Re: [GSoC 11 submodule] Status update

On 06/29/2011 05:58 PM, Junio C Hamano wrote:

Phil Hord [off-list ref] writes:

quoted

It frightens me because it seems like a fundamental break from the
current submodule functionality.  Today a submodule exists as a git
repository with no knowledge that it is a submodule or who its
super-repository is.

The use of .git that is a text file that records where the real directory
is not limited to submodules.  Placing that "real directory" somewhere in
the .git directory of the superproject is merely a convention.

In other words, it does not change anything fundamental.

Thanks for pointing that out.  I was unaware of that feature until I saw
it discussed in another thread this week.  Even then, it was not clear
to me that this is the same feature being employed here.

When switching to another branch, a directory that does not exist in the
switched-to branch needs to be removed, but we would refrain from "rm -fr"
that directory if it has any leftover cruft in it (untracked and unignored
files). A submodule directory should behave in the same way.

Thanks.  I am suitably enclued and no longer afraid.

Phil