Mechanical conversion to use prefixcmp()

This mechanically converts strncmp() to use prefixcmp(), but only when
the parameters match specific patterns, so that they can be verified
easily.  Leftover from this will be fixed in a separate step, including
idiotic conversions like

    if (!strncmp("foo", arg, 3))

  =>

    if (!(-prefixcmp(arg, "foo")))

This was done by using this script in px.perl

   #!/usr/bin/perl -i.bak -p
   if (/strncmp\(([^,]+), "([^\\"]*)", (\d+)\)/ && (length($2) == $3)) {
           s|strncmp\(([^,]+), "([^\\"]*)", (\d+)\)|prefixcmp($1, "$2")|;
   }
   if (/strncmp\("([^\\"]*)", ([^,]+), (\d+)\)/ && (length($1) == $3)) {
           s|strncmp\("([^\\"]*)", ([^,]+), (\d+)\)|(-prefixcmp($2, "$1"))|;
   }

and running:

   $ git grep -l strncmp -- '*.c' | xargs perl px.perl

Signed-off-by: Junio C Hamano <junkio@cox.net>

48 files changed, 211 insertions, 211 deletions

diff --git a/builtin-apply.c b/builtin-apply.c
index abe3538715..d67817834b 100644
--- a/builtin-apply.c
+++ b/builtin-apply.c
@@ -1129,11 +1129,11 @@ static struct fragment *parse_binary_hunk(char **buf_p,
 
 	*status_p = 0;
 
-	if (!strncmp(buffer, "delta ", 6)) {
+	if (!prefixcmp(buffer, "delta ")) {
 		patch_method = BINARY_DELTA_DEFLATED;
 		origlen = strtoul(buffer + 6, NULL, 10);
 	}
-	else if (!strncmp(buffer, "literal ", 8)) {
+	else if (!prefixcmp(buffer, "literal ")) {
 		patch_method = BINARY_LITERAL_DEFLATED;
 		origlen = strtoul(buffer + 8, NULL, 10);
 	}
@@ -2608,14 +2608,14 @@ int cmd_apply(int argc, const char **argv, const char *unused_prefix)
 			read_stdin = 0;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--exclude=", 10)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--exclude=")) {
 			struct excludes *x = xmalloc(sizeof(*x));
 			x->path = arg + 10;
 			x->next = excludes;
 			excludes = x;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "-p", 2)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "-p")) {
 			p_value = atoi(arg + 2);
 			continue;
 		}
@@ -2669,13 +2669,13 @@ int cmd_apply(int argc, const char **argv, const char *unused_prefix)
 			line_termination = 0;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "-C", 2)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "-C")) {
 			p_context = strtoul(arg + 2, &end, 0);
 			if (*end != '\0')
 				die("unrecognized context count '%s'", arg + 2);
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--whitespace=", 13)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--whitespace=")) {
 			whitespace_option = arg + 13;
 			parse_whitespace_option(arg + 13);
 			continue;
diff --git a/builtin-archive.c b/builtin-archive.c
index f613ac2516..0c56de0698 100644
--- a/builtin-archive.c
+++ b/builtin-archive.c
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ static int run_remote_archiver(const char *remote, int argc,
 
 	for (i = 1; i < argc; i++) {
 		const char *arg = argv[i];
-		if (!strncmp("--exec=", arg, 7)) {
+		if (!(-prefixcmp(arg, "--exec="))) {
 			if (exec_at)
 				die("multiple --exec specified");
 			exec = arg + 7;
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ static int run_remote_archiver(const char *remote, int argc,
 	if (buf[len-1] == '\n')
 		buf[--len] = 0;
 	if (strcmp(buf, "ACK")) {
-		if (len > 5 && !strncmp(buf, "NACK ", 5))
+		if (len > 5 && !prefixcmp(buf, "NACK "))
 			die("git-archive: NACK %s", buf + 5);
 		die("git-archive: protocol error");
 	}
@@ -166,11 +166,11 @@ int parse_archive_args(int argc, const char **argv, struct archiver *ar)
 			verbose = 1;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--format=", 9)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--format=")) {
 			format = arg + 9;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--prefix=", 9)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--prefix=")) {
 			base = arg + 9;
 			continue;
 		}
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ static const char *extract_remote_arg(int *ac, const char **av)
 		if (!strcmp(arg, "--"))
 			no_more_options = 1;
 		if (!no_more_options) {
-			if (!strncmp(arg, "--remote=", 9)) {
+			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--remote=")) {
 				if (remote)
 					die("Multiple --remote specified");
 				remote = arg + 9;
diff --git a/builtin-blame.c b/builtin-blame.c
index 5669a169ff..db311bfba9 100644
--- a/builtin-blame.c
+++ b/builtin-blame.c
@@ -2097,17 +2097,17 @@ int cmd_blame(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			output_option |= OUTPUT_LONG_OBJECT_NAME;
 		else if (!strcmp("-S", arg) && ++i < argc)
 			revs_file = argv[i];
-		else if (!strncmp("-M", arg, 2)) {
+		else if (!(-prefixcmp(arg, "-M"))) {
 			opt |= PICKAXE_BLAME_MOVE;
 			blame_move_score = parse_score(arg+2);
 		}
-		else if (!strncmp("-C", arg, 2)) {
+		else if (!(-prefixcmp(arg, "-C"))) {
 			if (opt & PICKAXE_BLAME_COPY)
 				opt |= PICKAXE_BLAME_COPY_HARDER;
 			opt |= PICKAXE_BLAME_COPY | PICKAXE_BLAME_MOVE;
 			blame_copy_score = parse_score(arg+2);
 		}
-		else if (!strncmp("-L", arg, 2)) {
+		else if (!(-prefixcmp(arg, "-L"))) {
 			if (!arg[2]) {
 				if (++i >= argc)
 					usage(blame_usage);
diff --git a/builtin-branch.c b/builtin-branch.c
index d0e7209368..d0179b00a2 100644
--- a/builtin-branch.c
+++ b/builtin-branch.c
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ int git_branch_config(const char *var, const char *value)
 		branch_use_color = git_config_colorbool(var, value);
 		return 0;
 	}
-	if (!strncmp(var, "color.branch.", 13)) {
+	if (!prefixcmp(var, "color.branch.")) {
 		int slot = parse_branch_color_slot(var, 13);
 		color_parse(value, var, branch_colors[slot]);
 		return 0;
@@ -178,13 +178,13 @@ static int append_ref(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1, int flags,
 	int len;
 
 	/* Detect kind */
-	if (!strncmp(refname, "refs/heads/", 11)) {
+	if (!prefixcmp(refname, "refs/heads/")) {
 		kind = REF_LOCAL_BRANCH;
 		refname += 11;
-	} else if (!strncmp(refname, "refs/remotes/", 13)) {
+	} else if (!prefixcmp(refname, "refs/remotes/")) {
 		kind = REF_REMOTE_BRANCH;
 		refname += 13;
-	} else if (!strncmp(refname, "refs/tags/", 10)) {
+	} else if (!prefixcmp(refname, "refs/tags/")) {
 		kind = REF_TAG;
 		refname += 10;
 	}
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ int cmd_branch(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			reflog = 1;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--abbrev=", 9)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--abbrev=")) {
 			abbrev = atoi(arg+9);
 			continue;
 		}
@@ -476,7 +476,7 @@ int cmd_branch(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		detached = 1;
 	}
 	else {
-		if (strncmp(head, "refs/heads/", 11))
+		if (prefixcmp(head, "refs/heads/"))
 			die("HEAD not found below refs/heads!");
 		head += 11;
 	}
diff --git a/builtin-checkout-index.c b/builtin-checkout-index.c
index b097c888a0..afe4b0e452 100644
--- a/builtin-checkout-index.c
+++ b/builtin-checkout-index.c
@@ -223,12 +223,12 @@ int cmd_checkout_index(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			to_tempfile = 1;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--prefix=", 9)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--prefix=")) {
 			state.base_dir = arg+9;
 			state.base_dir_len = strlen(state.base_dir);
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--stage=", 8)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--stage=")) {
 			if (!strcmp(arg + 8, "all")) {
 				to_tempfile = 1;
 				checkout_stage = CHECKOUT_ALL;
diff --git a/builtin-describe.c b/builtin-describe.c
index bcc645622a..165917e40d 100644
--- a/builtin-describe.c
+++ b/builtin-describe.c
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ static int get_name(const char *path, const unsigned char *sha1, int flag, void
 	 * If --tags, then any tags are used.
 	 * Otherwise only annotated tags are used.
 	 */
-	if (!strncmp(path, "refs/tags/", 10)) {
+	if (!prefixcmp(path, "refs/tags/")) {
 		if (object->type == OBJ_TAG)
 			prio = 2;
 		else
@@ -254,12 +254,12 @@ int cmd_describe(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			all = 1;
 		else if (!strcmp(arg, "--tags"))
 			tags = 1;
-		else if (!strncmp(arg, "--abbrev=", 9)) {
+		else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--abbrev=")) {
 			abbrev = strtoul(arg + 9, NULL, 10);
 			if (abbrev != 0 && (abbrev < MINIMUM_ABBREV || 40 < abbrev))
 				abbrev = DEFAULT_ABBREV;
 		}
-		else if (!strncmp(arg, "--candidates=", 13)) {
+		else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--candidates=")) {
 			max_candidates = strtoul(arg + 13, NULL, 10);
 			if (max_candidates < 1)
 				max_candidates = 1;
diff --git a/builtin-fmt-merge-msg.c b/builtin-fmt-merge-msg.c
index 87d3d63ec7..1489883564 100644
--- a/builtin-fmt-merge-msg.c
+++ b/builtin-fmt-merge-msg.c
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ static int handle_line(char *line)
 	if (len < 43 || line[40] != '\t')
 		return 1;
 
-	if (!strncmp(line + 41, "not-for-merge", 13))
+	if (!prefixcmp(line + 41, "not-for-merge"))
 		return 0;
 
 	if (line[41] != '\t')
@@ -119,15 +119,15 @@ static int handle_line(char *line)
 	if (pulling_head) {
 		origin = xstrdup(src);
 		src_data->head_status |= 1;
-	} else if (!strncmp(line, "branch ", 7)) {
+	} else if (!prefixcmp(line, "branch ")) {
 		origin = xstrdup(line + 7);
 		append_to_list(&src_data->branch, origin, NULL);
 		src_data->head_status |= 2;
-	} else if (!strncmp(line, "tag ", 4)) {
+	} else if (!prefixcmp(line, "tag ")) {
 		origin = line;
 		append_to_list(&src_data->tag, xstrdup(origin + 4), NULL);
 		src_data->head_status |= 2;
-	} else if (!strncmp(line, "remote branch ", 14)) {
+	} else if (!prefixcmp(line, "remote branch ")) {
 		origin = xstrdup(line + 14);
 		append_to_list(&src_data->r_branch, origin, NULL);
 		src_data->head_status |= 2;
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ int cmd_fmt_merge_msg(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	current_branch = resolve_ref("HEAD", head_sha1, 1, NULL);
 	if (!current_branch)
 		die("No current branch");
-	if (!strncmp(current_branch, "refs/heads/", 11))
+	if (!prefixcmp(current_branch, "refs/heads/"))
 		current_branch += 11;
 
 	while (fgets(line, sizeof(line), in)) {
diff --git a/builtin-for-each-ref.c b/builtin-for-each-ref.c
index 16c785f047..ac0b9f6088 100644
--- a/builtin-for-each-ref.c
+++ b/builtin-for-each-ref.c
@@ -814,7 +814,7 @@ int cmd_for_each_ref(int ac, const char **av, char *prefix)
 			i++;
 			break;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--format=", 9)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--format=")) {
 			if (format)
 				die("more than one --format?");
 			format = arg + 9;
@@ -844,7 +844,7 @@ int cmd_for_each_ref(int ac, const char **av, char *prefix)
 			quote_style = QUOTE_TCL;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--count=", 8)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--count=")) {
 			if (maxcount)
 				die("more than one --count?");
 			maxcount = atoi(arg + 8);
@@ -852,7 +852,7 @@ int cmd_for_each_ref(int ac, const char **av, char *prefix)
 				die("The number %s did not parse", arg);
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--sort=", 7)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--sort=")) {
 			struct ref_sort *s = xcalloc(1, sizeof(*s));
 			int len;
 
diff --git a/builtin-fsck.c b/builtin-fsck.c
index 6da3814d59..6abf498d2b 100644
--- a/builtin-fsck.c
+++ b/builtin-fsck.c
@@ -546,7 +546,7 @@ static int fsck_head_link(void)
 
 	if (!head_points_at || !(flag & REF_ISSYMREF))
 		return error("HEAD is not a symbolic ref");
-	if (strncmp(head_points_at, "refs/heads/", 11))
+	if (prefixcmp(head_points_at, "refs/heads/"))
 		return error("HEAD points to something strange (%s)",
 			     head_points_at);
 	if (is_null_sha1(sha1))
diff --git a/builtin-grep.c b/builtin-grep.c
index 2bfbdb7140..cec22047c9 100644
--- a/builtin-grep.c
+++ b/builtin-grep.c
@@ -527,9 +527,9 @@ int cmd_grep(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			opt.word_regexp = 1;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp("-A", arg, 2) ||
-		    !strncmp("-B", arg, 2) ||
-		    !strncmp("-C", arg, 2) ||
+		if (!(-prefixcmp(arg, "-A")) ||
+		    !(-prefixcmp(arg, "-B")) ||
+		    !(-prefixcmp(arg, "-C")) ||
 		    (arg[0] == '-' && '1' <= arg[1] && arg[1] <= '9')) {
 			unsigned num;
 			const char *scan;
diff --git a/builtin-init-db.c b/builtin-init-db.c
index 12e43d0db4..4df9fd0fad 100644
--- a/builtin-init-db.c
+++ b/builtin-init-db.c
@@ -283,11 +283,11 @@ int cmd_init_db(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 
 	for (i = 1; i < argc; i++, argv++) {
 		const char *arg = argv[1];
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--template=", 11))
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--template="))
 			template_dir = arg+11;
 		else if (!strcmp(arg, "--shared"))
 			shared_repository = PERM_GROUP;
-		else if (!strncmp(arg, "--shared=", 9))
+		else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--shared="))
 			shared_repository = git_config_perm("arg", arg+9);
 		else
 			usage(init_db_usage);
diff --git a/builtin-log.c b/builtin-log.c
index af2de54371..ad1e8c054d 100644
--- a/builtin-log.c
+++ b/builtin-log.c
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ static void cmd_log_init(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix,
 		rev->always_show_header = 0;
 	for (i = 1; i < argc; i++) {
 		const char *arg = argv[i];
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--encoding=", 11)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--encoding=")) {
 			arg += 11;
 			if (strcmp(arg, "none"))
 				git_log_output_encoding = strdup(arg);
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ static void reopen_stdout(struct commit *commit, int nr, int keep_subject)
 
 		sol += 2;
 		/* strip [PATCH] or [PATCH blabla] */
-		if (!keep_subject && !strncmp(sol, "[PATCH", 6)) {
+		if (!keep_subject && !prefixcmp(sol, "[PATCH")) {
 			char *eos = strchr(sol + 6, ']');
 			if (eos) {
 				while (isspace(*eos))
@@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ int cmd_format_patch(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		else if (!strcmp(argv[i], "-n") ||
 				!strcmp(argv[i], "--numbered"))
 			numbered = 1;
-		else if (!strncmp(argv[i], "--start-number=", 15))
+		else if (!prefixcmp(argv[i], "--start-number="))
 			start_number = strtol(argv[i] + 15, NULL, 10);
 		else if (!strcmp(argv[i], "--start-number")) {
 			i++;
@@ -471,13 +471,13 @@ int cmd_format_patch(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		}
 		else if (!strcmp(argv[i], "--attach"))
 			rev.mime_boundary = git_version_string;
-		else if (!strncmp(argv[i], "--attach=", 9))
+		else if (!prefixcmp(argv[i], "--attach="))
 			rev.mime_boundary = argv[i] + 9;
 		else if (!strcmp(argv[i], "--ignore-if-in-upstream"))
 			ignore_if_in_upstream = 1;
 		else if (!strcmp(argv[i], "--thread"))
 			thread = 1;
-		else if (!strncmp(argv[i], "--in-reply-to=", 14))
+		else if (!prefixcmp(argv[i], "--in-reply-to="))
 			in_reply_to = argv[i] + 14;
 		else if (!strcmp(argv[i], "--in-reply-to")) {
 			i++;
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ int cmd_format_patch(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 				die("Need a Message-Id for --in-reply-to");
 			in_reply_to = argv[i];
 		}
-		else if (!strncmp(argv[i], "--suffix=", 9))
+		else if (!prefixcmp(argv[i], "--suffix="))
 			fmt_patch_suffix = argv[i] + 9;
 		else
 			argv[j++] = argv[i];
diff --git a/builtin-ls-files.c b/builtin-ls-files.c
index ac89eb2f77..4e1d5af634 100644
--- a/builtin-ls-files.c
+++ b/builtin-ls-files.c
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ int cmd_ls_files(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			add_exclude(argv[++i], "", 0, &dir.exclude_list[EXC_CMDL]);
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--exclude=", 10)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--exclude=")) {
 			exc_given = 1;
 			add_exclude(arg+10, "", 0, &dir.exclude_list[EXC_CMDL]);
 			continue;
@@ -416,12 +416,12 @@ int cmd_ls_files(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			add_excludes_from_file(&dir, argv[++i]);
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--exclude-from=", 15)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--exclude-from=")) {
 			exc_given = 1;
 			add_excludes_from_file(&dir, arg+15);
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--exclude-per-directory=", 24)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--exclude-per-directory=")) {
 			exc_given = 1;
 			dir.exclude_per_dir = arg + 24;
 			continue;
@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ int cmd_ls_files(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			error_unmatch = 1;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--abbrev=", 9)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--abbrev=")) {
 			abbrev = strtoul(arg+9, NULL, 10);
 			if (abbrev && abbrev < MINIMUM_ABBREV)
 				abbrev = MINIMUM_ABBREV;
diff --git a/builtin-mailinfo.c b/builtin-mailinfo.c
index 583da38b67..6ee6b0b26c 100644
--- a/builtin-mailinfo.c
+++ b/builtin-mailinfo.c
@@ -811,7 +811,7 @@ int cmd_mailinfo(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			metainfo_charset = def_charset;
 		else if (!strcmp(argv[1], "-n"))
 			metainfo_charset = NULL;
-		else if (!strncmp(argv[1], "--encoding=", 11))
+		else if (!prefixcmp(argv[1], "--encoding="))
 			metainfo_charset = argv[1] + 11;
 		else
 			usage(mailinfo_usage);
diff --git a/builtin-name-rev.c b/builtin-name-rev.c
index 36f1ba6d38..2c3d14c1ba 100644
--- a/builtin-name-rev.c
+++ b/builtin-name-rev.c
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ static int name_ref(const char *path, const unsigned char *sha1, int flags, void
 	struct name_ref_data *data = cb_data;
 	int deref = 0;
 
-	if (data->tags_only && strncmp(path, "refs/tags/", 10))
+	if (data->tags_only && prefixcmp(path, "refs/tags/"))
 		return 0;
 
 	if (data->ref_filter && fnmatch(data->ref_filter, path, 0))
@@ -101,9 +101,9 @@ static int name_ref(const char *path, const unsigned char *sha1, int flags, void
 	if (o && o->type == OBJ_COMMIT) {
 		struct commit *commit = (struct commit *)o;
 
-		if (!strncmp(path, "refs/heads/", 11))
+		if (!prefixcmp(path, "refs/heads/"))
 			path = path + 11;
-		else if (!strncmp(path, "refs/", 5))
+		else if (!prefixcmp(path, "refs/"))
 			path = path + 5;
 
 		name_rev(commit, xstrdup(path), 0, 0, deref);
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ int cmd_name_rev(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			} else if (!strcmp(*argv, "--tags")) {
 				data.tags_only = 1;
 				continue;
-			} else  if (!strncmp(*argv, "--refs=", 7)) {
+			} else  if (!prefixcmp(*argv, "--refs=")) {
 				data.ref_filter = *argv + 7;
 				continue;
 			} else if (!strcmp(*argv, "--all")) {
diff --git a/builtin-pack-objects.c b/builtin-pack-objects.c
index 3824ee33ac..71113d8fb3 100644
--- a/builtin-pack-objects.c
+++ b/builtin-pack-objects.c
@@ -1579,14 +1579,14 @@ int cmd_pack_objects(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			incremental = 1;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp("--window=", arg, 9)) {
+		if (!(-prefixcmp(arg, "--window="))) {
 			char *end;
 			window = strtoul(arg+9, &end, 0);
 			if (!arg[9] || *end)
 				usage(pack_usage);
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp("--depth=", arg, 8)) {
+		if (!(-prefixcmp(arg, "--depth="))) {
 			char *end;
 			depth = strtoul(arg+8, &end, 0);
 			if (!arg[8] || *end)
@@ -1622,7 +1622,7 @@ int cmd_pack_objects(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			continue;
 		}
 		if (!strcmp("--unpacked", arg) ||
-		    !strncmp("--unpacked=", arg, 11) ||
+		    !(-prefixcmp(arg, "--unpacked=")) ||
 		    !strcmp("--reflog", arg) ||
 		    !strcmp("--all", arg)) {
 			use_internal_rev_list = 1;
diff --git a/builtin-pack-refs.c b/builtin-pack-refs.c
index 3de9b3eefd..d080e30d67 100644
--- a/builtin-pack-refs.c
+++ b/builtin-pack-refs.c
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ static int handle_one_ref(const char *path, const unsigned char *sha1,
 	/* Do not pack the symbolic refs */
 	if ((flags & REF_ISSYMREF))
 		return 0;
-	is_tag_ref = !strncmp(path, "refs/tags/", 10);
+	is_tag_ref = !prefixcmp(path, "refs/tags/");
 
 	/* ALWAYS pack refs that were already packed or are tags */
 	if (!cb->all && !is_tag_ref && !(flags & REF_ISPACKED))
diff --git a/builtin-push.c b/builtin-push.c
index c45649e26c..2b98ba3231 100644
--- a/builtin-push.c
+++ b/builtin-push.c
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ static int expand_one_ref(const char *ref, const unsigned char *sha1, int flag,
 	/* Ignore the "refs/" at the beginning of the refname */
 	ref += 5;
 
-	if (!strncmp(ref, "tags/", 5))
+	if (!prefixcmp(ref, "tags/"))
 		add_refspec(xstrdup(ref));
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -149,10 +149,10 @@ static int get_remotes_uri(const char *repo, const char *uri[MAX_URI])
 		int is_refspec;
 		char *s, *p;
 
-		if (!strncmp("URL:", buffer, 4)) {
+		if (!(-prefixcmp(buffer, "URL:"))) {
 			is_refspec = 0;
 			s = buffer + 4;
-		} else if (!strncmp("Push:", buffer, 5)) {
+		} else if (!(-prefixcmp(buffer, "Push:"))) {
 			is_refspec = 1;
 			s = buffer + 5;
 		} else
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ static int config_get_receivepack;
 
 static int get_remote_config(const char* key, const char* value)
 {
-	if (!strncmp(key, "remote.", 7) &&
+	if (!prefixcmp(key, "remote.") &&
 	    !strncmp(key + 7, config_repo, config_repo_len)) {
 		if (!strcmp(key + 7 + config_repo_len, ".url")) {
 			if (config_current_uri < MAX_URI)
@@ -324,8 +324,8 @@ static int do_push(const char *repo)
 		const char **dest_refspec = refspec;
 		const char *dest = uri[i];
 		const char *sender = "git-send-pack";
-		if (!strncmp(dest, "http://", 7) ||
-		    !strncmp(dest, "https://", 8))
+		if (!prefixcmp(dest, "http://") ||
+		    !prefixcmp(dest, "https://"))
 			sender = "git-http-push";
 		else if (thin)
 			argv[dest_argc++] = "--thin";
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@ int cmd_push(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			verbose=1;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--repo=", 7)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--repo=")) {
 			repo = arg+7;
 			continue;
 		}
@@ -397,11 +397,11 @@ int cmd_push(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			thin = 0;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--receive-pack=", 15)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--receive-pack=")) {
 			receivepack = arg;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--exec=", 7)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--exec=")) {
 			receivepack = arg;
 			continue;
 		}
diff --git a/builtin-read-tree.c b/builtin-read-tree.c
index 8ba436dbac..e47715538b 100644
--- a/builtin-read-tree.c
+++ b/builtin-read-tree.c
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ int cmd_read_tree(int argc, const char **argv, const char *unused_prefix)
 		 *  entries and put the entries from the tree under the
 		 * given subdirectory.
 		 */
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--prefix=", 9)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--prefix=")) {
 			if (stage || opts.merge || opts.prefix)
 				usage(read_tree_usage);
 			opts.prefix = arg + 9;
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ int cmd_read_tree(int argc, const char **argv, const char *unused_prefix)
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--exclude-per-directory=", 24)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--exclude-per-directory=")) {
 			struct dir_struct *dir;
 
 			if (opts.dir)
diff --git a/builtin-reflog.c b/builtin-reflog.c
index 341555139e..cefb40da81 100644
--- a/builtin-reflog.c
+++ b/builtin-reflog.c
@@ -321,9 +321,9 @@ static int cmd_reflog_expire(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		const char *arg = argv[i];
 		if (!strcmp(arg, "--dry-run") || !strcmp(arg, "-n"))
 			cb.dry_run = 1;
-		else if (!strncmp(arg, "--expire=", 9))
+		else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--expire="))
 			cb.expire_total = approxidate(arg + 9);
-		else if (!strncmp(arg, "--expire-unreachable=", 21))
+		else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--expire-unreachable="))
 			cb.expire_unreachable = approxidate(arg + 21);
 		else if (!strcmp(arg, "--stale-fix"))
 			cb.stalefix = 1;
diff --git a/builtin-rerere.c b/builtin-rerere.c
index 318d959d89..978105b497 100644
--- a/builtin-rerere.c
+++ b/builtin-rerere.c
@@ -105,11 +105,11 @@ static int handle_file(const char *path,
 		SHA1_Init(&ctx);
 
 	while (fgets(buf, sizeof(buf), f)) {
-		if (!strncmp("<<<<<<< ", buf, 8))
+		if (!(-prefixcmp(buf, "<<<<<<< ")))
 			hunk = 1;
-		else if (!strncmp("=======", buf, 7))
+		else if (!(-prefixcmp(buf, "=======")))
 			hunk = 2;
-		else if (!strncmp(">>>>>>> ", buf, 8)) {
+		else if (!(-prefixcmp(buf, ">>>>>>> "))) {
 			hunk_no++;
 			hunk = 0;
 			if (memcmp(one->ptr, two->ptr, one->nr < two->nr ?
diff --git a/builtin-rev-parse.c b/builtin-rev-parse.c
index d53deaa369..a1c3411121 100644
--- a/builtin-rev-parse.c
+++ b/builtin-rev-parse.c
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ int cmd_rev_parse(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 				continue;
 			}
 			if (!strcmp(arg, "--short") ||
-			    !strncmp(arg, "--short=", 8)) {
+			    !prefixcmp(arg, "--short=")) {
 				filter &= ~(DO_FLAGS|DO_NOREV);
 				verify = 1;
 				abbrev = DEFAULT_ABBREV;
@@ -352,19 +352,19 @@ int cmd_rev_parse(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 						: "false");
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!strncmp(arg, "--since=", 8)) {
+			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--since=")) {
 				show_datestring("--max-age=", arg+8);
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!strncmp(arg, "--after=", 8)) {
+			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--after=")) {
 				show_datestring("--max-age=", arg+8);
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!strncmp(arg, "--before=", 9)) {
+			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--before=")) {
 				show_datestring("--min-age=", arg+9);
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!strncmp(arg, "--until=", 8)) {
+			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--until=")) {
 				show_datestring("--min-age=", arg+8);
 				continue;
 			}
diff --git a/builtin-shortlog.c b/builtin-shortlog.c
index edb40429ec..2f71a2a6e2 100644
--- a/builtin-shortlog.c
+++ b/builtin-shortlog.c
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ static void insert_author_oneline(struct path_list *list,
 	else
 		free(buffer);
 
-	if (!strncmp(oneline, "[PATCH", 6)) {
+	if (!prefixcmp(oneline, "[PATCH")) {
 		char *eob = strchr(oneline, ']');
 
 		if (eob) {
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ static void read_from_stdin(struct path_list *list)
 	while (fgets(buffer, sizeof(buffer), stdin) != NULL) {
 		char *bob;
 		if ((buffer[0] == 'A' || buffer[0] == 'a') &&
-				!strncmp(buffer + 1, "uthor: ", 7) &&
+				!prefixcmp(buffer + 1, "uthor: ") &&
 				(bob = strchr(buffer + 7, '<')) != NULL) {
 			char buffer2[1024], offset = 0;
 
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ static void get_from_rev(struct rev_info *rev, struct path_list *list)
 			else
 				eol++;
 
-			if (!strncmp(buffer, "author ", 7)) {
+			if (!prefixcmp(buffer, "author ")) {
 				char *bracket = strchr(buffer, '<');
 
 				if (bracket == NULL || bracket > eol)
diff --git a/builtin-show-branch.c b/builtin-show-branch.c
index 0d94e40df8..bf6aee49f7 100644
--- a/builtin-show-branch.c
+++ b/builtin-show-branch.c
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ static void show_one_commit(struct commit *commit, int no_name)
 				    pretty, sizeof(pretty), 0, NULL, NULL, 0);
 	else
 		strcpy(pretty, "(unavailable)");
-	if (!strncmp(pretty, "[PATCH] ", 8))
+	if (!prefixcmp(pretty, "[PATCH] "))
 		cp = pretty + 8;
 	else
 		cp = pretty;
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ static int append_remote_ref(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1, int
 
 static int append_tag_ref(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1, int flag, void *cb_data)
 {
-	if (strncmp(refname, "refs/tags/", 10))
+	if (prefixcmp(refname, "refs/tags/"))
 		return 0;
 	return append_ref(refname + 5, sha1, 0);
 }
@@ -435,9 +435,9 @@ static int append_matching_ref(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1, i
 		return 0;
 	if (fnmatch(match_ref_pattern, tail, 0))
 		return 0;
-	if (!strncmp("refs/heads/", refname, 11))
+	if (!(-prefixcmp(refname, "refs/heads/")))
 		return append_head_ref(refname, sha1, flag, cb_data);
-	if (!strncmp("refs/tags/", refname, 10))
+	if (!(-prefixcmp(refname, "refs/tags/")))
 		return append_tag_ref(refname, sha1, flag, cb_data);
 	return append_ref(refname, sha1, 0);
 }
@@ -462,11 +462,11 @@ static int rev_is_head(char *head, int headlen, char *name,
 	if ((!head[0]) ||
 	    (head_sha1 && sha1 && hashcmp(head_sha1, sha1)))
 		return 0;
-	if (!strncmp(head, "refs/heads/", 11))
+	if (!prefixcmp(head, "refs/heads/"))
 		head += 11;
-	if (!strncmp(name, "refs/heads/", 11))
+	if (!prefixcmp(name, "refs/heads/"))
 		name += 11;
-	else if (!strncmp(name, "heads/", 6))
+	else if (!prefixcmp(name, "heads/"))
 		name += 6;
 	return !strcmp(head, name);
 }
@@ -635,7 +635,7 @@ int cmd_show_branch(int ac, const char **av, const char *prefix)
 			with_current_branch = 1;
 		else if (!strcmp(arg, "--sha1-name"))
 			sha1_name = 1;
-		else if (!strncmp(arg, "--more=", 7))
+		else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--more="))
 			extra = atoi(arg + 7);
 		else if (!strcmp(arg, "--merge-base"))
 			merge_base = 1;
@@ -652,9 +652,9 @@ int cmd_show_branch(int ac, const char **av, const char *prefix)
 		else if (!strcmp(arg, "--reflog") || !strcmp(arg, "-g")) {
 			reflog = DEFAULT_REFLOG;
 		}
-		else if (!strncmp(arg, "--reflog=", 9))
+		else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--reflog="))
 			parse_reflog_param(arg + 9, &reflog, &reflog_base);
-		else if (!strncmp(arg, "-g=", 3))
+		else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "-g="))
 			parse_reflog_param(arg + 3, &reflog, &reflog_base);
 		else
 			usage(show_branch_usage);
diff --git a/builtin-show-ref.c b/builtin-show-ref.c
index 853f13f6ae..ae0edddac1 100644
--- a/builtin-show-ref.c
+++ b/builtin-show-ref.c
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ static int show_ref(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1, int flag, vo
 	if (tags_only || heads_only) {
 		int match;
 
-		match = heads_only && !strncmp(refname, "refs/heads/", 11);
-		match |= tags_only && !strncmp(refname, "refs/tags/", 10);
+		match = heads_only && !prefixcmp(refname, "refs/heads/");
+		match |= tags_only && !prefixcmp(refname, "refs/tags/");
 		if (!match)
 			return 0;
 	}
@@ -178,8 +178,8 @@ int cmd_show_ref(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			hash_only = 1;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--hash=", 7) ||
-		    (!strncmp(arg, "--abbrev", 8) &&
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--hash=") ||
+		    (!prefixcmp(arg, "--abbrev") &&
 		     (arg[8] == '=' || arg[8] == '\0'))) {
 			if (arg[2] != 'h' && !arg[8])
 				/* --abbrev only */
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ int cmd_show_ref(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		}
 		if (!strcmp(arg, "--exclude-existing"))
 			return exclude_existing(NULL);
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--exclude-existing=", 19))
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--exclude-existing="))
 			return exclude_existing(arg + 19);
 		usage(show_ref_usage);
 	}
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ int cmd_show_ref(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		unsigned char sha1[20];
 
 		while (*pattern) {
-			if (!strncmp(*pattern, "refs/", 5) &&
+			if (!prefixcmp(*pattern, "refs/") &&
 			    resolve_ref(*pattern, sha1, 1, NULL)) {
 				if (!quiet)
 					show_one(*pattern, sha1);
diff --git a/builtin-tar-tree.c b/builtin-tar-tree.c
index 8055ddab9b..28f8c1c164 100644
--- a/builtin-tar-tree.c
+++ b/builtin-tar-tree.c
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ int cmd_tar_tree(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	nargv[nargc++] = "git-archive";
 	nargv[nargc++] = "--format=tar";
 
-	if (2 <= argc && !strncmp("--remote=", argv[1], 9)) {
+	if (2 <= argc && !(-prefixcmp(argv[1], "--remote="))) {
 		nargv[nargc++] = argv[1];
 		argv++;
 		argc--;
diff --git a/builtin-unpack-objects.c b/builtin-unpack-objects.c
index d351e02649..8f8e898516 100644
--- a/builtin-unpack-objects.c
+++ b/builtin-unpack-objects.c
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ int cmd_unpack_objects(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 				recover = 1;
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!strncmp(arg, "--pack_header=", 14)) {
+			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--pack_header=")) {
 				struct pack_header *hdr;
 				char *c;
 
diff --git a/builtin-write-tree.c b/builtin-write-tree.c
index 50670dc7bf..90fc1cfcf4 100644
--- a/builtin-write-tree.c
+++ b/builtin-write-tree.c
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ int cmd_write_tree(int argc, const char **argv, const char *unused_prefix)
 		const char *arg = argv[1];
 		if (!strcmp(arg, "--missing-ok"))
 			missing_ok = 1;
-		else if (!strncmp(arg, "--prefix=", 9))
+		else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--prefix="))
 			prefix = arg + 9;
 		else
 			usage(write_tree_usage);
diff --git a/connect.c b/connect.c
index 78448889da..8a8a13bb72 100644
--- a/connect.c
+++ b/connect.c
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ int get_ack(int fd, unsigned char *result_sha1)
 		line[--len] = 0;
 	if (!strcmp(line, "NAK"))
 		return 0;
-	if (!strncmp(line, "ACK ", 4)) {
+	if (!prefixcmp(line, "ACK ")) {
 		if (!get_sha1_hex(line+4, result_sha1)) {
 			if (strstr(line+45, "continue"))
 				return 2;
@@ -196,8 +196,8 @@ static int count_refspec_match(const char *pattern,
 		 */
 		if (namelen != patlen &&
 		    patlen != namelen - 5 &&
-		    strncmp(name, "refs/heads/", 11) &&
-		    strncmp(name, "refs/tags/", 10)) {
+		    prefixcmp(name, "refs/heads/") &&
+		    prefixcmp(name, "refs/tags/")) {
 			/* We want to catch the case where only weak
 			 * matches are found and there are multiple
 			 * matches, and where more than one strong
diff --git a/daemon.c b/daemon.c
index 66f8d6f03d..cdbc23f63d 100644
--- a/daemon.c
+++ b/daemon.c
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ static int service_enabled;
 
 static int git_daemon_config(const char *var, const char *value)
 {
-	if (!strncmp(var, "daemon.", 7) &&
+	if (!prefixcmp(var, "daemon.") &&
 	    !strcmp(var + 7, service_looking_at->config_name)) {
 		service_enabled = git_config_bool(var, value);
 		return 0;
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ static int execute(struct sockaddr *addr)
 	for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(daemon_service); i++) {
 		struct daemon_service *s = &(daemon_service[i]);
 		int namelen = strlen(s->name);
-		if (!strncmp("git-", line, 4) &&
+		if (!(-prefixcmp(line, "git-")) &&
 		    !strncmp(s->name, line + 4, namelen) &&
 		    line[namelen + 4] == ' ') {
 			/*
@@ -1011,7 +1011,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	for (i = 1; i < argc; i++) {
 		char *arg = argv[i];
 
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--listen=", 9)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--listen=")) {
 		    char *p = arg + 9;
 		    char *ph = listen_addr = xmalloc(strlen(arg + 9) + 1);
 		    while (*p)
@@ -1019,7 +1019,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 		    *ph = 0;
 		    continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--port=", 7)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--port=")) {
 			char *end;
 			unsigned long n;
 			n = strtoul(arg+7, &end, 0);
@@ -1045,11 +1045,11 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 			export_all_trees = 1;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--timeout=", 10)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--timeout=")) {
 			timeout = atoi(arg+10);
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--init-timeout=", 15)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--init-timeout=")) {
 			init_timeout = atoi(arg+15);
 			continue;
 		}
@@ -1057,11 +1057,11 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 			strict_paths = 1;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--base-path=", 12)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--base-path=")) {
 			base_path = arg+12;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--interpolated-path=", 20)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--interpolated-path=")) {
 			interpolated_path = arg+20;
 			continue;
 		}
@@ -1073,11 +1073,11 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 			user_path = "";
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--user-path=", 12)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--user-path=")) {
 			user_path = arg + 12;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--pid-file=", 11)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--pid-file=")) {
 			pid_file = arg + 11;
 			continue;
 		}
@@ -1086,27 +1086,27 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 			log_syslog = 1;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--user=", 7)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--user=")) {
 			user_name = arg + 7;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--group=", 8)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--group=")) {
 			group_name = arg + 8;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--enable=", 9)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--enable=")) {
 			enable_service(arg + 9, 1);
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--disable=", 10)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--disable=")) {
 			enable_service(arg + 10, 0);
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--allow-override=", 17)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--allow-override=")) {
 			make_service_overridable(arg + 17, 1);
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--forbid-override=", 18)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--forbid-override=")) {
 			make_service_overridable(arg + 18, 0);
 			continue;
 		}
diff --git a/diff.c b/diff.c
index 07589c3b1e..fad13ab44b 100644
--- a/diff.c
+++ b/diff.c
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ int git_diff_ui_config(const char *var, const char *value)
 			diff_detect_rename_default = DIFF_DETECT_RENAME;
 		return 0;
 	}
-	if (!strncmp(var, "diff.color.", 11) || !strncmp(var, "color.diff.", 11)) {
+	if (!prefixcmp(var, "diff.color.") || !strncmp(var, "color.diff.", 11)) {
 		int slot = parse_diff_color_slot(var, 11);
 		color_parse(value, var, diff_colors[slot]);
 		return 0;
@@ -1119,9 +1119,9 @@ static void builtin_diff(const char *name_a,
 		xecfg.flags = XDL_EMIT_FUNCNAMES;
 		if (!diffopts)
 			;
-		else if (!strncmp(diffopts, "--unified=", 10))
+		else if (!prefixcmp(diffopts, "--unified="))
 			xecfg.ctxlen = strtoul(diffopts + 10, NULL, 10);
-		else if (!strncmp(diffopts, "-u", 2))
+		else if (!prefixcmp(diffopts, "-u"))
 			xecfg.ctxlen = strtoul(diffopts + 2, NULL, 10);
 		ecb.outf = xdiff_outf;
 		ecb.priv = &ecbdata;
@@ -1957,7 +1957,7 @@ int diff_opt_parse(struct diff_options *options, const char **av, int ac)
 	else if (!strcmp(arg, "--shortstat")) {
 		options->output_format |= DIFF_FORMAT_SHORTSTAT;
 	}
-	else if (!strncmp(arg, "--stat", 6)) {
+	else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--stat")) {
 		char *end;
 		int width = options->stat_width;
 		int name_width = options->stat_name_width;
@@ -1966,9 +1966,9 @@ int diff_opt_parse(struct diff_options *options, const char **av, int ac)
 
 		switch (*arg) {
 		case '-':
-			if (!strncmp(arg, "-width=", 7))
+			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "-width="))
 				width = strtoul(arg + 7, &end, 10);
-			else if (!strncmp(arg, "-name-width=", 12))
+			else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "-name-width="))
 				name_width = strtoul(arg + 12, &end, 10);
 			break;
 		case '=':
@@ -1993,7 +1993,7 @@ int diff_opt_parse(struct diff_options *options, const char **av, int ac)
 	}
 	else if (!strcmp(arg, "-z"))
 		options->line_termination = 0;
-	else if (!strncmp(arg, "-l", 2))
+	else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "-l"))
 		options->rename_limit = strtoul(arg+2, NULL, 10);
 	else if (!strcmp(arg, "--full-index"))
 		options->full_index = 1;
@@ -2010,31 +2010,31 @@ int diff_opt_parse(struct diff_options *options, const char **av, int ac)
 		options->output_format |= DIFF_FORMAT_NAME_STATUS;
 	else if (!strcmp(arg, "-R"))
 		options->reverse_diff = 1;
-	else if (!strncmp(arg, "-S", 2))
+	else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "-S"))
 		options->pickaxe = arg + 2;
 	else if (!strcmp(arg, "-s")) {
 		options->output_format |= DIFF_FORMAT_NO_OUTPUT;
 	}
-	else if (!strncmp(arg, "-O", 2))
+	else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "-O"))
 		options->orderfile = arg + 2;
-	else if (!strncmp(arg, "--diff-filter=", 14))
+	else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--diff-filter="))
 		options->filter = arg + 14;
 	else if (!strcmp(arg, "--pickaxe-all"))
 		options->pickaxe_opts = DIFF_PICKAXE_ALL;
 	else if (!strcmp(arg, "--pickaxe-regex"))
 		options->pickaxe_opts = DIFF_PICKAXE_REGEX;
-	else if (!strncmp(arg, "-B", 2)) {
+	else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "-B")) {
 		if ((options->break_opt =
 		     diff_scoreopt_parse(arg)) == -1)
 			return -1;
 	}
-	else if (!strncmp(arg, "-M", 2)) {
+	else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "-M")) {
 		if ((options->rename_score =
 		     diff_scoreopt_parse(arg)) == -1)
 			return -1;
 		options->detect_rename = DIFF_DETECT_RENAME;
 	}
-	else if (!strncmp(arg, "-C", 2)) {
+	else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "-C")) {
 		if ((options->rename_score =
 		     diff_scoreopt_parse(arg)) == -1)
 			return -1;
@@ -2044,7 +2044,7 @@ int diff_opt_parse(struct diff_options *options, const char **av, int ac)
 		options->find_copies_harder = 1;
 	else if (!strcmp(arg, "--abbrev"))
 		options->abbrev = DEFAULT_ABBREV;
-	else if (!strncmp(arg, "--abbrev=", 9)) {
+	else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--abbrev=")) {
 		options->abbrev = strtoul(arg + 9, NULL, 10);
 		if (options->abbrev < MINIMUM_ABBREV)
 			options->abbrev = MINIMUM_ABBREV;
@@ -2553,7 +2553,7 @@ static void patch_id_consume(void *priv, char *line, unsigned long len)
 	int new_len;
 
 	/* Ignore line numbers when computing the SHA1 of the patch */
-	if (!strncmp(line, "@@ -", 4))
+	if (!prefixcmp(line, "@@ -"))
 		return;
 
 	new_len = remove_space(line, len);
diff --git a/exec_cmd.c b/exec_cmd.c
index 3996bce33f..9b74ed2f42 100644
--- a/exec_cmd.c
+++ b/exec_cmd.c
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ int execv_git_cmd(const char **argv)
 			len = strlen(git_command);
 
 			/* Trivial cleanup */
-			while (!strncmp(exec_dir, "./", 2)) {
+			while (!prefixcmp(exec_dir, "./")) {
 				exec_dir += 2;
 				while (*exec_dir == '/')
 					exec_dir++;
diff --git a/fast-import.c b/fast-import.c
index 32cd1f83e0..8e192c2991 100644
--- a/fast-import.c
+++ b/fast-import.c
@@ -1392,7 +1392,7 @@ static void read_next_command(void)
 
 static void cmd_mark(void)
 {
-	if (!strncmp("mark :", command_buf.buf, 6)) {
+	if (!(-prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "mark :"))) {
 		next_mark = strtoumax(command_buf.buf + 6, NULL, 10);
 		read_next_command();
 	}
@@ -1405,10 +1405,10 @@ static void *cmd_data (size_t *size)
 	size_t length;
 	char *buffer;
 
-	if (strncmp("data ", command_buf.buf, 5))
+	if ((-prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "data ")))
 		die("Expected 'data n' command, found: %s", command_buf.buf);
 
-	if (!strncmp("<<", command_buf.buf + 5, 2)) {
+	if (!(-prefixcmp(command_buf.buf + 5, "<<"))) {
 		char *term = xstrdup(command_buf.buf + 5 + 2);
 		size_t sz = 8192, term_len = command_buf.len - 5 - 2;
 		length = 0;
@@ -1595,7 +1595,7 @@ static void file_change_m(struct branch *b)
 		oe = find_mark(strtoumax(p + 1, &x, 10));
 		hashcpy(sha1, oe->sha1);
 		p = x;
-	} else if (!strncmp("inline", p, 6)) {
+	} else if (!(-prefixcmp(p, "inline"))) {
 		inline_data = 1;
 		p += 6;
 	} else {
@@ -1668,7 +1668,7 @@ static void cmd_from(struct branch *b)
 	const char *from;
 	struct branch *s;
 
-	if (strncmp("from ", command_buf.buf, 5))
+	if ((-prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "from ")))
 		return;
 
 	if (b->branch_tree.tree) {
@@ -1734,7 +1734,7 @@ static struct hash_list *cmd_merge(unsigned int *count)
 	struct branch *s;
 
 	*count = 0;
-	while (!strncmp("merge ", command_buf.buf, 6)) {
+	while (!(-prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "merge "))) {
 		from = strchr(command_buf.buf, ' ') + 1;
 		n = xmalloc(sizeof(*n));
 		s = lookup_branch(from);
@@ -1780,11 +1780,11 @@ static void cmd_new_commit(void)
 
 	read_next_command();
 	cmd_mark();
-	if (!strncmp("author ", command_buf.buf, 7)) {
+	if (!(-prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "author "))) {
 		author = parse_ident(command_buf.buf + 7);
 		read_next_command();
 	}
-	if (!strncmp("committer ", command_buf.buf, 10)) {
+	if (!(-prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "committer "))) {
 		committer = parse_ident(command_buf.buf + 10);
 		read_next_command();
 	}
@@ -1805,9 +1805,9 @@ static void cmd_new_commit(void)
 	for (;;) {
 		if (1 == command_buf.len)
 			break;
-		else if (!strncmp("M ", command_buf.buf, 2))
+		else if (!(-prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "M ")))
 			file_change_m(b);
-		else if (!strncmp("D ", command_buf.buf, 2))
+		else if (!(-prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "D ")))
 			file_change_d(b);
 		else if (!strcmp("deleteall", command_buf.buf))
 			file_change_deleteall(b);
@@ -1877,7 +1877,7 @@ static void cmd_new_tag(void)
 	read_next_command();
 
 	/* from ... */
-	if (strncmp("from ", command_buf.buf, 5))
+	if ((-prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "from ")))
 		die("Expected from command, got %s", command_buf.buf);
 	from = strchr(command_buf.buf, ' ') + 1;
 	s = lookup_branch(from);
@@ -1904,7 +1904,7 @@ static void cmd_new_tag(void)
 	read_next_command();
 
 	/* tagger ... */
-	if (strncmp("tagger ", command_buf.buf, 7))
+	if ((-prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "tagger ")))
 		die("Expected tagger command, got %s", command_buf.buf);
 	tagger = parse_ident(command_buf.buf + 7);
 
@@ -1981,7 +1981,7 @@ int main(int argc, const char **argv)
 
 		if (*a != '-' || !strcmp(a, "--"))
 			break;
-		else if (!strncmp(a, "--date-format=", 14)) {
+		else if (!prefixcmp(a, "--date-format=")) {
 			const char *fmt = a + 14;
 			if (!strcmp(fmt, "raw"))
 				whenspec = WHENSPEC_RAW;
@@ -1992,15 +1992,15 @@ int main(int argc, const char **argv)
 			else
 				die("unknown --date-format argument %s", fmt);
 		}
-		else if (!strncmp(a, "--max-pack-size=", 16))
+		else if (!prefixcmp(a, "--max-pack-size="))
 			max_packsize = strtoumax(a + 16, NULL, 0) * 1024 * 1024;
-		else if (!strncmp(a, "--depth=", 8))
+		else if (!prefixcmp(a, "--depth="))
 			max_depth = strtoul(a + 8, NULL, 0);
-		else if (!strncmp(a, "--active-branches=", 18))
+		else if (!prefixcmp(a, "--active-branches="))
 			max_active_branches = strtoul(a + 18, NULL, 0);
-		else if (!strncmp(a, "--export-marks=", 15))
+		else if (!prefixcmp(a, "--export-marks="))
 			mark_file = a + 15;
-		else if (!strncmp(a, "--export-pack-edges=", 20)) {
+		else if (!prefixcmp(a, "--export-pack-edges=")) {
 			if (pack_edges)
 				fclose(pack_edges);
 			pack_edges = fopen(a + 20, "a");
@@ -2033,11 +2033,11 @@ int main(int argc, const char **argv)
 			break;
 		else if (!strcmp("blob", command_buf.buf))
 			cmd_new_blob();
-		else if (!strncmp("commit ", command_buf.buf, 7))
+		else if (!(-prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "commit ")))
 			cmd_new_commit();
-		else if (!strncmp("tag ", command_buf.buf, 4))
+		else if (!(-prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "tag ")))
 			cmd_new_tag();
-		else if (!strncmp("reset ", command_buf.buf, 6))
+		else if (!(-prefixcmp(command_buf.buf, "reset ")))
 			cmd_reset_branch();
 		else if (!strcmp("checkpoint", command_buf.buf))
 			cmd_checkpoint();
diff --git a/fetch-pack.c b/fetch-pack.c
index c787106764..1fd2c3adfb 100644
--- a/fetch-pack.c
+++ b/fetch-pack.c
@@ -198,13 +198,13 @@ static int find_common(int fd[2], unsigned char *result_sha1,
 		int len;
 
 		while ((len = packet_read_line(fd[0], line, sizeof(line)))) {
-			if (!strncmp("shallow ", line, 8)) {
+			if (!(-prefixcmp(line, "shallow "))) {
 				if (get_sha1_hex(line + 8, sha1))
 					die("invalid shallow line: %s", line);
 				register_shallow(sha1);
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!strncmp("unshallow ", line, 10)) {
+			if (!(-prefixcmp(line, "unshallow "))) {
 				if (get_sha1_hex(line + 10, sha1))
 					die("invalid unshallow line: %s", line);
 				if (!lookup_object(sha1))
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ static void filter_refs(struct ref **refs, int nr_match, char **match)
 		    check_ref_format(ref->name + 5))
 			; /* trash */
 		else if (fetch_all &&
-			 (!depth || strncmp(ref->name, "refs/tags/", 10) )) {
+			 (!depth || prefixcmp(ref->name, "refs/tags/") )) {
 			*newtail = ref;
 			ref->next = NULL;
 			newtail = &ref->next;
@@ -683,11 +683,11 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 		char *arg = argv[i];
 
 		if (*arg == '-') {
-			if (!strncmp("--upload-pack=", arg, 14)) {
+			if (!(-prefixcmp(arg, "--upload-pack="))) {
 				uploadpack = arg + 14;
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!strncmp("--exec=", arg, 7)) {
+			if (!(-prefixcmp(arg, "--exec="))) {
 				uploadpack = arg + 7;
 				continue;
 			}
@@ -712,7 +712,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 				verbose = 1;
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!strncmp("--depth=", arg, 8)) {
+			if (!(-prefixcmp(arg, "--depth="))) {
 				depth = strtol(arg + 8, NULL, 0);
 				if (stat(git_path("shallow"), &st))
 					st.st_mtime = 0;
diff --git a/git.c b/git.c
index 4dd196721f..1fad852064 100644
--- a/git.c
+++ b/git.c
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ static int handle_options(const char*** argv, int* argc)
 		/*
 		 * Check remaining flags.
 		 */
-		if (!strncmp(cmd, "--exec-path", 11)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(cmd, "--exec-path")) {
 			cmd += 11;
 			if (*cmd == '=')
 				git_set_exec_path(cmd + 1);
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ static int handle_options(const char*** argv, int* argc)
 			setenv(GIT_DIR_ENVIRONMENT, (*argv)[1], 1);
 			(*argv)++;
 			(*argc)--;
-		} else if (!strncmp(cmd, "--git-dir=", 10)) {
+		} else if (!prefixcmp(cmd, "--git-dir=")) {
 			setenv(GIT_DIR_ENVIRONMENT, cmd + 10, 1);
 		} else if (!strcmp(cmd, "--bare")) {
 			static char git_dir[PATH_MAX+1];
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ static char *alias_string;
 
 static int git_alias_config(const char *var, const char *value)
 {
-	if (!strncmp(var, "alias.", 6) && !strcmp(var + 6, alias_command)) {
+	if (!prefixcmp(var, "alias.") && !strcmp(var + 6, alias_command)) {
 		alias_string = xstrdup(value);
 	}
 	return 0;
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ int main(int argc, const char **argv, char **envp)
 	 * So we just directly call the internal command handler, and
 	 * die if that one cannot handle it.
 	 */
-	if (!strncmp(cmd, "git-", 4)) {
+	if (!prefixcmp(cmd, "git-")) {
 		cmd += 4;
 		argv[0] = cmd;
 		handle_internal_command(argc, argv, envp);
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ int main(int argc, const char **argv, char **envp)
 	argc--;
 	handle_options(&argv, &argc);
 	if (argc > 0) {
-		if (!strncmp(argv[0], "--", 2))
+		if (!prefixcmp(argv[0], "--"))
 			argv[0] += 2;
 	} else {
 		/* Default command: "help" */
diff --git a/help.c b/help.c
index b6674635a2..0893fea025 100644
--- a/help.c
+++ b/help.c
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ static void list_commands(const char *exec_path, const char *pattern)
 		struct stat st;
 		int entlen;
 
-		if (strncmp(de->d_name, "git-", 4))
+		if (prefixcmp(de->d_name, "git-"))
 			continue;
 		strcpy(path+dirlen, de->d_name);
 		if (stat(path, &st) || /* stat, not lstat */
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ static void show_man_page(const char *git_cmd)
 {
 	const char *page;
 
-	if (!strncmp(git_cmd, "git", 3))
+	if (!prefixcmp(git_cmd, "git"))
 		page = git_cmd;
 	else {
 		int page_len = strlen(git_cmd) + 4;
diff --git a/http-fetch.c b/http-fetch.c
index 9f790a08e5..d9a4561c8c 100644
--- a/http-fetch.c
+++ b/http-fetch.c
@@ -717,7 +717,7 @@ static int fetch_indices(struct alt_base *repo)
 		case 'P':
 			i++;
 			if (i + 52 <= buffer.posn &&
-			    !strncmp(data + i, " pack-", 6) &&
+			    !prefixcmp(data + i, " pack-") &&
 			    !strncmp(data + i + 46, ".pack\n", 6)) {
 				get_sha1_hex(data + i + 6, sha1);
 				setup_index(repo, sha1);
diff --git a/http-push.c b/http-push.c
index b128c0146c..eb77c9af45 100644
--- a/http-push.c
+++ b/http-push.c
@@ -1060,7 +1060,7 @@ static int fetch_indices(void)
 		case 'P':
 			i++;
 			if (i + 52 < buffer.posn &&
-			    !strncmp(data + i, " pack-", 6) &&
+			    !prefixcmp(data + i, " pack-") &&
 			    !strncmp(data + i + 46, ".pack\n", 6)) {
 				get_sha1_hex(data + i + 6, sha1);
 				setup_index(sha1);
@@ -1206,11 +1206,11 @@ static void handle_new_lock_ctx(struct xml_ctx *ctx, int tag_closed)
 			lock->owner = xmalloc(strlen(ctx->cdata) + 1);
 			strcpy(lock->owner, ctx->cdata);
 		} else if (!strcmp(ctx->name, DAV_ACTIVELOCK_TIMEOUT)) {
-			if (!strncmp(ctx->cdata, "Second-", 7))
+			if (!prefixcmp(ctx->cdata, "Second-"))
 				lock->timeout =
 					strtol(ctx->cdata + 7, NULL, 10);
 		} else if (!strcmp(ctx->name, DAV_ACTIVELOCK_TOKEN)) {
-			if (!strncmp(ctx->cdata, "opaquelocktoken:", 16)) {
+			if (!prefixcmp(ctx->cdata, "opaquelocktoken:")) {
 				lock->token = xmalloc(strlen(ctx->cdata) - 15);
 				strcpy(lock->token, ctx->cdata + 16);
 			}
@@ -2168,7 +2168,7 @@ static void fetch_symref(const char *path, char **symref, unsigned char *sha1)
 		return;
 
 	/* If it's a symref, set the refname; otherwise try for a sha1 */
-	if (!strncmp((char *)buffer.buffer, "ref: ", 5)) {
+	if (!prefixcmp((char *)buffer.buffer, "ref: ")) {
 		*symref = xmalloc(buffer.posn - 5);
 		strlcpy(*symref, (char *)buffer.buffer + 5, buffer.posn - 5);
 	} else {
diff --git a/index-pack.c b/index-pack.c
index 72e0962415..fa9a0e7489 100644
--- a/index-pack.c
+++ b/index-pack.c
@@ -849,9 +849,9 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 				fix_thin_pack = 1;
 			} else if (!strcmp(arg, "--keep")) {
 				keep_msg = "";
-			} else if (!strncmp(arg, "--keep=", 7)) {
+			} else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--keep=")) {
 				keep_msg = arg + 7;
-			} else if (!strncmp(arg, "--pack_header=", 14)) {
+			} else if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--pack_header=")) {
 				struct pack_header *hdr;
 				char *c;
 
diff --git a/peek-remote.c b/peek-remote.c
index ef3c76ce52..7b66228a22 100644
--- a/peek-remote.c
+++ b/peek-remote.c
@@ -35,11 +35,11 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 		char *arg = argv[i];
 
 		if (*arg == '-') {
-			if (!strncmp("--upload-pack=", arg, 14)) {
+			if (!(-prefixcmp(arg, "--upload-pack="))) {
 				uploadpack = arg + 14;
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!strncmp("--exec=", arg, 7)) {
+			if (!(-prefixcmp(arg, "--exec="))) {
 				uploadpack = arg + 7;
 				continue;
 			}
diff --git a/receive-pack.c b/receive-pack.c
index 7311c822dd..7f1dcc045c 100644
--- a/receive-pack.c
+++ b/receive-pack.c
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ static int update(struct command *cmd)
 	struct ref_lock *lock;
 
 	cmd->error_string = NULL;
-	if (!strncmp(name, "refs/", 5) && check_ref_format(name + 5)) {
+	if (!prefixcmp(name, "refs/") && check_ref_format(name + 5)) {
 		cmd->error_string = "funny refname";
 		return error("refusing to create funny ref '%s' locally",
 			     name);
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ static int update(struct command *cmd)
 	}
 	if (deny_non_fast_forwards && !is_null_sha1(new_sha1) &&
 	    !is_null_sha1(old_sha1) &&
-	    !strncmp(name, "refs/heads/", 11)) {
+	    !prefixcmp(name, "refs/heads/")) {
 		struct commit *old_commit, *new_commit;
 		struct commit_list *bases, *ent;
 
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 6387703789..d347876c87 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -828,8 +828,8 @@ int rename_ref(const char *oldref, const char *newref, const char *logmsg)
 		goto rollback;
 	}
 
-	if (!strncmp(oldref, "refs/heads/", 11) &&
-			!strncmp(newref, "refs/heads/", 11)) {
+	if (!prefixcmp(oldref, "refs/heads/") &&
+			!prefixcmp(newref, "refs/heads/")) {
 		char oldsection[1024], newsection[1024];
 
 		snprintf(oldsection, 1024, "branch.%s", oldref + 11);
@@ -894,8 +894,8 @@ static int log_ref_write(const char *ref_name, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
 	log_file = git_path("logs/%s", ref_name);
 
 	if (log_all_ref_updates &&
-	    (!strncmp(ref_name, "refs/heads/", 11) ||
-	     !strncmp(ref_name, "refs/remotes/", 13) ||
+	    (!prefixcmp(ref_name, "refs/heads/") ||
+	     !prefixcmp(ref_name, "refs/remotes/") ||
 	     !strcmp(ref_name, "HEAD"))) {
 		if (safe_create_leading_directories(log_file) < 0)
 			return error("unable to create directory for %s",
diff --git a/revision.c b/revision.c
index 5b1794b0ef..abab3b9d01 100644
--- a/revision.c
+++ b/revision.c
@@ -813,11 +813,11 @@ int setup_revisions(int argc, const char **argv, struct rev_info *revs, const ch
 		const char *arg = argv[i];
 		if (*arg == '-') {
 			int opts;
-			if (!strncmp(arg, "--max-count=", 12)) {
+			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--max-count=")) {
 				revs->max_count = atoi(arg + 12);
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!strncmp(arg, "--skip=", 7)) {
+			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--skip=")) {
 				revs->skip_count = atoi(arg + 7);
 				continue;
 			}
@@ -836,27 +836,27 @@ int setup_revisions(int argc, const char **argv, struct rev_info *revs, const ch
 				revs->max_count = atoi(arg + 2);
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!strncmp(arg, "--max-age=", 10)) {
+			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--max-age=")) {
 				revs->max_age = atoi(arg + 10);
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!strncmp(arg, "--since=", 8)) {
+			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--since=")) {
 				revs->max_age = approxidate(arg + 8);
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!strncmp(arg, "--after=", 8)) {
+			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--after=")) {
 				revs->max_age = approxidate(arg + 8);
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!strncmp(arg, "--min-age=", 10)) {
+			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--min-age=")) {
 				revs->min_age = atoi(arg + 10);
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!strncmp(arg, "--before=", 9)) {
+			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--before=")) {
 				revs->min_age = approxidate(arg + 9);
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!strncmp(arg, "--until=", 8)) {
+			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--until=")) {
 				revs->min_age = approxidate(arg + 8);
 				continue;
 			}
@@ -944,7 +944,7 @@ int setup_revisions(int argc, const char **argv, struct rev_info *revs, const ch
 				revs->num_ignore_packed = 0;
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!strncmp(arg, "--unpacked=", 11)) {
+			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--unpacked=")) {
 				revs->unpacked = 1;
 				add_ignore_packed(revs, arg+11);
 				continue;
@@ -980,7 +980,7 @@ int setup_revisions(int argc, const char **argv, struct rev_info *revs, const ch
 				revs->verbose_header = 1;
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!strncmp(arg, "--pretty", 8)) {
+			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--pretty")) {
 				revs->verbose_header = 1;
 				revs->commit_format = get_commit_format(arg+8);
 				continue;
@@ -1005,7 +1005,7 @@ int setup_revisions(int argc, const char **argv, struct rev_info *revs, const ch
 				revs->abbrev = DEFAULT_ABBREV;
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!strncmp(arg, "--abbrev=", 9)) {
+			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--abbrev=")) {
 				revs->abbrev = strtoul(arg + 9, NULL, 10);
 				if (revs->abbrev < MINIMUM_ABBREV)
 					revs->abbrev = MINIMUM_ABBREV;
@@ -1034,15 +1034,15 @@ int setup_revisions(int argc, const char **argv, struct rev_info *revs, const ch
 			/*
 			 * Grepping the commit log
 			 */
-			if (!strncmp(arg, "--author=", 9)) {
+			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--author=")) {
 				add_header_grep(revs, "author", arg+9);
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!strncmp(arg, "--committer=", 12)) {
+			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--committer=")) {
 				add_header_grep(revs, "committer", arg+12);
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!strncmp(arg, "--grep=", 7)) {
+			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--grep=")) {
 				add_message_grep(revs, arg+7);
 				continue;
 			}
@@ -1050,7 +1050,7 @@ int setup_revisions(int argc, const char **argv, struct rev_info *revs, const ch
 				all_match = 1;
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!strncmp(arg, "--encoding=", 11)) {
+			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--encoding=")) {
 				arg += 11;
 				if (strcmp(arg, "none"))
 					git_log_output_encoding = strdup(arg);
diff --git a/send-pack.c b/send-pack.c
index 33e69dbe18..512b660e99 100644
--- a/send-pack.c
+++ b/send-pack.c
@@ -379,11 +379,11 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 		char *arg = *argv;
 
 		if (*arg == '-') {
-			if (!strncmp(arg, "--receive-pack=", 15)) {
+			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--receive-pack=")) {
 				receivepack = arg + 15;
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (!strncmp(arg, "--exec=", 7)) {
+			if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--exec=")) {
 				receivepack = arg + 7;
 				continue;
 			}
diff --git a/setup.c b/setup.c
index e9d3f5aab6..dda67d268d 100644
--- a/setup.c
+++ b/setup.c
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ const char *setup_git_directory_gently(int *nongit_ok)
 	offset++;
 	cwd[len++] = '/';
 	cwd[len] = 0;
-	inside_git_dir = !strncmp(cwd + offset, ".git/", 5);
+	inside_git_dir = !prefixcmp(cwd + offset, ".git/");
 	return cwd + offset;
 }
 
diff --git a/shell.c b/shell.c
index 8c08cf0fb3..c983fc7b86 100644
--- a/shell.c
+++ b/shell.c
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ static int do_generic_cmd(const char *me, char *arg)
 
 	if (!arg || !(arg = sq_dequote(arg)))
 		die("bad argument");
-	if (strncmp(me, "git-", 4))
+	if (prefixcmp(me, "git-"))
 		die("bad command");
 
 	my_argv[0] = me + 4;
diff --git a/upload-pack.c b/upload-pack.c
index 3648aae1a7..d7876cade9 100644
--- a/upload-pack.c
+++ b/upload-pack.c
@@ -455,7 +455,7 @@ static int get_common_commits(void)
 			continue;
 		}
 		len = strip(line, len);
-		if (!strncmp(line, "have ", 5)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(line, "have ")) {
 			switch (got_sha1(line+5, sha1)) {
 			case -1: /* they have what we do not */
 				if (multi_ack && ok_to_give_up())
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ static void receive_needs(void)
 		if (!len)
 			break;
 
-		if (!strncmp("shallow ", line, 8)) {
+		if (!(-prefixcmp(line, "shallow "))) {
 			unsigned char sha1[20];
 			struct object *object;
 			use_thin_pack = 0;
@@ -515,7 +515,7 @@ static void receive_needs(void)
 			add_object_array(object, NULL, &shallows);
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp("deepen ", line, 7)) {
+		if (!(-prefixcmp(line, "deepen "))) {
 			char *end;
 			use_thin_pack = 0;
 			depth = strtol(line + 7, &end, 0);
@@ -523,7 +523,7 @@ static void receive_needs(void)
 				die("Invalid deepen: %s", line);
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (strncmp("want ", line, 5) ||
+		if ((-prefixcmp(line, "want ")) ||
 		    get_sha1_hex(line+5, sha1_buf))
 			die("git-upload-pack: protocol error, "
 			    "expected to get sha, not '%s'", line);
@@ -656,7 +656,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 			strict = 1;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (!strncmp(arg, "--timeout=", 10)) {
+		if (!prefixcmp(arg, "--timeout=")) {
 			timeout = atoi(arg+10);
 			continue;
 		}
diff --git a/wt-status.c b/wt-status.c
index 2879c3d5ec..d17a6ba5b2 100644
--- a/wt-status.c
+++ b/wt-status.c
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ void wt_status_print(struct wt_status *s)
 	if (s->branch) {
 		const char *on_what = "On branch ";
 		const char *branch_name = s->branch;
-		if (!strncmp(branch_name, "refs/heads/", 11))
+		if (!prefixcmp(branch_name, "refs/heads/"))
 			branch_name += 11;
 		else if (!strcmp(branch_name, "HEAD")) {
 			branch_name = "";
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ int git_status_config(const char *k, const char *v)
 		wt_status_use_color = git_config_colorbool(k, v);
 		return 0;
 	}
-	if (!strncmp(k, "status.color.", 13) || !strncmp(k, "color.status.", 13)) {
+	if (!prefixcmp(k, "status.color.") || !strncmp(k, "color.status.", 13)) {
 		int slot = parse_status_slot(k, 13);
 		color_parse(v, k, wt_status_colors[slot]);
 	}