Is there a way to `git submodule add` a repo *without* cloning it?

Question

I have a very long list of repos that I\'m trying to make into one parent repo by making them all submodules.

I\'ve tried adding them to .gitmodules manual

Answer 1

Is there a way to trick git into thinking my project has all its (~30K) submodules, without actually needing to clone them all?

??? ~30K submodules ?
Are u trying to clone all github repositories?

It makes no sense to have so many submodules in a single project.

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Is there a way to trick git into thinking my project has all its

Nope, this is what submodule is used for, to contain 3rd party (can be yours as well) dependency which will be managed in its own repository.

As you can see in the image submodule is simply a sub-project inside your project. What you are asking is if there is way to tell git that I have the project while we don't have it at all.

It cant be done.