Trying to formalize the plan from the original.

docs/strategies.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+Strategies
+----------
+
+git-lint has a couple of phases in which it develops its strategy for what to run:
+
+1. Load the configuration file.
+   a. On the command line?
+   b. In the base directory as .git-lint?
+   c. In the base directory as .git-lint/config?
+   d. In the user's home directory as .git-lint?
+   e. In the user's home directroy as .git-lint/config?
+
+2. Prune configuration with ``-o`` or ``-e`` options
+      
+3. Determine which files to lint.
+   a.   Workspace or staging?
+            i.   If staging, record all stashed timestamps for restoration
+   b.   From this list:
+            i.   All changed files ``-b``
+            ii.  All changed files in the current directory and down (default)
+            iii. All files in the current directory and down. ``-a``
+            iv.  All files in the repository ``-a -b``
+   c.   Add files from command line, if any.
+   d.   Filter based on match criteria in configuration file.
+
+4. For each file, run the appropriate linter.
+   a.   If in delta mode ``-d``, only show differences that correspond to user changes.
+   b.   Capture failure output and failure status.
+
+5.   Reduce failure status to pass/fail
+6.   Print resulting messages and exit with failure status (for pre-commit).
+7.   If staging, unstage and touch-up files to restore timestamps.

docs/usage.rst

@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ Options
     Version info
 
 ``-c`` ``--config``
-    Specify config file (default: ``$GIT_DIR/.git/git_lint/config``)
+    Specify config file (default: ``$GIT_DIR/.git-lint``)
 
 ``-w`` ``--workspace``
     Check workspace [default]