[PATCH 00/10] fetch submodules in parallel and a preview on parallel "submodule update"

@@ -357,7 +357,10 @@ size_t strbuf_fread(struct strbuf *sb, size_t size, FILE *f)
 	return res;
 }
 
-ssize_t strbuf_read(struct strbuf *sb, int fd, size_t hint)
+#define IGNORE_EAGAIN (1)
+
+static ssize_t strbuf_read_internal(struct strbuf *sb, int fd,
+				    size_t hint, int flags)
 {
 	size_t oldlen = sb->len;
 	size_t oldalloc = sb->alloc;

@@ -366,8 +369,16 @@ ssize_t strbuf_read(struct strbuf *sb, int fd, size_t hint)
 	for (;;) {
 		ssize_t cnt;
 
-		cnt = xread(fd, sb->buf + sb->len, sb->alloc - sb->len - 1);
+		cnt = read(fd, sb->buf + sb->len, sb->alloc - sb->len - 1);
 		if (cnt < 0) {
+			if (errno == EINTR)
+				continue;
+			if (errno == EAGAIN) {
+				if (flags & IGNORE_EAGAIN)
+					break;
+				else
+					continue;
+			}
 			if (oldalloc == 0)
 				strbuf_release(sb);
 			else

@@ -384,6 +395,16 @@ ssize_t strbuf_read(struct strbuf *sb, int fd, size_t hint)
 	return sb->len - oldlen;
 }
 
+ssize_t strbuf_read(struct strbuf *sb, int fd, size_t hint)
+{
+	return strbuf_read_internal(sb, fd, hint, 0);
+}
+
+ssize_t strbuf_read_noblock(struct strbuf *sb, int fd, size_t hint)
+{
+	return strbuf_read_internal(sb, fd, hint, IGNORE_EAGAIN);
+}
+
 #define STRBUF_MAXLINK (2*PATH_MAX)
 
 int strbuf_readlink(struct strbuf *sb, const char *path, size_t hint)

@@ -367,6 +367,12 @@ extern size_t strbuf_fread(struct strbuf *, size_t, FILE *);
 extern ssize_t strbuf_read(struct strbuf *, int fd, size_t hint);
 
 /**
+ * Same as strbuf_read, just returns non-blockingly by ignoring EAGAIN.
+ * The fd must have set O_NONBLOCK.
+ */
+extern ssize_t strbuf_read_noblock(struct strbuf *, int fd, size_t hint);
+
+/**
  * Read the contents of a file, specified by its path. The third argument
  * can be used to give a hint about the file size, to avoid reallocs.
  */

@@ -232,6 +232,35 @@ static inline void set_cloexec(int fd)
 		fcntl(fd, F_SETFD, flags | FD_CLOEXEC);
 }
 
+static int determine_return_value(int wait_status,
+				  int *result,
+				  int *error_code,
+				  const char *argv0)
+{
+	if (WIFSIGNALED(wait_status)) {
+		*result = WTERMSIG(wait_status);
+		if (*result != SIGINT && *result != SIGQUIT)
+			error("%s died of signal %d", argv0, *result);
+		/*
+		 * This return value is chosen so that code & 0xff
+		 * mimics the exit code that a POSIX shell would report for
+		 * a program that died from this signal.
+		 */
+		*result += 128;
+	} else if (WIFEXITED(wait_status)) {
+		*result = WEXITSTATUS(wait_status);
+		/*
+		 * Convert special exit code when execvp failed.
+		 */
+		if (*result == 127) {
+			*result = -1;
+			*error_code = ENOENT;
+		}
+	} else
+		return 1;
+	return 0;
+}
+
 static int wait_or_whine(pid_t pid, const char *argv0)
 {
 	int status, code = -1;

@@ -244,29 +273,10 @@ static int wait_or_whine(pid_t pid, const char *argv0)
 	if (waiting < 0) {
 		failed_errno = errno;
 		error("waitpid for %s failed: %s", argv0, strerror(errno));
-	} else if (waiting != pid) {
-		error("waitpid is confused (%s)", argv0);
-	} else if (WIFSIGNALED(status)) {
-		code = WTERMSIG(status);
-		if (code != SIGINT && code != SIGQUIT)
-			error("%s died of signal %d", argv0, code);
-		/*
-		 * This return value is chosen so that code & 0xff
-		 * mimics the exit code that a POSIX shell would report for
-		 * a program that died from this signal.
-		 */
-		code += 128;
-	} else if (WIFEXITED(status)) {
-		code = WEXITSTATUS(status);
-		/*
-		 * Convert special exit code when execvp failed.
-		 */
-		if (code == 127) {
-			code = -1;
-			failed_errno = ENOENT;
-		}
 	} else {
-		error("waitpid is confused (%s)", argv0);
+		if (waiting != pid
+		   || (determine_return_value(status, &code, &failed_errno, argv0) < 0))
+			error("waitpid is confused (%s)", argv0);
 	}
 
 	clear_child_for_cleanup(pid);

@@ -607,6 +607,24 @@ cmd_update_recursive()
 	fi
 }
 
+cmd_update_clone()
+{
+	command="git checkout $subforce -q"
+	die_msg="$(eval_gettext "Unable to checkout '\$sha1' in submodule path '\$displaypath'")"
+	say_msg="$(eval_gettext "Submodule path '\$displaypath': checked out '\$sha1'")"
+
+	git submodule--helper clone ${GIT_QUIET:+--quiet} ${prefix:+--prefix "$prefix"} --path "$sm_path" --name "$name" --url "$url" "$reference" "$depth" || exit
+
+	if (clear_local_git_env; cd "$sm_path" && $command "$sha1")
+	then
+		say "$say_msg"
+	else
+		err="${err};$die_msg"
+		return
+	fi
+	cmd_update_recursive
+}
+
 #
 # Update each submodule path to correct revision, using clone and checkout as needed
 #

@@ -680,7 +698,6 @@ cmd_update()
 		cmd_init "--" "$@" || return
 	fi
 
-	cloned_modules=
 	git submodule--helper list --prefix "$wt_prefix" "$@" | {
 	err=
 	while read mode sha1 stage sm_path

@@ -725,9 +742,8 @@ Maybe you want to use 'update --init'?")"
 
 		if ! test -d "$sm_path"/.git && ! test -f "$sm_path"/.git
 		then
-			git submodule--helper clone ${GIT_QUIET:+--quiet} ${prefix:+--prefix "$prefix"} --path "$sm_path" --name "$name" --url "$url" "$reference" "$depth" || exit
-			cloned_modules="$cloned_modules;$name"
-			subsha1=
+			cmd_update_clone
+			continue
 		else
 			subsha1=$(clear_local_git_env; cd "$sm_path" &&
 				git rev-parse --verify HEAD) ||

@@ -767,13 +783,6 @@ Maybe you want to use 'update --init'?")"
 				die "$(eval_gettext "Unable to fetch in submodule path '\$displaypath'")"
 			fi
 
-			# Is this something we just cloned?
-			case ";$cloned_modules;" in
-			*";$name;"*)
-				# then there is no local change to integrate
-				update_module=checkout ;;
-			esac
-
 			must_die_on_failure=
 			case "$update_module" in
 			checkout)

@@ -1217,7 +1217,8 @@ int cmd_fetch(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		result = fetch_populated_submodules(&options,
 						    submodule_prefix,
 						    recurse_submodules,
-						    verbosity < 0);
+						    verbosity < 0,
+						    0);
 		argv_array_clear(&options);
 	}
 

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include "sha1-array.h"
 #include "argv-array.h"
 #include "blob.h"
+#include "thread-utils.h"
 
 static int config_fetch_recurse_submodules = RECURSE_SUBMODULES_ON_DEMAND;
 static struct string_list changed_submodule_paths;

@@ -615,37 +616,79 @@ static void calculate_changed_submodule_paths(void)
 	initialized_fetch_ref_tips = 0;
 }
 
+struct submodule_parallel_fetch {
+	int count;
+	struct argv_array args;
+	const char *work_tree;
+	const char *prefix;
+	int command_line_option;
+	int quiet;
+	int result;
+};
+#define SPF_INIT {0, ARGV_ARRAY_INIT, NULL, NULL, 0, 0, 0}
+
+int get_next_submodule(void *data, struct child_process *cp,
+		       struct strbuf *err);
+
+void handle_submodule_fetch_start_err(void *data, struct child_process *cp, struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	struct submodule_parallel_fetch *spf = data;
+	spf->result = 1;
+}
+
+void handle_submodule_fetch_finish( void *data, struct child_process *cp, int retvalue)
+{
+	struct submodule_parallel_fetch *spf = data;
+
+	if (retvalue)
+		spf->result = 1;
+}
+
 int fetch_populated_submodules(const struct argv_array *options,
 			       const char *prefix, int command_line_option,
-			       int quiet)
+			       int quiet, int max_parallel_jobs)
 {
-	int i, result = 0;
-	struct child_process cp = CHILD_PROCESS_INIT;
-	struct argv_array argv = ARGV_ARRAY_INIT;
-	const char *work_tree = get_git_work_tree();
-	if (!work_tree)
+	int i;
+	struct submodule_parallel_fetch spf = SPF_INIT;
+	spf.work_tree = get_git_work_tree();
+	spf.command_line_option = command_line_option;
+	spf.quiet = quiet;
+	spf.prefix = prefix;
+	if (!spf.work_tree)
 		goto out;
 
 	if (read_cache() < 0)
 		die("index file corrupt");
 
-	argv_array_push(&argv, "fetch");
+	argv_array_push(&spf.args, "fetch");
 	for (i = 0; i < options->argc; i++)
-		argv_array_push(&argv, options->argv[i]);
-	argv_array_push(&argv, "--recurse-submodules-default");
+		argv_array_push(&spf.args, options->argv[i]);
+	argv_array_push(&spf.args, "--recurse-submodules-default");
 	/* default value, "--submodule-prefix" and its value are added later */
 
-	cp.env = local_repo_env;
-	cp.git_cmd = 1;
-	cp.no_stdin = 1;
-
 	calculate_changed_submodule_paths();
+	run_processes_parallel(max_parallel_jobs, &spf,
+			       get_next_submodule,
+			       handle_submodule_fetch_start_err,
+			       handle_submodule_fetch_finish);
+
+	argv_array_clear(&spf.args);
+out:
+	string_list_clear(&changed_submodule_paths, 1);
+	return spf.result;
+}
+
+int get_next_submodule(void *data, struct child_process *cp,
+		       struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	int ret = 0;
+	struct submodule_parallel_fetch *spf = data;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < active_nr; i++) {
+	for ( ; spf->count < active_nr; spf->count++) {
 		struct strbuf submodule_path = STRBUF_INIT;
 		struct strbuf submodule_git_dir = STRBUF_INIT;
 		struct strbuf submodule_prefix = STRBUF_INIT;
-		const struct cache_entry *ce = active_cache[i];
+		const struct cache_entry *ce = active_cache[spf->count];
 		const char *git_dir, *default_argv;
 		const struct submodule *submodule;
 

@@ -657,7 +700,7 @@ int fetch_populated_submodules(const struct argv_array *options,
 			submodule = submodule_from_name(null_sha1, ce->name);
 
 		default_argv = "yes";
-		if (command_line_option == RECURSE_SUBMODULES_DEFAULT) {
+		if (spf->command_line_option == RECURSE_SUBMODULES_DEFAULT) {
 			if (submodule &&
 			    submodule->fetch_recurse !=
 						RECURSE_SUBMODULES_NONE) {

@@ -680,40 +723,46 @@ int fetch_populated_submodules(const struct argv_array *options,
 					default_argv = "on-demand";
 				}
 			}
-		} else if (command_line_option == RECURSE_SUBMODULES_ON_DEMAND) {
+		} else if (spf->command_line_option == RECURSE_SUBMODULES_ON_DEMAND) {
 			if (!unsorted_string_list_lookup(&changed_submodule_paths, ce->name))
 				continue;
 			default_argv = "on-demand";
 		}
 
-		strbuf_addf(&submodule_path, "%s/%s", work_tree, ce->name);
+		strbuf_addf(&submodule_path, "%s/%s", spf->work_tree, ce->name);
 		strbuf_addf(&submodule_git_dir, "%s/.git", submodule_path.buf);
-		strbuf_addf(&submodule_prefix, "%s%s/", prefix, ce->name);
+		strbuf_addf(&submodule_prefix, "%s%s/", spf->prefix, ce->name);
 		git_dir = read_gitfile(submodule_git_dir.buf);
 		if (!git_dir)
 			git_dir = submodule_git_dir.buf;
 		if (is_directory(git_dir)) {
-			if (!quiet)
-				fprintf(stderr, "Fetching submodule %s%s\n", prefix, ce->name);
-			cp.dir = submodule_path.buf;
-			argv_array_push(&argv, default_argv);
-			argv_array_push(&argv, "--submodule-prefix");
-			argv_array_push(&argv, submodule_prefix.buf);
-			cp.argv = argv.argv;
-			if (run_command(&cp))
-				result = 1;
-			argv_array_pop(&argv);
-			argv_array_pop(&argv);
-			argv_array_pop(&argv);
+			child_process_init(cp);
+			cp->dir = strbuf_detach(&submodule_path, NULL);
+			cp->git_cmd = 1;
+			cp->no_stdout = 1;
+			cp->no_stdin = 1;
+			cp->stdout_to_stderr = 1;
+			cp->err = -1;
+			cp->env = local_repo_env;
+			if (!spf->quiet)
+				strbuf_addf(err, "Fetching submodule %s%s\n",
+					    spf->prefix, ce->name);
+			argv_array_init(&cp->args);
+			argv_array_pushv(&cp->args, spf->args.argv);
+			argv_array_push(&cp->args, default_argv);
+			argv_array_push(&cp->args, "--submodule-prefix");
+			argv_array_push(&cp->args, submodule_prefix.buf);
+			ret = 1;
 		}
 		strbuf_release(&submodule_path);
 		strbuf_release(&submodule_git_dir);
 		strbuf_release(&submodule_prefix);
+		if (ret) {
+			spf->count++;
+			return 0;
+		}
 	}
-	argv_array_clear(&argv);
-out:
-	string_list_clear(&changed_submodule_paths, 1);
-	return result;
+	return 1;
 }
 
 unsigned is_submodule_modified(const char *path, int ignore_untracked)

@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ void set_config_fetch_recurse_submodules(int value);
 void check_for_new_submodule_commits(unsigned char new_sha1[20]);
 int fetch_populated_submodules(const struct argv_array *options,
 			       const char *prefix, int command_line_option,
-			       int quiet);
+			       int quiet, int max_parallel_jobs);
 unsigned is_submodule_modified(const char *path, int ignore_untracked);
 int submodule_uses_gitfile(const char *path);
 int ok_to_remove_submodule(const char *path);

@@ -625,6 +625,89 @@ cmd_update_clone()
 	cmd_update_recursive
 }
 
+cmd_update_fetch()
+{
+	subsha1=$(clear_local_git_env; cd "$sm_path" &&
+		git rev-parse --verify HEAD) ||
+	die "$(eval_gettext "Unable to find current revision in submodule path '\$displaypath'")"
+
+	if test -n "$remote"
+	then
+		if test -z "$nofetch"
+		then
+			# Fetch remote before determining tracking $sha1
+			(clear_local_git_env; cd "$sm_path" && git-fetch) ||
+			die "$(eval_gettext "Unable to fetch in submodule path '\$sm_path'")"
+		fi
+		remote_name=$(clear_local_git_env; cd "$sm_path" && get_default_remote)
+		sha1=$(clear_local_git_env; cd "$sm_path" &&
+			git rev-parse --verify "${remote_name}/${branch}") ||
+		die "$(eval_gettext "Unable to find current ${remote_name}/${branch} revision in submodule path '\$sm_path'")"
+	fi
+
+	if test "$subsha1" != "$sha1" || test -n "$force"
+	then
+		subforce=$force
+		# If we don't already have a -f flag and the submodule has never been checked out
+		if test -z "$subsha1" && test -z "$force"
+		then
+			subforce="-f"
+		fi
+
+		if test -z "$nofetch"
+		then
+			# Run fetch only if $sha1 isn't present or it
+			# is not reachable from a ref.
+			(clear_local_git_env; cd "$sm_path" &&
+				( (rev=$(git rev-list -n 1 $sha1 --not --all 2>/dev/null) &&
+				 test -z "$rev") || git-fetch)) ||
+			die "$(eval_gettext "Unable to fetch in submodule path '\$displaypath'")"
+		fi
+
+		must_die_on_failure=
+		case "$update_module" in
+		checkout)
+			command="git checkout $subforce -q"
+			die_msg="$(eval_gettext "Unable to checkout '\$sha1' in submodule path '\$displaypath'")"
+			say_msg="$(eval_gettext "Submodule path '\$displaypath': checked out '\$sha1'")"
+			;;
+		rebase)
+			command="git rebase"
+			die_msg="$(eval_gettext "Unable to rebase '\$sha1' in submodule path '\$displaypath'")"
+			say_msg="$(eval_gettext "Submodule path '\$displaypath': rebased into '\$sha1'")"
+			must_die_on_failure=yes
+			;;
+		merge)
+			command="git merge"
+			die_msg="$(eval_gettext "Unable to merge '\$sha1' in submodule path '\$displaypath'")"
+			say_msg="$(eval_gettext "Submodule path '\$displaypath': merged in '\$sha1'")"
+			must_die_on_failure=yes
+			;;
+		!*)
+			command="${update_module#!}"
+			die_msg="$(eval_gettext "Execution of '\$command \$sha1' failed in submodule  path '\$prefix\$sm_path'")"
+			say_msg="$(eval_gettext "Submodule path '\$prefix\$sm_path': '\$command \$sha1'")"
+			must_die_on_failure=yes
+			;;
+		*)
+			die "$(eval_gettext "Invalid update mode '$update_module' for submodule '$name'")"
+		esac
+
+		if (clear_local_git_env; cd "$sm_path" && $command "$sha1")
+		then
+			say "$say_msg"
+		elif test -n "$must_die_on_failure"
+		then
+			die_with_status 2 "$die_msg"
+		else
+			err="${err};$die_msg"
+			return
+		fi
+	fi
+
+	cmd_update_recursive
+}
+
 #
 # Update each submodule path to correct revision, using clone and checkout as needed
 #

@@ -743,88 +826,9 @@ Maybe you want to use 'update --init'?")"
 		if ! test -d "$sm_path"/.git && ! test -f "$sm_path"/.git
 		then
 			cmd_update_clone
-			continue
 		else
-			subsha1=$(clear_local_git_env; cd "$sm_path" &&
-				git rev-parse --verify HEAD) ||
-			die "$(eval_gettext "Unable to find current revision in submodule path '\$displaypath'")"
+			cmd_update_fetch
 		fi
-
-		if test -n "$remote"
-		then
-			if test -z "$nofetch"
-			then
-				# Fetch remote before determining tracking $sha1
-				(clear_local_git_env; cd "$sm_path" && git-fetch) ||
-				die "$(eval_gettext "Unable to fetch in submodule path '\$sm_path'")"
-			fi
-			remote_name=$(clear_local_git_env; cd "$sm_path" && get_default_remote)
-			sha1=$(clear_local_git_env; cd "$sm_path" &&
-				git rev-parse --verify "${remote_name}/${branch}") ||
-			die "$(eval_gettext "Unable to find current ${remote_name}/${branch} revision in submodule path '\$sm_path'")"
-		fi
-
-		if test "$subsha1" != "$sha1" || test -n "$force"
-		then
-			subforce=$force
-			# If we don't already have a -f flag and the submodule has never been checked out
-			if test -z "$subsha1" && test -z "$force"
-			then
-				subforce="-f"
-			fi
-
-			if test -z "$nofetch"
-			then
-				# Run fetch only if $sha1 isn't present or it
-				# is not reachable from a ref.
-				(clear_local_git_env; cd "$sm_path" &&
-					( (rev=$(git rev-list -n 1 $sha1 --not --all 2>/dev/null) &&
-					 test -z "$rev") || git-fetch)) ||
-				die "$(eval_gettext "Unable to fetch in submodule path '\$displaypath'")"
-			fi
-
-			must_die_on_failure=
-			case "$update_module" in
-			checkout)
-				command="git checkout $subforce -q"
-				die_msg="$(eval_gettext "Unable to checkout '\$sha1' in submodule path '\$displaypath'")"
-				say_msg="$(eval_gettext "Submodule path '\$displaypath': checked out '\$sha1'")"
-				;;
-			rebase)
-				command="git rebase"
-				die_msg="$(eval_gettext "Unable to rebase '\$sha1' in submodule path '\$displaypath'")"
-				say_msg="$(eval_gettext "Submodule path '\$displaypath': rebased into '\$sha1'")"
-				must_die_on_failure=yes
-				;;
-			merge)
-				command="git merge"
-				die_msg="$(eval_gettext "Unable to merge '\$sha1' in submodule path '\$displaypath'")"
-				say_msg="$(eval_gettext "Submodule path '\$displaypath': merged in '\$sha1'")"
-				must_die_on_failure=yes
-				;;
-			!*)
-				command="${update_module#!}"
-				die_msg="$(eval_gettext "Execution of '\$command \$sha1' failed in submodule  path '\$prefix\$sm_path'")"
-				say_msg="$(eval_gettext "Submodule path '\$prefix\$sm_path': '\$command \$sha1'")"
-				must_die_on_failure=yes
-				;;
-			*)
-				die "$(eval_gettext "Invalid update mode '$update_module' for submodule '$name'")"
-			esac
-
-			if (clear_local_git_env; cd "$sm_path" && $command "$sha1")
-			then
-				say "$say_msg"
-			elif test -n "$must_die_on_failure"
-			then
-				die_with_status 2 "$die_msg"
-			else
-				err="${err};$die_msg"
-				continue
-			fi
-		fi
-
-		cmd_update_recursive
 	done
 
 	if test -n "$err"

@@ -100,6 +100,13 @@ ifndef::git-pull[]
 	reference to a commit that isn't already in the local submodule
 	clone.
 
+-j::
+--jobs=<n>::
+	Number of parallel children to be used for fetching submodules.
+	Each will fetch from different submodules, such that fetching many
+	submodules will be faster. By default submodules will be fetched
+	one at a time.
+
 --no-recurse-submodules::
 	Disable recursive fetching of submodules (this has the same effect as
 	using the '--recurse-submodules=no' option).

@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ static int prune = -1; /* unspecified */
 static int all, append, dry_run, force, keep, multiple, update_head_ok, verbosity;
 static int progress = -1, recurse_submodules = RECURSE_SUBMODULES_DEFAULT;
 static int tags = TAGS_DEFAULT, unshallow, update_shallow;
+static int max_children = 1;
 static const char *depth;
 static const char *upload_pack;
 static struct strbuf default_rla = STRBUF_INIT;

@@ -99,6 +100,8 @@ static struct option builtin_fetch_options[] = {
 		    N_("fetch all tags and associated objects"), TAGS_SET),
 	OPT_SET_INT('n', NULL, &tags,
 		    N_("do not fetch all tags (--no-tags)"), TAGS_UNSET),
+	OPT_INTEGER('j', "jobs", &max_children,
+		    N_("number of submodules fetched in parallel")),
 	OPT_BOOL('p', "prune", &prune,
 		 N_("prune remote-tracking branches no longer on remote")),
 	{ OPTION_CALLBACK, 0, "recurse-submodules", NULL, N_("on-demand"),

@@ -1218,7 +1221,7 @@ int cmd_fetch(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 						    submodule_prefix,
 						    recurse_submodules,
 						    verbosity < 0,
-						    0);
+						    max_children);
 		argv_array_clear(&options);
 	}
 

@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ static int opt_force;
 static char *opt_tags;
 static char *opt_prune;
 static char *opt_recurse_submodules;
+static char *max_children;
 static int opt_dry_run;
 static char *opt_keep;
 static char *opt_depth;

@@ -177,6 +178,9 @@ static struct option pull_options[] = {
 		N_("on-demand"),
 		N_("control recursive fetching of submodules"),
 		PARSE_OPT_OPTARG),
+	OPT_PASSTHRU('j', "jobs", &max_children, N_("n"),
+		N_("number of submodules pulled in parallel"),
+		PARSE_OPT_OPTARG),
 	OPT_BOOL(0, "dry-run", &opt_dry_run,
 		N_("dry run")),
 	OPT_PASSTHRU('k', "keep", &opt_keep, NULL,

@@ -524,6 +528,8 @@ static int run_fetch(const char *repo, const char **refspecs)
 		argv_array_push(&args, opt_prune);
 	if (opt_recurse_submodules)
 		argv_array_push(&args, opt_recurse_submodules);
+	if (max_children)
+		argv_array_push(&args, max_children);
 	if (opt_dry_run)
 		argv_array_push(&args, "--dry-run");
 	if (opt_keep)

@@ -71,6 +71,16 @@ test_expect_success "fetch --recurse-submodules recurses into submodules" '
 	test_i18ncmp expect.err actual.err
 '
 
+test_expect_success "fetch --recurse-submodules -j2 has the same output behaviour" '
+	add_upstream_commit &&
+	(
+		cd downstream &&
+		git fetch --recurse-submodules -j2 2>../actual.err
+	) &&
+	test_must_be_empty actual.out &&
+	test_i18ncmp expect.err actual.err
+'
+
 test_expect_success "fetch alone only fetches superproject" '
 	add_upstream_commit &&
 	(

@@ -140,6 +150,15 @@ test_expect_success "--quiet propagates to submodules" '
 	! test -s actual.err
 '
 
+test_expect_success "--quiet propagates to parallel submodules" '
+	(
+		cd downstream &&
+		git fetch --recurse-submodules -j 2 --quiet  >../actual.out 2>../actual.err
+	) &&
+	! test -s actual.out &&
+	! test -s actual.err
+'
+
 test_expect_success "--dry-run propagates to submodules" '
 	add_upstream_commit &&
 	(

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include "exec_cmd.h"
 #include "sigchain.h"
 #include "argv-array.h"
+#include "thread-utils.h"
 
 void child_process_init(struct child_process *child)
 {

@@ -862,3 +863,230 @@ int capture_command(struct child_process *cmd, struct strbuf *buf, size_t hint)
 	close(cmd->out);
 	return finish_command(cmd);
 }
+
+struct parallel_processes {
+	int max_number_processes;
+	void *data;
+	get_next_task fn;
+	handle_child_starting_failure fn_err;
+	handle_child_return_value fn_exit;
+
+	int nr_processes;
+	int all_tasks_started;
+	int foreground_child;
+	char *slots;
+	struct child_process *children;
+	struct pollfd *pfd;
+	struct strbuf *err;
+	struct strbuf finished_children;
+};
+
+static void run_processes_parallel_init(struct parallel_processes *pp,
+					int n, void *data,
+					get_next_task fn,
+					handle_child_starting_failure fn_err,
+					handle_child_return_value fn_exit)
+{
+	int i;
+
+	if (n < 1)
+		n = online_cpus();
+
+	pp->max_number_processes = n;
+	pp->data = data;
+	pp->fn = fn;
+	pp->fn_err = fn_err;
+	pp->fn_exit = fn_exit;
+
+	pp->nr_processes = 0;
+	pp->all_tasks_started = 0;
+	pp->foreground_child = 0;
+	pp->slots = xcalloc(n, sizeof(*pp->slots));
+	pp->children = xcalloc(n, sizeof(*pp->children));
+	pp->pfd = xcalloc(n, sizeof(*pp->pfd));
+	pp->err = xcalloc(n, sizeof(*pp->err));
+	strbuf_init(&pp->finished_children, 0);
+
+	for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
+		strbuf_init(&pp->err[i], 0);
+		pp->pfd[i].events = POLLIN;
+		pp->pfd[i].fd = -1;
+	}
+}
+
+static void run_processes_parallel_cleanup(struct parallel_processes *pp)
+{
+	int i;
+	for (i = 0; i < pp->max_number_processes; i++)
+		strbuf_release(&pp->err[i]);
+
+	free(pp->children);
+	free(pp->slots);
+	free(pp->pfd);
+	free(pp->err);
+	strbuf_release(&pp->finished_children);
+}
+
+static void unblock_fd(int fd)
+{
+	int flags = fcntl(fd, F_GETFL);
+	if (flags < 0) {
+		warning("Could not get file status flags, "
+			"output will be degraded");
+		return;
+	}
+	if (fcntl(fd, F_SETFL, flags | O_NONBLOCK)) {
+			warning("Could not set file status flags, "
+			"output will be degraded");
+		return;
+	}
+}
+
+static void run_processes_parallel_start_new(struct parallel_processes *pp)
+{
+	int i;
+	/* Start new processes. */
+	while (!pp->all_tasks_started
+	       && pp->nr_processes < pp->max_number_processes) {
+		for (i = 0; i < pp->max_number_processes; i++)
+			if (!pp->slots[i])
+				break; /* found an empty slot */
+		if (i == pp->max_number_processes)
+			die("BUG: bookkeeping is hard");
+
+		if (pp->fn(pp->data, &pp->children[i], &pp->err[i])) {
+			pp->all_tasks_started = 1;
+			break;
+		}
+		if (start_command(&pp->children[i]))
+			pp->fn_err(pp->data, &pp->children[i], &pp->err[i]);
+
+		unblock_fd(pp->children[i].err);
+
+		pp->nr_processes++;
+		pp->slots[i] = 1;
+		pp->pfd[i].fd = pp->children[i].err;
+	}
+}
+
+static int run_processes_parallel_buffer_stderr(struct parallel_processes *pp)
+{
+	int i;
+	i = poll(pp->pfd, pp->max_number_processes, 100);
+	if (i < 0) {
+		if (errno == EINTR)
+			/* A signal was caught; try again */
+			return -1;
+		else {
+			run_processes_parallel_cleanup(pp);
+			die_errno("poll");
+		}
+	}
+
+	/* Buffer output from all pipes. */
+	for (i = 0; i < pp->max_number_processes; i++) {
+		if (!pp->slots[i])
+			continue;
+		if (pp->pfd[i].revents & POLLIN)
+			strbuf_read_noblock(&pp->err[i], pp->children[i].err, 0);
+		if (pp->foreground_child == i) {
+			fputs(pp->err[i].buf, stderr);
+			strbuf_reset(&pp->err[i]);
+		}
+	}
+	return 0;
+}
+
+
+static void run_processes_parallel_collect_finished(struct parallel_processes *pp)
+{
+	int i = 0;
+	pid_t pid;
+	int wait_status, code;
+	int n = pp->max_number_processes;
+	/* Collect finished child processes. */
+	while (pp->nr_processes > 0) {
+		pid = waitpid(-1, &wait_status, WNOHANG);
+		if (pid == 0)
+			return; /* no child finished */
+
+		if (pid < 0) {
+			if (errno == EINTR)
+				return; /* just try again  next time */
+			if (errno == EINVAL || errno == ECHILD)
+				die_errno("wait");
+		} else {
+			/* Find the finished child. */
+			for (i = 0; i < pp->max_number_processes; i++)
+				if (pp->slots[i] && pid == pp->children[i].pid)
+					break;
+			if (i == pp->max_number_processes)
+				/*
+				 * waitpid returned another process id
+				 * which we are not waiting for.
+				 */
+				return;
+		}
+		strbuf_read_noblock(&pp->err[i], pp->children[i].err, 0);
+
+		if (determine_return_value(wait_status, &code, &errno,
+					   pp->children[i].argv[0]) < 0)
+			error("waitpid is confused (%s)",
+			      pp->children[i].argv[0]);
+
+		pp->fn_exit(pp->data, &pp->children[i], code);
+
+		argv_array_clear(&pp->children[i].args);
+		argv_array_clear(&pp->children[i].env_array);
+
+		pp->nr_processes--;
+		pp->slots[i] = 0;
+		pp->pfd[i].fd = -1;
+
+		if (i != pp->foreground_child) {
+			strbuf_addbuf(&pp->finished_children, &pp->err[i]);
+			strbuf_reset(&pp->err[i]);
+		} else {
+			fputs(pp->err[i].buf, stderr);
+			strbuf_reset(&pp->err[i]);
+
+			/* Output all other finished child processes */
+			fputs(pp->finished_children.buf, stderr);
+			strbuf_reset(&pp->finished_children);
+
+			/*
+			 * Pick next process to output live.
+			 * NEEDSWORK:
+			 * For now we pick it randomly by doing a round
+			 * robin. Later we may want to pick the one with
+			 * the most output or the longest or shortest
+			 * running process time.
+			 */
+			for (i = 0; i < n; i++)
+				if (pp->slots[(pp->foreground_child + i) % n])
+					break;
+			pp->foreground_child = (pp->foreground_child + i) % n;
+			fputs(pp->err[pp->foreground_child].buf, stderr);
+			strbuf_reset(&pp->err[pp->foreground_child]);
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+int run_processes_parallel(int n, void *data,
+			   get_next_task fn,
+			   handle_child_starting_failure fn_err,
+			   handle_child_return_value fn_exit)
+{
+	struct parallel_processes pp;
+	run_processes_parallel_init(&pp, n, data, fn, fn_err, fn_exit);
+
+	while (!pp.all_tasks_started || pp.nr_processes > 0) {
+		run_processes_parallel_start_new(&pp);
+		if (run_processes_parallel_buffer_stderr(&pp))
+			continue;
+		run_processes_parallel_collect_finished(&pp);
+	}
+	run_processes_parallel_cleanup(&pp);
+
+	return 0;
+}