title: Git: do not create index.lock for read-only operations
body: <p>Is there a way to force git not to create index.lock for read-only operations like <code>git status</code>?</p>
  
  <p>I'm displaying the status of my working tree in tmux, being updated every couple of seconds. Basically I parse the output of <code>git status --branch --ignored --porcelain</code> and a few other commands. Problem is, that for large repositories <code>git status</code> can take a few seconds to complete. During that time I cannot run any other git commands because the repository is locked.</p>
  
  <p>EDIT:</p>
  
  <p>Here are some pictures of the relevant part of my tmux line. Description for symbols from left to right:</p>
  
  <p>In sync with remote branch | 2 staged changes | 1 unstaged change | 5 ignored files | 1 stash entry:
  <img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/35xXd.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>
  
  <p>In sync with remote branch | no changes in working tree | 5 ignored files:
  <img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/GKsBr.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>
  
  <p>Ahead remote branch by 1 commit | no changes in working tree | 5 ignored files:
  <img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/87GrY.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>