[rwmj]

Is there a git protocol variant that allows the client to avoid downloading objects that it already has stored locally in another repository or cache?

For example: I have the Linux kernel already cloned in some directory. I clone a second repo which has the Linux kernel as a submodule. Can I clone the second repo straightforwardly without having to download Linux a second time? (Well yes, but only by manual intervention before doing the git submodule update - it'd be nice if objects could be shared in a cache across also repos somehow).

[Boulth]

Have you seen alternates? https://stackoverflow.com/questions/36123655/what-is-the-git...

[nothrabannosir]

You could literally link the two object directories?

I just tried this and it seems to work:

  git clone git://github.com/git/git
  mkdir git2
  cd git2
  git init
  cd .git/
  rm -rf objects
  ln -s ../../git/.git
  cd ../
  git remote add origin git://github.com/git/git
  git fetch # returned without downloading anything
  git checkout master
  ls # etc.

If you seriously want to use this, you'll probably want to hard link the contents, instead. But iirc git clone from local disk already does that, for you?

In short: clone your local copy and taking it from there?

[falsedan]

You can also use alternates:

  echo ../../../git/.git/objects >> git2/.git/objects/info/alternates

or use the original as a reference:

  git clone --reference git git://github.com/git/git git2

This sets up the alternates for you.

[wereHamster]

There's git command for that: https://git-scm.com/docs/git-worktree

[Bjartr]

Maybe this project could work for you?

https://github.com/jonasmalacofilho/git-cache-http-server

[andrewaylett]

I'm assuming from your comment that you're already aware of --reference but it doesn't completely meet your needs? The only other thing I can think of would be to use the 'insteadOf' configuration to tell Git to use your local clone instead of the remote one. Search 'git help config' for 'url.<base>.insteadOf'.