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The feature of configuring a submodule to "ignore=all" is nicely respected in commands "status" and "diff". However the "add" command does not respect the configuration the same way. The behavior is problematic for the logic between status/diff and add. Secondly it makes it problematic to track branches in the submodule configuration as developers unintentionally keeps add submodule updates and get conflicts for no intentional reason. Both adds unnecessary friction to the usage of submodules.

The patches implement the same logical behavior for ignore=all submodules as regular ignored files. The status now does not show any diff - nor will the add command update the reference submodule reference. If you add the submodule path which is ignore=all then you are presented with a message that you need to use the --force option. The branch=, ignore=all (and update=none) now works great with update --remote, but developers does not have to consider changes in the updates of the submodule sha1. The implementation removes a friction of working with submodules and can be used like the repo tool with branches configured. The submodule status report could be used for build/release documentation for reproduction of a setup.

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gitgitgadget bot commented Oct 15, 2025

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gitgitgadget bot commented Oct 15, 2025

There are issues in commit a3105e7:
first working submodule ignore=all skipped in adding
Commit checks stopped - the message is too short
Commit not signed off

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gitgitgadget bot commented Oct 15, 2025

There are issues in commit b2d5354:
add --force for adding submodule even ignore=all is set
Commit checks stopped - the message is too short
Commit not signed off

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gitgitgadget bot commented Oct 15, 2025

There are issues in commit 8348a4a:
create tests for git add of submodule behavior for ignore=all
Commit checks stopped - the message is too short
Commit not signed off

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gitgitgadget bot commented Oct 15, 2025

There are issues in commit 6657438:
remove unnecassary trace print in read-cache.c
Commit checks stopped - the message is too short
Commit not signed off

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gitgitgadget bot commented Oct 15, 2025

There are issues in commit c2d703e:
update tests with explicit scenary around ignore=all and using --ignore-submodules option on log, status
Commit checks stopped - the message is too short
First line of commit message is too long (> 76 columns)
Commit not signed off

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gitgitgadget bot commented Oct 15, 2025

There are issues in commit a56d8b8:
add description per test-case
Commit checks stopped - the message is too short
Commit not signed off

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gitgitgadget bot commented Oct 15, 2025

There are issues in commit 79598c6:
update documentation for add and gitmodules
Commit checks stopped - the message is too short
Commit not signed off

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gitgitgadget bot commented Oct 15, 2025

There are issues in commit 1b8d93b:
Add required explicit pathspec in order to add
Commit checks stopped - the message is too short
Commit not signed off

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gitgitgadget bot commented Oct 15, 2025

There are issues in commit e45daed:
clean-up tailing spaces, traces, writings and shell spellcheck in test
Commit checks stopped - the message is too short
Commit not signed off

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dscho commented Oct 15, 2025

/allow

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gitgitgadget bot commented Oct 15, 2025

User bicschneider is now allowed to use GitGitGadget.

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dscho commented Oct 15, 2025

@bicschneider the Git project is very particular about the form of the commit messages it accepts, and it is outright hostile towards contributors who send patches that introduce white-space problems even if those are fixed by later patches in the same patch series (they demand that the fixes are squashed into the appropriate patches, which I recommend you do before /submiting).

Further, they are adamant about the Signed-off-by trailer. You can fix it by calling git commit --amend --reset-author --signoff, or via git rebase --signoff.

Finally, you can increase the chances for a pleasant review on the Git mailing list dramatically by imitating the rather verbose style of Git's own commit messages. There is some really useful guidance here, in particular the part where it recommends to ensure that the following are covered by the commit message:

  What you’re doing Why you’re doing it
High-level (strategic) Intent (what does this accomplish?) Context (why does the code do what it does now?)
Low-level (tactical) Implementation (what did you do to accomplish your goal?) Justification (why is this change being made?)

@bicschneider bicschneider force-pushed the respect-submodule-ignore branch from e45daed to d94d2d5 Compare October 15, 2025 16:05
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gitgitgadget bot commented Oct 15, 2025

There are issues in commit fa7cf4e:
read-cache: let read-cache respect submodule ignore=all and bypass with --force
First line of commit message is too long (> 76 columns)
Lines in the body of the commit messages should be wrapped between 60 and 76 characters.
Indented lines, and lines without whitespace, are exempt

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gitgitgadget bot commented Oct 15, 2025

There are issues in commit 78c6a1a:
tests: Add new t2206-add-submodule-ignored.sh to test ignore=all scenario
Prefixed commit message must be in lower case

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gitgitgadget bot commented Oct 15, 2025

There are issues in commit d94d2d5:
Documentation: update add and submodule describing the ignore=all and --force
First line of commit message is too long (> 76 columns)
Lines in the body of the commit messages should be wrapped between 60 and 76 characters.
Indented lines, and lines without whitespace, are exempt

The parameter is parsed to add function and is now also given for usage
in read-cache for selective update the submodule sha1.

Signed-off-by: Claus Schneider(Eficode) <claus.schneider@eficode.com>
The submomodule path reference update is skipped if:
- the ignore=all configuration is set on the submodule
unless:
-  the --force option is also given and the submodule path is explicit
   given.

A message is printed (like ignored files) guilding the user to use the
--force flag if the user has explicitely want to update the submodule
reference.

Signed-off-by: Claus Schneider(Eficode) <claus.schneider@eficode.com>
…ario

The tests verify that the submodule behavior is intact and updating the
config with ignore=all also behaves as intended

Signed-off-by: Claus Schneider(Eficode) <claus.schneider@eficode.com>
- The add --force apoend additionel info about the submodule
functionality
- The submodule config ignore=all now need --force in order to update

Signed-off-by: Claus Schneider(Eficode) <claus.schneider@eficode.com>
@bicschneider bicschneider force-pushed the respect-submodule-ignore branch from d94d2d5 to 2a3ec2e Compare October 15, 2025 16:22
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