---
topic: glob-semantics
last_updated: 2026-04-27T09:49:20.726Z
patterns:
  - id: P-205
    summary: Translate **/X glob to allow zero-segment match (root-level X), per gitignore/minimatch convention
    promoted_at: 2026-04-27T09:49:20.726Z
    source_experiments: [whooo]
---

# Glob Semantics (AI-derived)

> Auto-maintained by `pan-tools learn promote`. Each pattern was extracted from one or more experiment runs (see source_experiments). Patterns are **advisory** — orchestrators should weight them against current context.

## P-205 — Translate **/X glob to allow zero-segment match (root-level X), per gitignore/minimatch convention

**Evidence:** whooo trace.jsonl 11:45Z (error major): globToRegex bug where **/foo.md regex required at least one slash so foo.md at root did not match. Fix: emit (?:.*/)? so the slash is optional. Caught by walk.test.js regression test.

**Rule:** When implementing glob-to-regex translation, follow gitignore/minimatch convention: **/X must match BOTH dir/sub/X AND root-level X (the **/ segment can match zero path segments). Translate the **/ prefix to (?:.*/)?  NOT .*/ . The latter requires at least one slash and silently misses root-level files.

**Applies in:** exec-phase (any glob/walker implementation), plan-phase (when planning file-walking tools)