Re: git subtree oddity

From: Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>
Date: Mar 28, 2013, 16:03 UTC
Message-ID: <7v38vfwlxv.fsf@alter.siamese.dyndns.org>
In-Reply-To: <A344B55C-0796-4739-8F44-F7BA26EA4B32@gmail.com>

Stephen Smith <ishchis2@gmail.com> writes:

> I built v1.8.2 last evening and found that the subtree command
> isn't supported.  What version of git are you using? And where did
> you get it?

We have been carrying a copy of it in contrib/ but I have to say that it is in a sorry state.

After the original author stopped working on it, a new maintainer of the subtree project picked it up. Some vocal users wanted to have it as a part of the git-core tarball, with a promise that it will be supported and maintained, and that is how we ended up carrying a copy of it in contrib/. We see some discussions and patches sent to the list from time to time, but I haven't been getting anything definitive from the new subtree maintainer for whatever reason (if I understand correctly, it is not his primary job; perhaps he is busy with other things) and the part of that contrib/ tree hasn't seen much activities. Also I occasionally see end-user questions here but I have a feeling that many go unanswered by area experts.

I am starting to regret that I caved in and started carrying a copy of it in contrib/. It probably is a good idea to drop it from my tree and let it mature and eventually flourish outside.