]> git.ipfire.org Git - thirdparty/git.git/blob - Documentation/git-submodule.txt
git-push.txt: fix grammar
[thirdparty/git.git] / Documentation / git-submodule.txt
1 git-submodule(1)
2 ================
3
4 NAME
5 ----
6 git-submodule - Initialize, update or inspect submodules
7
8
9 SYNOPSIS
10 --------
11 [verse]
12 'git submodule' [--quiet] [--cached]
13 'git submodule' [--quiet] add [<options>] [--] <repository> [<path>]
14 'git submodule' [--quiet] status [--cached] [--recursive] [--] [<path>...]
15 'git submodule' [--quiet] init [--] [<path>...]
16 'git submodule' [--quiet] deinit [-f|--force] (--all|[--] <path>...)
17 'git submodule' [--quiet] update [<options>] [--] [<path>...]
18 'git submodule' [--quiet] set-branch [<options>] [--] <path>
19 'git submodule' [--quiet] set-url [--] <path> <newurl>
20 'git submodule' [--quiet] summary [<options>] [--] [<path>...]
21 'git submodule' [--quiet] foreach [--recursive] <command>
22 'git submodule' [--quiet] sync [--recursive] [--] [<path>...]
23 'git submodule' [--quiet] absorbgitdirs [--] [<path>...]
24
25
26 DESCRIPTION
27 -----------
28 Inspects, updates and manages submodules.
29
30 For more information about submodules, see linkgit:gitsubmodules[7].
31
32 COMMANDS
33 --------
34 With no arguments, shows the status of existing submodules. Several
35 subcommands are available to perform operations on the submodules.
36
37 add [-b <branch>] [-f|--force] [--name <name>] [--reference <repository>] [--depth <depth>] [--] <repository> [<path>]::
38 Add the given repository as a submodule at the given path
39 to the changeset to be committed next to the current
40 project: the current project is termed the "superproject".
41 +
42 <repository> is the URL of the new submodule's origin repository.
43 This may be either an absolute URL, or (if it begins with ./
44 or ../), the location relative to the superproject's default remote
45 repository (Please note that to specify a repository 'foo.git'
46 which is located right next to a superproject 'bar.git', you'll
47 have to use `../foo.git` instead of `./foo.git` - as one might expect
48 when following the rules for relative URLs - because the evaluation
49 of relative URLs in Git is identical to that of relative directories).
50 +
51 The default remote is the remote of the remote-tracking branch
52 of the current branch. If no such remote-tracking branch exists or
53 the HEAD is detached, "origin" is assumed to be the default remote.
54 If the superproject doesn't have a default remote configured
55 the superproject is its own authoritative upstream and the current
56 working directory is used instead.
57 +
58 The optional argument <path> is the relative location for the cloned
59 submodule to exist in the superproject. If <path> is not given, the
60 canonical part of the source repository is used ("repo" for
61 "/path/to/repo.git" and "foo" for "host.xz:foo/.git"). If <path>
62 exists and is already a valid Git repository, then it is staged
63 for commit without cloning. The <path> is also used as the submodule's
64 logical name in its configuration entries unless `--name` is used
65 to specify a logical name.
66 +
67 The given URL is recorded into `.gitmodules` for use by subsequent users
68 cloning the superproject. If the URL is given relative to the
69 superproject's repository, the presumption is the superproject and
70 submodule repositories will be kept together in the same relative
71 location, and only the superproject's URL needs to be provided.
72 git-submodule will correctly locate the submodule using the relative
73 URL in `.gitmodules`.
74
75 status [--cached] [--recursive] [--] [<path>...]::
76 Show the status of the submodules. This will print the SHA-1 of the
77 currently checked out commit for each submodule, along with the
78 submodule path and the output of 'git describe' for the
79 SHA-1. Each SHA-1 will possibly be prefixed with `-` if the submodule is
80 not initialized, `+` if the currently checked out submodule commit
81 does not match the SHA-1 found in the index of the containing
82 repository and `U` if the submodule has merge conflicts.
83 +
84 If `--cached` is specified, this command will instead print the SHA-1
85 recorded in the superproject for each submodule.
86 +
87 If `--recursive` is specified, this command will recurse into nested
88 submodules, and show their status as well.
89 +
90 If you are only interested in changes of the currently initialized
91 submodules with respect to the commit recorded in the index or the HEAD,
92 linkgit:git-status[1] and linkgit:git-diff[1] will provide that information
93 too (and can also report changes to a submodule's work tree).
94
95 init [--] [<path>...]::
96 Initialize the submodules recorded in the index (which were
97 added and committed elsewhere) by setting `submodule.$name.url`
98 in .git/config. It uses the same setting from `.gitmodules` as
99 a template. If the URL is relative, it will be resolved using
100 the default remote. If there is no default remote, the current
101 repository will be assumed to be upstream.
102 +
103 Optional <path> arguments limit which submodules will be initialized.
104 If no path is specified and submodule.active has been configured, submodules
105 configured to be active will be initialized, otherwise all submodules are
106 initialized.
107 +
108 When present, it will also copy the value of `submodule.$name.update`.
109 This command does not alter existing information in .git/config.
110 You can then customize the submodule clone URLs in .git/config
111 for your local setup and proceed to `git submodule update`;
112 you can also just use `git submodule update --init` without
113 the explicit 'init' step if you do not intend to customize
114 any submodule locations.
115 +
116 See the add subcommand for the definition of default remote.
117
118 deinit [-f|--force] (--all|[--] <path>...)::
119 Unregister the given submodules, i.e. remove the whole
120 `submodule.$name` section from .git/config together with their work
121 tree. Further calls to `git submodule update`, `git submodule foreach`
122 and `git submodule sync` will skip any unregistered submodules until
123 they are initialized again, so use this command if you don't want to
124 have a local checkout of the submodule in your working tree anymore.
125 +
126 When the command is run without pathspec, it errors out,
127 instead of deinit-ing everything, to prevent mistakes.
128 +
129 If `--force` is specified, the submodule's working tree will
130 be removed even if it contains local modifications.
131 +
132 If you really want to remove a submodule from the repository and commit
133 that use linkgit:git-rm[1] instead. See linkgit:gitsubmodules[7] for removal
134 options.
135
136 update [--init] [--remote] [-N|--no-fetch] [--[no-]recommend-shallow] [-f|--force] [--checkout|--rebase|--merge] [--reference <repository>] [--depth <depth>] [--recursive] [--jobs <n>] [--[no-]single-branch] [--filter <filter spec>] [--] [<path>...]::
137 +
138 --
139 Update the registered submodules to match what the superproject
140 expects by cloning missing submodules, fetching missing commits
141 in submodules and updating the working tree of
142 the submodules. The "updating" can be done in several ways depending
143 on command line options and the value of `submodule.<name>.update`
144 configuration variable. The command line option takes precedence over
145 the configuration variable. If neither is given, a 'checkout' is performed.
146 The 'update' procedures supported both from the command line as well as
147 through the `submodule.<name>.update` configuration are:
148
149 checkout;; the commit recorded in the superproject will be
150 checked out in the submodule on a detached HEAD.
151 +
152 If `--force` is specified, the submodule will be checked out (using
153 `git checkout --force`), even if the commit specified
154 in the index of the containing repository already matches the commit
155 checked out in the submodule.
156
157 rebase;; the current branch of the submodule will be rebased
158 onto the commit recorded in the superproject.
159
160 merge;; the commit recorded in the superproject will be merged
161 into the current branch in the submodule.
162
163 The following 'update' procedures are only available via the
164 `submodule.<name>.update` configuration variable:
165
166 custom command;; arbitrary shell command that takes a single
167 argument (the sha1 of the commit recorded in the
168 superproject) is executed. When `submodule.<name>.update`
169 is set to '!command', the remainder after the exclamation mark
170 is the custom command.
171
172 none;; the submodule is not updated.
173
174 If the submodule is not yet initialized, and you just want to use the
175 setting as stored in `.gitmodules`, you can automatically initialize the
176 submodule with the `--init` option.
177
178 If `--recursive` is specified, this command will recurse into the
179 registered submodules, and update any nested submodules within.
180
181 If `--filter <filter spec>` is specified, the given partial clone filter will be
182 applied to the submodule. See linkgit:git-rev-list[1] for details on filter
183 specifications.
184 --
185 set-branch (-b|--branch) <branch> [--] <path>::
186 set-branch (-d|--default) [--] <path>::
187 Sets the default remote tracking branch for the submodule. The
188 `--branch` option allows the remote branch to be specified. The
189 `--default` option removes the submodule.<name>.branch configuration
190 key, which causes the tracking branch to default to the remote 'HEAD'.
191
192 set-url [--] <path> <newurl>::
193 Sets the URL of the specified submodule to <newurl>. Then, it will
194 automatically synchronize the submodule's new remote URL
195 configuration.
196
197 summary [--cached|--files] [(-n|--summary-limit) <n>] [commit] [--] [<path>...]::
198 Show commit summary between the given commit (defaults to HEAD) and
199 working tree/index. For a submodule in question, a series of commits
200 in the submodule between the given super project commit and the
201 index or working tree (switched by `--cached`) are shown. If the option
202 `--files` is given, show the series of commits in the submodule between
203 the index of the super project and the working tree of the submodule
204 (this option doesn't allow to use the `--cached` option or to provide an
205 explicit commit).
206 +
207 Using the `--submodule=log` option with linkgit:git-diff[1] will provide that
208 information too.
209
210 foreach [--recursive] <command>::
211 Evaluates an arbitrary shell command in each checked out submodule.
212 The command has access to the variables $name, $sm_path, $displaypath,
213 $sha1 and $toplevel:
214 $name is the name of the relevant submodule section in `.gitmodules`,
215 $sm_path is the path of the submodule as recorded in the immediate
216 superproject, $displaypath contains the relative path from the
217 current working directory to the submodules root directory,
218 $sha1 is the commit as recorded in the immediate
219 superproject, and $toplevel is the absolute path to the top-level
220 of the immediate superproject.
221 Note that to avoid conflicts with '$PATH' on Windows, the '$path'
222 variable is now a deprecated synonym of '$sm_path' variable.
223 Any submodules defined in the superproject but not checked out are
224 ignored by this command. Unless given `--quiet`, foreach prints the name
225 of each submodule before evaluating the command.
226 If `--recursive` is given, submodules are traversed recursively (i.e.
227 the given shell command is evaluated in nested submodules as well).
228 A non-zero return from the command in any submodule causes
229 the processing to terminate. This can be overridden by adding '|| :'
230 to the end of the command.
231 +
232 As an example, the command below will show the path and currently
233 checked out commit for each submodule:
234 +
235 --------------
236 git submodule foreach 'echo $sm_path `git rev-parse HEAD`'
237 --------------
238
239 sync [--recursive] [--] [<path>...]::
240 Synchronizes submodules' remote URL configuration setting
241 to the value specified in `.gitmodules`. It will only affect those
242 submodules which already have a URL entry in .git/config (that is the
243 case when they are initialized or freshly added). This is useful when
244 submodule URLs change upstream and you need to update your local
245 repositories accordingly.
246 +
247 `git submodule sync` synchronizes all submodules while
248 `git submodule sync -- A` synchronizes submodule "A" only.
249 +
250 If `--recursive` is specified, this command will recurse into the
251 registered submodules, and sync any nested submodules within.
252
253 absorbgitdirs::
254 If a git directory of a submodule is inside the submodule,
255 move the git directory of the submodule into its superproject's
256 `$GIT_DIR/modules` path and then connect the git directory and
257 its working directory by setting the `core.worktree` and adding
258 a .git file pointing to the git directory embedded in the
259 superprojects git directory.
260 +
261 A repository that was cloned independently and later added as a submodule or
262 old setups have the submodules git directory inside the submodule instead of
263 embedded into the superprojects git directory.
264 +
265 This command is recursive by default.
266
267 OPTIONS
268 -------
269 -q::
270 --quiet::
271 Only print error messages.
272
273 --progress::
274 This option is only valid for add and update commands.
275 Progress status is reported on the standard error stream
276 by default when it is attached to a terminal, unless -q
277 is specified. This flag forces progress status even if the
278 standard error stream is not directed to a terminal.
279
280 --all::
281 This option is only valid for the deinit command. Unregister all
282 submodules in the working tree.
283
284 -b <branch>::
285 --branch <branch>::
286 Branch of repository to add as submodule.
287 The name of the branch is recorded as `submodule.<name>.branch` in
288 `.gitmodules` for `update --remote`. A special value of `.` is used to
289 indicate that the name of the branch in the submodule should be the
290 same name as the current branch in the current repository. If the
291 option is not specified, it defaults to the remote 'HEAD'.
292
293 -f::
294 --force::
295 This option is only valid for add, deinit and update commands.
296 When running add, allow adding an otherwise ignored submodule path.
297 When running deinit the submodule working trees will be removed even
298 if they contain local changes.
299 When running update (only effective with the checkout procedure),
300 throw away local changes in submodules when switching to a
301 different commit; and always run a checkout operation in the
302 submodule, even if the commit listed in the index of the
303 containing repository matches the commit checked out in the
304 submodule.
305
306 --cached::
307 This option is only valid for status and summary commands. These
308 commands typically use the commit found in the submodule HEAD, but
309 with this option, the commit stored in the index is used instead.
310
311 --files::
312 This option is only valid for the summary command. This command
313 compares the commit in the index with that in the submodule HEAD
314 when this option is used.
315
316 -n::
317 --summary-limit::
318 This option is only valid for the summary command.
319 Limit the summary size (number of commits shown in total).
320 Giving 0 will disable the summary; a negative number means unlimited
321 (the default). This limit only applies to modified submodules. The
322 size is always limited to 1 for added/deleted/typechanged submodules.
323
324 --remote::
325 This option is only valid for the update command. Instead of using
326 the superproject's recorded SHA-1 to update the submodule, use the
327 status of the submodule's remote-tracking branch. The remote used
328 is branch's remote (`branch.<name>.remote`), defaulting to `origin`.
329 The remote branch used defaults to the remote `HEAD`, but the branch
330 name may be overridden by setting the `submodule.<name>.branch`
331 option in either `.gitmodules` or `.git/config` (with `.git/config`
332 taking precedence).
333 +
334 This works for any of the supported update procedures (`--checkout`,
335 `--rebase`, etc.). The only change is the source of the target SHA-1.
336 For example, `submodule update --remote --merge` will merge upstream
337 submodule changes into the submodules, while `submodule update
338 --merge` will merge superproject gitlink changes into the submodules.
339 +
340 In order to ensure a current tracking branch state, `update --remote`
341 fetches the submodule's remote repository before calculating the
342 SHA-1. If you don't want to fetch, you should use `submodule update
343 --remote --no-fetch`.
344 +
345 Use this option to integrate changes from the upstream subproject with
346 your submodule's current HEAD. Alternatively, you can run `git pull`
347 from the submodule, which is equivalent except for the remote branch
348 name: `update --remote` uses the default upstream repository and
349 `submodule.<name>.branch`, while `git pull` uses the submodule's
350 `branch.<name>.merge`. Prefer `submodule.<name>.branch` if you want
351 to distribute the default upstream branch with the superproject and
352 `branch.<name>.merge` if you want a more native feel while working in
353 the submodule itself.
354
355 -N::
356 --no-fetch::
357 This option is only valid for the update command.
358 Don't fetch new objects from the remote site.
359
360 --checkout::
361 This option is only valid for the update command.
362 Checkout the commit recorded in the superproject on a detached HEAD
363 in the submodule. This is the default behavior, the main use of
364 this option is to override `submodule.$name.update` when set to
365 a value other than `checkout`.
366 If the key `submodule.$name.update` is either not explicitly set or
367 set to `checkout`, this option is implicit.
368
369 --merge::
370 This option is only valid for the update command.
371 Merge the commit recorded in the superproject into the current branch
372 of the submodule. If this option is given, the submodule's HEAD will
373 not be detached. If a merge failure prevents this process, you will
374 have to resolve the resulting conflicts within the submodule with the
375 usual conflict resolution tools.
376 If the key `submodule.$name.update` is set to `merge`, this option is
377 implicit.
378
379 --rebase::
380 This option is only valid for the update command.
381 Rebase the current branch onto the commit recorded in the
382 superproject. If this option is given, the submodule's HEAD will not
383 be detached. If a merge failure prevents this process, you will have
384 to resolve these failures with linkgit:git-rebase[1].
385 If the key `submodule.$name.update` is set to `rebase`, this option is
386 implicit.
387
388 --init::
389 This option is only valid for the update command.
390 Initialize all submodules for which "git submodule init" has not been
391 called so far before updating.
392
393 --name::
394 This option is only valid for the add command. It sets the submodule's
395 name to the given string instead of defaulting to its path. The name
396 must be valid as a directory name and may not end with a '/'.
397
398 --reference <repository>::
399 This option is only valid for add and update commands. These
400 commands sometimes need to clone a remote repository. In this case,
401 this option will be passed to the linkgit:git-clone[1] command.
402 +
403 *NOTE*: Do *not* use this option unless you have read the note
404 for linkgit:git-clone[1]'s `--reference`, `--shared`, and `--dissociate`
405 options carefully.
406
407 --dissociate::
408 This option is only valid for add and update commands. These
409 commands sometimes need to clone a remote repository. In this case,
410 this option will be passed to the linkgit:git-clone[1] command.
411 +
412 *NOTE*: see the NOTE for the `--reference` option.
413
414 --recursive::
415 This option is only valid for foreach, update, status and sync commands.
416 Traverse submodules recursively. The operation is performed not
417 only in the submodules of the current repo, but also
418 in any nested submodules inside those submodules (and so on).
419
420 --depth::
421 This option is valid for add and update commands. Create a 'shallow'
422 clone with a history truncated to the specified number of revisions.
423 See linkgit:git-clone[1]
424
425 --[no-]recommend-shallow::
426 This option is only valid for the update command.
427 The initial clone of a submodule will use the recommended
428 `submodule.<name>.shallow` as provided by the `.gitmodules` file
429 by default. To ignore the suggestions use `--no-recommend-shallow`.
430
431 -j <n>::
432 --jobs <n>::
433 This option is only valid for the update command.
434 Clone new submodules in parallel with as many jobs.
435 Defaults to the `submodule.fetchJobs` option.
436
437 --[no-]single-branch::
438 This option is only valid for the update command.
439 Clone only one branch during update: HEAD or one specified by --branch.
440
441 <path>...::
442 Paths to submodule(s). When specified this will restrict the command
443 to only operate on the submodules found at the specified paths.
444 (This argument is required with add).
445
446 FILES
447 -----
448 When initializing submodules, a `.gitmodules` file in the top-level directory
449 of the containing repository is used to find the url of each submodule.
450 This file should be formatted in the same way as `$GIT_DIR/config`. The key
451 to each submodule url is "submodule.$name.url". See linkgit:gitmodules[5]
452 for details.
453
454 SEE ALSO
455 --------
456 linkgit:gitsubmodules[7], linkgit:gitmodules[5].
457
458 GIT
459 ---
460 Part of the linkgit:git[1] suite