issues with git submodules and `bootstrap'

[Werner LEMBERG]

[gnulib 530dd174]


The `git submodule' is a very nice feature, however, there are two
issues.

  . First of all, there is some user-unfriendliness: Without
    installing a gnulib submodule for project `foo', just invoking the
    `bootstrap' script in the `foo' directory' without any arguments
    gives

      ./bootstrap: line 610: gnulib/gnulib-tool: No such file or directory

    This looks like a bug in the script, which it isn't actually.
    Maybe `bootstrap' can be improved to emit a suggestion how to
    proceed.

  . Writing

      git submodule add -- git://git.sv.gnu.org/gnulib.git .gnulib

    for a project `foo' adds 55MByte.  If I have another project with
    the same setup, I need 55MByte again.  Not optimal, obviously.

    How can I save space, for example, by referencing a separately
    checked out `gnulib' repository as a submodule instead of cloning
    it?  Of course, the default method of `bootstrap' should be not
    changed.


      Werner