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[PATCH v3 2/5] read-cache: submodule add need --force given ignore=all configuration

From
CGClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget <gitgitgadget@gmail.com>
Date
Jan 14, 2026, 07:47 UTC
Message-ID
<de72bf0a9135224ed4c4a05ae00deadc28225ac0.1768376879.git.gitgitgadget@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To
<pull.1987.v3.git.1768376879.gitgitgadget@gmail.com>
From: "Claus Schneider(Eficode)" <claus.schneider@eficode.com>

Submodules configured with ignore=all are now skipped during add operations unless overridden by --force and the submodule path is explicitly specified.

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 states nothing and git add should not add either as a default behaviour. 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 simular to 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 | 74 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++---
 1 file changed, 71 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)
diff --git a/read-cache.c b/read-cache.c
index 0f4981d79f..cc79b25f43 100644
--- a/read-cache.c
+++ b/read-cache.c
@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@
 #include "csum-file.h"
 #include "promisor-remote.h"
 #include "hook.h"
+#include "submodule.h"
+#include "submodule-config.h"
+#include "advice.h"
 
 /* Mask for the name length in ce_flags in the on-disk index */
 
@@ -3910,8 +3913,68 @@ static int fix_unmerged_status(struct diff_filepair *p,
 		return DIFF_STATUS_MODIFIED;
 }
 
+static int skip_submodule(const char *path,
+						struct repository *repo,
+						struct pathspec *pathspec,
+						int ignored_too)
+{
+    struct stat st;
+    const struct submodule *sub;
+    int pathspec_matches = 0;
+    int ps_i;
+    char *norm_pathspec = NULL;
+
+    /* Only consider if path is a directory */
+    if (lstat(path, &st) || !S_ISDIR(st.st_mode))
+		return 0;
+
+    /* Check if it's a submodule with ignore=all */
+    sub = submodule_from_path(repo, null_oid(the_hash_algo), path);
+    if (!sub || !sub->name || !sub->ignore || strcmp(sub->ignore, "all"))
+		return 0;
+
+    trace_printf("ignore=all: %s\n", path);
+    trace_printf("pathspec %s\n", (pathspec && pathspec->nr)
+									? "has pathspec"
+									: "no pathspec");
+
+    /* Check if submodule path is explicitly mentioned in pathspec */
+    if (pathspec) {
+		for (ps_i = 0; ps_i < pathspec->nr; ps_i++) {
+			const char *m = 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 explicitly matched and forced, allow adding */
+    if (pathspec_matches) {
+		if (ignored_too && ignored_too > 0) {
+			trace_printf("Add submodule due to --force: %s\n", path);
+			return 0;
+		} else {
+			advise_if_enabled(ADVICE_ADD_IGNORED_FILE,
+				_("Skipping submodule due to ignore=all: %s\n"
+					"Use --force if you really want to add the submodule."), path);
+			return 1;
+		}
+    }
+
+    /* No explicit pathspec match -> skip silently */
+    trace_printf("Pathspec to submodule does not match explicitly: %s\n", path);
+    return 1;
+}
+
 static void update_callback(struct diff_queue_struct *q,
-			    struct diff_options *opt UNUSED, void *cbdata)
+							struct diff_options *opt UNUSED, void *cbdata)
 {
 	int i;
 	struct update_callback_data *data = cbdata;
@@ -3921,14 +3984,19 @@ static void update_callback(struct diff_queue_struct *q,
 		const char *path = p->one->path;
 
 		if (!data->include_sparse &&
-		    !path_in_sparse_checkout(path, data->index))
+			!path_in_sparse_checkout(path, data->index))
 			continue;
 
 		switch (fix_unmerged_status(p, data)) {
 		default:
 			die(_("unexpected diff status %c"), p->status);
 		case DIFF_STATUS_MODIFIED:
-		case DIFF_STATUS_TYPE_CHANGED: {
+		case DIFF_STATUS_TYPE_CHANGED:
+			if (skip_submodule(path, data->repo,
+								data->pathspec,
+								data->ignored_too))
+				continue;
+
 			if (add_file_to_index(data->index, path, data->flags)) {
 				if (!(data->flags & ADD_CACHE_IGNORE_ERRORS))
 					die(_("updating files failed"));
-- 
gitgitgadget
Previous: Claus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadgetNext: Kristoffer Haugsbakk
Message 21 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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