Re: [PATCHv2 0/6] git clone: Marry --recursive and --reference

[Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>]

Stefan Beller <sbeller@google.com> writes:

> "you did ask me to use alternates once and for all when setting up the
> superproject: now for this added submodule I don't find the alternate;
> That is strange?"

Absolutely.  I do not think you should expect a user to remember if
s/he used alternates when getting a copy of the superproject long
time ago.  Giving "info: using from ..." is good; giving "warning:
not using from ..." is probably irritating, I would think.

Stepping back a bit, when the user says --reference-if-able, does it
warrant any warning either way?  I.e. "we made it borrow from there,
so be careful not to trash that one" may be just as warning-worthy
(if not even more) as "you said we can borrow from there if there is
anything to borrow, but it turns out there isn't any, so the result
is complete stand-alone."  It feels as if we can go without any
warning at least from "git clone --reference-if-able", unless "-v"
option is given.

I have a very strong opinion what should happen when the end-user
facing command is "git submodule", but if I have to choose, I would
prefer to see "git submodule update" tell what it did with "info:"
either case, i.e. "info: borrowing from ... because the superproject
borrows from there", and "info: not borrowing from ... even though
the superproject borrows from there".