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[PATCH 2/5] read-cache: let read-cache respect submodule ignore=all and --force

From
CGClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget <gitgitgadget@gmail.com>
Date
Oct 18, 2025, 20:07 UTC
Message-ID
<d1b02617e643a32cecc81131cb411b180d6339a4.1760818039.git.gitgitgadget@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To
<pull.1987.git.1760818039.gitgitgadget@gmail.com>
From: "Claus Schneider(Eficode)" <claus.schneider@eficode.com>

Given the submdule configuration is ignore=all then only update the submdule if the --force option is given and the submodule is explicit given in the pathspec.

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

The reason for the change is support submodule branch tracking or similar and git status state nothing and git add should not add either. The workflow is more logic and similar to regular ignored files even the submodule is already tracked.

The change opens up a lot of possibilities for submodules to be used more freely and a like the repo tool. A submodule can be added for many more reason and loosely coupled dependencies to the super repo which often gives the friction of handle the explicit commits and updates without the need for tracking the submodule sha1 by sha1.

Signed-off-by: Claus Schneider(Eficode) <claus.schneider@eficode.com>
---
 read-cache.c | 46 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-
 1 file changed, 45 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
diff --git a/read-cache.c b/read-cache.c
index 56a3ef424c..3e87d03518 100644
--- a/read-cache.c
+++ b/read-cache.c
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@
 #include "csum-file.h"
 #include "promisor-remote.h"
 #include "hook.h"
+#include "submodule.h"
+#include "submodule-config.h"
 
 /* Mask for the name length in ce_flags in the on-disk index */
 
@@ -3927,13 +3929,55 @@ static void update_callback(struct diff_queue_struct *q,
 		default:
 			die(_("unexpected diff status %c"), p->status);
 		case DIFF_STATUS_MODIFIED:
-		case DIFF_STATUS_TYPE_CHANGED:
+		case DIFF_STATUS_TYPE_CHANGED: {
+			struct stat st;
+			if (!lstat(path, &st) && S_ISDIR(st.st_mode)) { // only consider submodule if it is a directory
+				const struct submodule *sub = submodule_from_path(data->repo, null_oid(the_hash_algo), path);
+				if (sub && sub->name && sub->ignore && !strcmp(sub->ignore, "all")) {
+					int pathspec_matches = 0;
+					char *norm_pathspec = NULL;
+					int ps_i;
+					trace_printf("ignore=all %s\n", path);
+					trace_printf("pathspec %s\n",
+							(data->pathspec && data->pathspec->nr) ? "has pathspec" : "no pathspec");
+					/* Safely scan all pathspec items (q->nr may exceed pathspec->nr). */
+					if (data->pathspec) {
+						for (ps_i = 0; ps_i < data->pathspec->nr; ps_i++) {
+							const char *m = data->pathspec->items[ps_i].match;
+							if (!m)
+								continue;
+							norm_pathspec = xstrdup(m);
+							strip_dir_trailing_slashes(norm_pathspec);
+							if (!strcmp(path, norm_pathspec)) {
+								pathspec_matches = 1;
+								FREE_AND_NULL(norm_pathspec);
+								break;
+							}
+							FREE_AND_NULL(norm_pathspec);
+						}
+					}
+					if (pathspec_matches) {
+						if (data->ignored_too && data->ignored_too > 0) {
+							trace_printf("Forcing add of submodule ignored=all due to --force: %s\n", path);
+						} else {
+							printf(_("Skipping submodule due to ignore=all: %s"), path);
+							printf(_("Use -f if you really want to add them.") );
+							continue;
+						}
+					} else {
+						/* No explicit pathspec match -> skip silently (or with trace). */
+						trace_printf("pathspec does not match %s\n", path);
+						continue;
+					}
+				}
+			}
 			if (add_file_to_index(data->index, path, data->flags)) {
 				if (!(data->flags & ADD_CACHE_IGNORE_ERRORS))
 					die(_("updating files failed"));
 				data->add_errors++;
 			}
 			break;
+		}
 		case DIFF_STATUS_DELETED:
 			if (data->flags & ADD_CACHE_IGNORE_REMOVAL)
 				break;
-- 
gitgitgadget
Previous: Claus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadgetNext: Claus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget
Message 3 of 43 in “git-add : Respect submodule ignore=all and only add changes with --force”
  1. 0/5 git-add : Respect submodule ignore=all and only add changes with --forceClaus Schneider via GitGitGadget, Oct 18, 2025
  2. 1/5 read-cache: update add_files_to_cache to take param ignored_too(--force)Claus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Oct 18, 2025
  3. 2/5 read-cache: let read-cache respect submodule ignore=all and --forceClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Oct 18, 2025
  4. 3/5 tests: add new t2206-add-submodule-ignored.sh to test ignore=all scenarioClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Oct 18, 2025
  5. 4/5 tests: fix existing tests when add an ignore=all submoduleClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Oct 18, 2025
  6. 5/5 Documentation: update add --force and submodule ignore=all configClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Oct 18, 2025
  7. Phillip WoodOct 19, 2025
  8. 0/5 git-add : Respect submodule ignore=all and only add changes with --forceClaus Schneider via GitGitGadget, Nov 13, 2025
  9. 1/5 read-cache: update add_files_to_cache take param include_ignored_submodulesClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Nov 13, 2025
  10. Junio C HamanoNov 13, 2025
  11. 2/5 read-cache: add/read-cache respect submodule ignore=allClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Nov 13, 2025
  12. 3/5 tests: add new t2206-add-submodule-ignored.sh to test ignore=all scenarioClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Nov 13, 2025
  13. 4/5 tests: fix existing tests when add an ignore=all submoduleClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Nov 13, 2025
  14. 5/5 Documentation: add --include_ignored_submodules + ignore=all configClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Nov 13, 2025
  15. Junio C HamanoNov 13, 2025
  16. Claus SchneiderNov 14, 2025
  17. Claus SchneiderFeb 5, 2026
  18. Junio C HamanoFeb 5, 2026
  19. 0/5 git-add: Skip submodules with ignore=all unless --force and explicit path usedClaus Schneider via GitGitGadget, Jan 14, 2026
  20. 1/5 read-cache: update add_files_to_cache take param ignored_tooClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Jan 14, 2026
  21. 2/5 read-cache: submodule add need --force given ignore=all configurationClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Jan 14, 2026
  22. Kristoffer HaugsbakkJan 15, 2026
  23. Claus SchneiderJan 16, 2026
  24. 3/5 tests: t2206-add-submodule-ignored: ignore=all and add --force testsClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Jan 14, 2026
  25. 4/5 tests: fix existing tests when add an ignore=all submoduleClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Jan 14, 2026
  26. 5/5 Documentation: update add --force option + ignore=all configClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Jan 14, 2026
  27. Ben KnobleJan 14, 2026
  28. Claus SchneiderJan 16, 2026
  29. 0/5 git-add: Skip submodules with ignore=all unless --force and explicit path usedClaus Schneider via GitGitGadget, Feb 6, 2026
  30. 1/5 read-cache: update add_files_to_cache take param ignored_tooClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Feb 6, 2026
  31. Junio C HamanoFeb 9, 2026
  32. Junio C HamanoFeb 9, 2026
  33. 2/5 read-cache: submodule add need --force given ignore=all configurationClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Feb 6, 2026
  34. 3/5 tests: t2206-add-submodule-ignored: ignore=all and add --force testsClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Feb 6, 2026
  35. 4/5 tests: fix existing tests when add an ignore=all submoduleClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Feb 6, 2026
  36. 5/5 Documentation: update add --force option + ignore=all configClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Feb 6, 2026
  37. Kristoffer HaugsbakkMar 4, 2026
  38. Claus SchneiderMar 10, 2026
  39. Claus SchneiderMar 10, 2026
  40. Junio C HamanoFeb 20, 2026
  41. Claus SchneiderOct 20, 2025
  42. Phillip WoodOct 24, 2025
  43. Claus SchneiderNov 13, 2025

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