Git submodule is returning blank?

Question

I'm trying to use git submodule update and it's not returning anything, nor does any of the git submodule commands, and I have checked the .gitmodules file and it is correct?

I have no idea if git can be debugged or what, and it's really annoying.

There's no errors or anything, even when using 2>&1 on the end which is really worrying.

Nope kennydude@fluffy:~/Dev/boidapp$ git submodule kennydude@fluffy:~/Dev/boidapp$ — Joe Simpson
– Joe Simpson, Commented Jul 10, 2012 at 19:46
did you add the submodules like git submodule add PATHTOGITREP? there should appear some modules. nothing with git submodule status? — Hassek
– Hassek, Commented Jul 10, 2012 at 19:50
Yeah I did, and the .gitmodules file is correct. Nothing with status either — Joe Simpson
– Joe Simpson, Commented Jul 10, 2012 at 19:51
ok I have no idea what could happen but this should fix it, get the urls from your .gitsubmodule and git submodule add URL each one of those — Hassek
– Hassek, Commented Jul 10, 2012 at 19:53

Adam Dymitruk · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-27 03:59:36Z

17

Remove any submodule entries from your .git/config. git rm --cached path/to/submodule to remove it from the tree. Make sure your working directory is clean. Now you can init the submodules:

git submodule init

All this does is populate your config with the urls that are in the .gitmodules file. Now you can populate the submodules:

git submodule update

if your submodules have nested submodules, add the recursive option:

git submodule update --recursive

Init and update are separate for a good reason. You may want to have an alternate repository to store changes to you submodule.

edited Dec 27, 2012 at 3:59

answered Jul 10, 2012 at 21:56

Adam Dymitruk

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2 Comments

IgorGanapolsky Over a year ago

When I run git submodule update --recursive, it does absolutely nothing.

Coty Embry Over a year ago

i had to delete .gitmodules then git rm --cached ./.gitmodules after doing the steps you listed then did git submodule add https://urlto.git and it cloned the submodule into my parent repo

qwebek · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-04 15:33:47Z

7

It could be a late answer but in case someone needs it:

Just delete you blank submodule directory and run again

git submodule add <https/ssh git link to your submodule>

answered Nov 4, 2016 at 15:33

qwebek

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Hett · Accepted Answer · 2022-01-17 17:58:24Z

1

I faced the same problem, for me helped remove .gitmodules and commit this change. After add module again using git submodule add.

answered Jan 17, 2022 at 17:58

Hett

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Ash McConnell · Accepted Answer · 2021-09-13 20:15:59Z

0

Hopefully this will help some googlers.

I had a similar problem where nothing would make the submodules appear. The problem was that I added the submodule with an escaped windows path .\\Asset\\MyAsset instead of Asset/MyAsset

Check that your .gitmodules doesn't have a module with this style of path

answered Sep 13, 2021 at 20:15

Ash McConnell

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