 +242,11 @@ EXPECTED
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'tree add A, B (same)' '
-	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
-	EOF
 	git reset --hard initial &&
 	mkdir sub &&
 	test_commit "add sub/file" "sub/file" "file" add-tree-A &&
 	git merge-tree initial add-tree-A add-tree-A >actual &&
-	test_cmp expect actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'tree add A, B (different)' '

index f20f03c103..270da21ac3 100755
@@ -112,8 +112,7 @@ test_expect_success 'prune: do not prune detached HEAD with no reflog' '
 	# (should be removed and disabled by previous test)
 	test_path_is_missing .git/logs &&
 	git prune -n >prune_actual &&
-	: >prune_expected &&
-	test_cmp prune_actual prune_expected
+	test_must_be_empty prune_actual
 
 '
 

index f31995d3d2..e525466de0 100755
@@ -98,9 +98,8 @@ test_expect_success 'repack' '
 	# We first want to check that we do not have any internal errors,
 	# and also that we do not hit the last-ditch cycle-breaking code
 	# in write_object(), which will issue a warning to stderr.
-	>expect &&
 	git repack -ad 2>stderr &&
-	test_cmp expect stderr &&
+	test_must_be_empty stderr &&
 
 	# And then double-check that the resulting pack is usable (i.e.,
 	# we did not fail to notice any cycles). We know we are accessing

index ce3af92843..fc95df0d0d 100755
@@ -495,7 +495,6 @@ test_expect_success "'fetch.recurseSubmodules=on-demand' works also without .git
 	git add submodule &&
 	git rm .gitmodules &&
 	git commit -m "new submodule without .gitmodules" &&
-	printf "" >expect.out &&
 	head2=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD) &&
 	echo "From $pwd/." >expect.err.2 &&
 	echo "   $head1..$head2  master     -> origin/master" >>expect.err.2 &&

@@ -514,7 +513,7 @@ test_expect_success "'fetch.recurseSubmodules=on-demand' works also without .git
 		git config --unset fetch.recurseSubmodules &&
 		git reset --hard
 	) &&
-	test_i18ncmp expect.out actual.out &&
+	test_must_be_empty actual.out &&
 	test_i18ncmp expect.err.2 actual.err &&
 	git checkout HEAD^ -- .gitmodules &&
 	git add .gitmodules &&

index 0a37dd5f97..d4ff0b3bef 100755
@@ -113,12 +113,11 @@ test_expect_success 'verify blob:limit=1k' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'verify blob:limit=1m' '
-	cat </dev/null >expected &&
 	git -C r2 rev-list HEAD --quiet --objects --filter-print-omitted --filter=blob:limit=1m \
 		| awk -f print_1.awk \
 		| sed "s/~//" \
 		| sort >observed &&
-	test_cmp observed expected
+	test_must_be_empty observed
 '
 
 # Test sparse:path=<path> filter.

index 84dd1cb690..d639d94696 100755
@@ -121,10 +121,9 @@ test_expect_success 'describe --contains defaults to HEAD without commit-ish' '
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
-: >err.expect
 check_describe tags/A --all A^0
 test_expect_success 'no warning was displayed for A' '
-	test_cmp err.expect err.actual
+	test_must_be_empty err.actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'rename tag A to Q locally' '

index 658353277e..37760233a5 100755
@@ -97,9 +97,8 @@ test_expect_success 'no-glob option matches literally (bracket)' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'no-glob option disables :(literal)' '
-	: >expect &&
 	git --literal-pathspecs log --format=%s -- ":(literal)foo" >actual &&
-	test_cmp expect actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'no-glob environment variable works' '

@@ -130,9 +129,8 @@ test_expect_success '**/ works with :(glob)' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success '**/ does not work with --noglob-pathspecs' '
-	: >expect &&
 	git --noglob-pathspecs log --format=%s -- "**/bar" >actual &&
-	test_cmp expect actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success '**/ works with :(glob) and --noglob-pathspecs' '

@@ -154,9 +152,8 @@ test_expect_success '**/ works with --glob-pathspecs' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success '**/ does not work with :(literal) and --glob-pathspecs' '
-	: >expect &&
 	git --glob-pathspecs log --format=%s -- ":(literal)**/bar" >actual &&
-	test_cmp expect actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_done

index a54a52aaa4..93f23cfa82 100755
@@ -366,8 +366,6 @@ test_expect_success 'merge-msg with nothing to merge' '
 	test_unconfig merge.log &&
 	test_config merge.summary yes &&
 
-	>empty &&
-
 	(
 		cd remote &&
 		git checkout -b unrelated &&

@@ -376,7 +374,7 @@ test_expect_success 'merge-msg with nothing to merge' '
 		git fmt-merge-msg <.git/FETCH_HEAD >../actual
 	) &&
 
-	test_cmp empty actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'merge-msg tag' '

index 93a6694f0e..2e17cdb084 100755
@@ -325,11 +325,10 @@ test_expect_success \
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
->expect
 test_expect_success \
 	'listing tags using v.* should print nothing because none have v.' '
 	git tag -l "v.*" > actual &&
-	test_cmp expect actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 cat >expect <<EOF

@@ -1498,12 +1497,9 @@ test_expect_success 'inverse of the last test, with --no-contains' "
 	test_cmp expected actual
 "
 
-cat > expected <<EOF
-EOF
-
 test_expect_success 'checking that third commit has no tags' "
 	git tag -l --contains $hash3 v* >actual &&
-	test_cmp expected actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 "
 
 cat > expected <<EOF

index 615e7e0162..2d87c49b75 100755
@@ -57,9 +57,8 @@ test_expect_success 'git grep -ah ina a' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'git grep -I ina a' '
-	: >expect &&
 	test_must_fail git grep -I ina a >actual &&
-	test_cmp expect actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'git grep -c ina a' '

@@ -81,9 +80,8 @@ test_expect_success 'git grep -L bar a' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'git grep -q ina a' '
-	: >expect &&
 	git grep -q ina a >actual &&
-	test_cmp expect actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'git grep -F ile a' '

index b9a86d3347..11eccc231a 100755
@@ -364,11 +364,8 @@ test_expect_success 'verify upstream fields in branch header' '
 		test_cmp expect actual &&
 
 		## Repeat the above but without --branch.
-		cat >expect <<-EOF &&
-		EOF
-
 		git status --porcelain=v2 --untracked-files=all >actual &&
-		test_cmp expect actual &&
+		test_must_be_empty actual &&
 
 		## Test upstream-gone case. Fake this by pointing origin/master at
 		## a non-existing commit.

index 0e7d4421a7..d67b10ce00 100755
@@ -116,9 +116,8 @@ test_expect_success "checkout -m with dirty tree" '
 	git diff --name-status side >current.side &&
 	test_cmp expect.side current.side &&
 
-	: >expect.index &&
 	git diff --cached >current.index &&
-	test_cmp expect.index current.index
+	test_must_be_empty current.index
 '
 
 test_expect_success "checkout -m with dirty tree, renamed" '

index 48fd14fae6..894ea2f27d 100755
@@ -101,7 +101,6 @@ inspect() {
 
 test_expect_success 'submodule add' '
 	echo "refs/heads/master" >expect &&
-	>empty &&
 
 	(
 		cd addtest &&

@@ -123,7 +122,7 @@ test_expect_success 'submodule add' '
 	inspect addtest/submod ../.. &&
 	test_cmp expect heads &&
 	test_cmp expect head &&
-	test_cmp empty untracked
+	test_must_be_empty untracked
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'setup parent and one repository' '

@@ -188,7 +187,6 @@ test_expect_success 'submodule add --branch' '
 	refs/heads/initial
 	refs/heads/master
 	EOF
-	>empty &&
 
 	(
 		cd addtest &&

@@ -201,12 +199,11 @@ test_expect_success 'submodule add --branch' '
 	inspect addtest/submod-branch ../.. &&
 	test_cmp expect-heads heads &&
 	test_cmp expect-head head &&
-	test_cmp empty untracked
+	test_must_be_empty untracked
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'submodule add with ./ in path' '
 	echo "refs/heads/master" >expect &&
-	>empty &&
 
 	(
 		cd addtest &&

@@ -218,12 +215,11 @@ test_expect_success 'submodule add with ./ in path' '
 	inspect addtest/dotsubmod/frotz ../../.. &&
 	test_cmp expect heads &&
 	test_cmp expect head &&
-	test_cmp empty untracked
+	test_must_be_empty untracked
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'submodule add with /././ in path' '
 	echo "refs/heads/master" >expect &&
-	>empty &&
 
 	(
 		cd addtest &&

@@ -235,12 +231,11 @@ test_expect_success 'submodule add with /././ in path' '
 	inspect addtest/dotslashdotsubmod/frotz ../../.. &&
 	test_cmp expect heads &&
 	test_cmp expect head &&
-	test_cmp empty untracked
+	test_must_be_empty untracked
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'submodule add with // in path' '
 	echo "refs/heads/master" >expect &&
-	>empty &&
 
 	(
 		cd addtest &&

@@ -252,12 +247,11 @@ test_expect_success 'submodule add with // in path' '
 	inspect addtest/slashslashsubmod/frotz ../../.. &&
 	test_cmp expect heads &&
 	test_cmp expect head &&
-	test_cmp empty untracked
+	test_must_be_empty untracked
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'submodule add with /.. in path' '
 	echo "refs/heads/master" >expect &&
-	>empty &&
 
 	(
 		cd addtest &&

@@ -269,12 +263,11 @@ test_expect_success 'submodule add with /.. in path' '
 	inspect addtest/realsubmod ../.. &&
 	test_cmp expect heads &&
 	test_cmp expect head &&
-	test_cmp empty untracked
+	test_must_be_empty untracked
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'submodule add with ./, /.. and // in path' '
 	echo "refs/heads/master" >expect &&
-	>empty &&
 
 	(
 		cd addtest &&

@@ -286,7 +279,7 @@ test_expect_success 'submodule add with ./, /.. and // in path' '
 	inspect addtest/realsubmod2 ../.. &&
 	test_cmp expect heads &&
 	test_cmp expect head &&
-	test_cmp empty untracked
+	test_must_be_empty untracked
 '
 
 test_expect_success !CYGWIN 'submodule add with \\ in path' '

@@ -305,7 +298,6 @@ test_expect_success !CYGWIN 'submodule add with \\ in path' '
 
 test_expect_success 'submodule add in subdirectory' '
 	echo "refs/heads/master" >expect &&
-	>empty &&
 
 	mkdir addtest/sub &&
 	(

@@ -318,7 +310,7 @@ test_expect_success 'submodule add in subdirectory' '
 	inspect addtest/realsubmod3 ../.. &&
 	test_cmp expect heads &&
 	test_cmp expect head &&
-	test_cmp empty untracked
+	test_must_be_empty untracked
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'submodule add in subdirectory with relative path should fail' '

@@ -501,8 +493,6 @@ test_expect_success 'checkout superproject with subproject already present' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'apply submodule diff' '
-	>empty &&
-
 	git branch second &&
 	(
 		cd init &&

@@ -517,7 +507,7 @@ test_expect_success 'apply submodule diff' '
 	git apply --index P.diff &&
 
 	git diff --cached master >staged &&
-	test_cmp empty staged
+	test_must_be_empty staged
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'update --init' '

index 9dbbd01fc0..c1d232e92d 100755
@@ -582,13 +582,11 @@ test_expect_success 'same tree (merge and amend merge)' '
 
 	git merge -s ours side -m "empty ok" &&
 	git diff HEAD^ HEAD >actual &&
-	: >expected &&
-	test_cmp expected actual &&
+	test_must_be_empty actual &&
 
 	git commit --amend -m "empty really ok" &&
 	git diff HEAD^ HEAD >actual &&
-	: >expected &&
-	test_cmp expected actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 
 '
 

index 6736d8d131..106148254d 100755
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ printf '%s\n' '1 X' 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 >result.1
 printf '%s\n' '1 X' 2 3 4 '5 X' 6 7 8 9 >result.1-5
 printf '%s\n' '1 X' 2 3 4 '5 X' 6 7 8 '9 X' >result.1-5-9
 printf '%s\n' 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 '9 Z' >result.9z
->empty
 
 create_merge_msgs () {
 	echo "Merge tag 'c2'" >msg.1-5 &&

@@ -58,8 +57,6 @@ create_merge_msgs () {
 		echo &&
 		git log --no-merges ^HEAD c2 c3
 	} >squash.1-5-9 &&
-	: >msg.nologff &&
-	: >msg.nolognoff &&
 	{
 		echo "* tag 'c3':" &&
 		echo "  commit 3"

@@ -519,7 +516,7 @@ test_expect_success 'tolerate unknown values for merge.ff' '
 	test_tick &&
 	git merge c1 2>message &&
 	verify_head "$c1" &&
-	test_cmp empty message
+	test_must_be_empty message
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'combining --squash and --no-ff is refused' '

@@ -551,13 +548,13 @@ test_expect_success 'merge log message' '
 	git reset --hard c0 &&
 	git merge --no-log c2 &&
 	git show -s --pretty=format:%b HEAD >msg.act &&
-	test_cmp msg.nologff msg.act &&
+	test_must_be_empty msg.act &&
 
 	git reset --hard c0 &&
 	test_config branch.master.mergeoptions "--no-ff" &&
 	git merge --no-log c2 &&
 	git show -s --pretty=format:%b HEAD >msg.act &&
-	test_cmp msg.nolognoff msg.act &&
+	test_must_be_empty msg.act &&
 
 	git merge --log c3 &&
 	git show -s --pretty=format:%b HEAD >msg.act &&

index 4d46c599f8..78bed2aee1 100755
@@ -328,9 +328,8 @@ test_expect_success 'mergetool produces no errors when keepBackup is used' '
 	git checkout -b test$test_count move-to-c &&
 	test_config mergetool.keepBackup true &&
 	test_must_fail git merge move-to-b &&
-	: >expect &&
 	echo d | git mergetool a/a/file.txt 2>actual &&
-	test_cmp expect actual &&
+	test_must_be_empty actual &&
 	! test -d a
 '
 

index 42d5354c2a..c82c8f5f72 100755
@@ -217,9 +217,8 @@ do
 	'
 
 	test_expect_success "grep -w $L (w)" '
-		: >expected &&
 		test_must_fail git grep -n -w -e "^w" $H >actual &&
-		test_cmp expected actual
+		test_must_be_empty actual
 	'
 
 	test_expect_success "grep -w $L (x)" '

@@ -239,26 +238,24 @@ do
 	'
 
 	test_expect_success "grep -w $L (y-2)" '
-		: >expected &&
 		if git grep -n -w -e "^y y" $H >actual
 		then
 			echo should not have matched
 			cat actual
 			false
 		else
-			test_cmp expected actual
+			test_must_be_empty actual
 		fi
 	'
 
 	test_expect_success "grep -w $L (z)" '
-		: >expected &&
 		if git grep -n -w -e "^z" $H >actual
 		then
 			echo should not have matched
 			cat actual
 			false
 		else
-			test_cmp expected actual
+			test_must_be_empty actual
 		fi
 	'
 

@@ -604,11 +601,10 @@ z:zzz
 EOF
 
 test_expect_success 'grep -q, silently report matches' '
-	>empty &&
 	git grep -q mmap >actual &&
-	test_cmp empty actual &&
+	test_must_be_empty actual &&
 	test_must_fail git grep -q qfwfq >actual &&
-	test_cmp empty actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'grep -C1 hunk mark between files' '

@@ -701,8 +697,7 @@ test_expect_success 'log grep (9)' '
 
 test_expect_success 'log grep (9)' '
 	git log -g --grep-reflog="commit: third" --author="non-existent" --pretty=tformat:%s >actual &&
-	: >expect &&
-	test_cmp expect actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'log --grep-reflog can only be used under -g' '

@@ -792,15 +787,13 @@ test_expect_success 'log --all-match --grep --grep --author takes intersection'
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'log --author does not search in timestamp' '
-	: >expect &&
 	git log --author="$GIT_AUTHOR_DATE" >actual &&
-	test_cmp expect actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'log --committer does not search in timestamp' '
-	: >expect &&
 	git log --committer="$GIT_COMMITTER_DATE" >actual &&
-	test_cmp expect actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'grep with CE_VALID file' '

@@ -1051,13 +1044,12 @@ test_expect_success 'inside git repository but with --no-index' '
 		echo ".gitignore:.*o*" &&
 		cat is/expect.unignored
 	} >is/expect.full &&
-	: >is/expect.empty &&
 	echo file2:world >is/expect.sub &&
 	(
 		cd is/git &&
 		git init &&
 		test_must_fail git grep o >../actual.full &&
-		test_cmp ../expect.empty ../actual.full &&
+		test_must_be_empty ../actual.full &&
 
 		git grep --untracked o >../actual.unignored &&
 		test_cmp ../expect.unignored ../actual.unignored &&

@@ -1070,7 +1062,7 @@ test_expect_success 'inside git repository but with --no-index' '
 
 		cd sub &&
 		test_must_fail git grep o >../../actual.sub &&
-		test_cmp ../../expect.empty ../../actual.sub &&
+		test_must_be_empty ../../actual.sub &&
 
 		git grep --no-index o >../../actual.sub &&
 		test_cmp ../../expect.sub ../../actual.sub &&

@@ -1236,10 +1228,9 @@ test_expect_success !PCRE 'grep -P pattern errors without PCRE' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'grep pattern with grep.extendedRegexp=true' '
-	>empty &&
 	test_must_fail git -c grep.extendedregexp=true \
 		grep "\p{Ps}.*?\p{Pe}" hello.c >actual &&
-	test_cmp empty actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success PCRE 'grep -P pattern with grep.extendedRegexp=true' '

index e1951a5cbb..d1ebfd88c7 100755
@@ -51,14 +51,13 @@ test_expect_success SIMPLEPAGER 'git grep -O' '
 	grep.h
 	EOF
 	echo grep.h >expect.notless &&
-	>empty &&
 
 	PATH=.:$PATH git grep -O GREP_PATTERN >out &&
 	{
 		test_cmp expect.less pager-args ||
 		test_cmp expect.notless pager-args
 	} &&
-	test_cmp empty out
+	test_must_be_empty out
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'git grep -O --cached' '

@@ -72,7 +71,6 @@ test_expect_success 'git grep -O --no-index' '
 	grep.h
 	untracked
 	EOF
-	>empty &&
 
 	(
 		GIT_PAGER='\''printf "%s\n" >pager-args'\'' &&

@@ -80,7 +78,7 @@ test_expect_success 'git grep -O --no-index' '
 		git grep --no-index -O GREP_PATTERN >out
 	) &&
 	test_cmp expect pager-args &&
-	test_cmp empty out
+	test_must_be_empty out
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'setup: fake "less"' '

@@ -96,15 +94,14 @@ test_expect_success 'git grep -O jumps to line in less' '
 	+/*GREP_PATTERN
 	grep.h
 	EOF
-	>empty &&
 
 	GIT_PAGER=./less git grep -O GREP_PATTERN >out &&
 	test_cmp expect actual &&
-	test_cmp empty out &&
+	test_must_be_empty out &&
 
 	git grep -O./less GREP_PATTERN >out2 &&
 	test_cmp expect actual &&
-	test_cmp empty out2
+	test_must_be_empty out2
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'modified file' '

@@ -122,7 +119,7 @@ test_expect_success 'modified file' '
 	test_when_finished "git checkout HEAD unrelated" &&
 	GIT_PAGER=./less git grep -F -O "enum grep_pat_token" >out &&
 	test_cmp expect actual &&
-	test_cmp empty out
+	test_must_be_empty out
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'copes with color settings' '

@@ -138,7 +135,6 @@ test_expect_success 'copes with color settings' '
 test_expect_success 'run from subdir' '
 	rm -f actual &&
 	echo grep.c >expect &&
-	>empty &&
 
 	(
 		cd subdir &&

@@ -156,8 +152,8 @@ test_expect_success 'run from subdir' '
 		;;
 	esac &&
 	test_cmp expect args &&
-	test_cmp empty out &&
-	test_cmp empty out2
+	test_must_be_empty out &&
+	test_must_be_empty out2
 '
 
 test_done

index b38d16f9db..ab1ef28fd9 100755
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ test_expect_success 'reject empty delta' '
 test_expect_success 'delta can empty file' '
 	printf "SVNQ" | q_to_nul >clear.delta &&
 	test-svn-fe -d preimage clear.delta 4 >actual &&
-	test_cmp empty actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'reject svndiff2' '

@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ test_expect_success 'reject svndiff2' '
 test_expect_success 'one-window empty delta' '
 	printf "SVNQ%s" "QQQQQ" | q_to_nul >clear.onewindow &&
 	test-svn-fe -d preimage clear.onewindow 9 >actual &&
-	test_cmp empty actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'reject incomplete window header' '

@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ test_expect_success 'two-window empty delta' '
 	printf "SVNQ%s%s" "QQQQQ" "QQQQQ" | q_to_nul >clear.twowindow &&
 	test-svn-fe -d preimage clear.twowindow 14 >actual &&
 	test_must_fail test-svn-fe -d preimage clear.twowindow 13 &&
-	test_cmp empty actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'noisy zeroes' '

@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ test_expect_success 'noisy zeroes' '
 		q_to_nul >clear.noisy &&
 	len=$(wc -c <clear.noisy) &&
 	test-svn-fe -d preimage clear.noisy $len &&
-	test_cmp empty actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'reject variable-length int in magic' '

@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ test_expect_success 'reject truncated integer' '
 test_expect_success 'nonempty (but unused) preimage view' '
 	printf "SVNQ%b" "Q\003QQQ" | q_to_nul >clear.readpreimage &&
 	test-svn-fe -d preimage clear.readpreimage 9 >actual &&
-	test_cmp empty actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'preimage view: right endpoint cannot backtrack' '

@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ test_expect_success 'preimage view: left endpoint can advance' '
 		q_to_nul >clear.shrinkbacktrack &&
 	test-svn-fe -d preimage clear.preshrink 14 >actual &&
 	test_must_fail test-svn-fe -d preimage clear.shrinkbacktrack 14 &&
-	test_cmp empty actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'preimage view: offsets compared by value' '

@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ test_expect_success 'preimage view: offsets compared by value' '
 		q_to_nul >clear.noisyadvance &&
 	test_must_fail test-svn-fe -d preimage clear.noisybacktrack 15 &&
 	test-svn-fe -d preimage clear.noisyadvance 15 &&
-	test_cmp empty actual
+	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'preimage view: reject truncated preimage' '

index 1319415ba8..99d7aa621d 100755
@@ -43,11 +43,11 @@ check_entries () {
 	sed -ne '/^\//p' "$1/CVS/Entries" | sort | cut -d/ -f2,3,5 >actual
 	if test -z "$2"
 	then
-		>expected
+		test_must_be_empty actual
 	else
 		printf '%s\n' "$2" | tr '|' '\012' >expected
+		test_cmp expected actual
 	fi
-	test_cmp expected actual
 }
 
 test_expect_success \

index c3b89ae783..056bf1dcda 100755
@@ -516,10 +516,9 @@ test_expect_success 'prompt - format string starting with dash' '
 
 test_expect_success 'prompt - pc mode' '
 	printf "BEFORE: (\${__git_ps1_branch_name}):AFTER\\nmaster" >expected &&
-	printf "" >expected_output &&
 	(
 		__git_ps1 "BEFORE:" ":AFTER" >"$actual" &&
-		test_cmp expected_output "$actual" &&
+		test_must_be_empty "$actual" &&
 		printf "%s\\n%s" "$PS1" "${__git_ps1_branch_name}" >"$actual"
 	) &&
 	test_cmp expected "$actual"

@@ -715,13 +714,12 @@ test_expect_success 'prompt - hide if pwd ignored - env var set, config disabled
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'prompt - hide if pwd ignored - env var set, config unset' '
-	printf "" >expected &&
 	(
 		cd ignored_dir &&
 		GIT_PS1_HIDE_IF_PWD_IGNORED=y &&
 		__git_ps1 >"$actual"
 	) &&
-	test_cmp expected "$actual"
+	test_must_be_empty "$actual"
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'prompt - hide if pwd ignored - env var set, config unset, pc mode' '