How do I create nested repositories in GitHub?

Question

I am able to create a repository via https://github.com/ (say repo) and have:

https://github.com/username/repo.git

How do I create another repository (say sub_repo) placed under repo and expectedly have:

https://github.com/username/repo/sub_repo.git

This [app](https://github.com/ingydotnet/git-subrepo) could also help to manage sub-repo as a Git Submodule Alternative — Amaury Van Espen, Aug 15 '18 at 12:54

MrTux · Accepted Answer · 2017-06-11T00:01:36.510

31

GitHub does not allow nested repositories (IIRC Git doesn't allow this for bare repositories).

However, you can use submodules to nest repositories on the "client side" in the working tree.

You need to clone the parent directory.

Then, add the sub-repository as a submodule:

git submodule add https://github.com/username/sub_repo.git

The sub_repo module will then be linked to the parent repo and can be found in the sub_repo directory.

Commit (.gitmodules and sub_repo), push and you're done.

edited Jun 11 '17 at 00:01

answered Jan 27 '16 at 17:14

MrTux

How do I create `username/repo/sub-repo.git` instead of `username/sub-repo.git`? My purpose is to well organize my codes. – SparkAndShine Jan 27 '16 at 17:36
1

Sorry, fixed a typo. A sub_repo is a normal repository - threre is no way to use nested folders on github. – MrTux Jan 27 '16 at 19:36
Is it possible to achieve this with Git Subtree? – SparkAndShine Jan 27 '16 at 19:43
1

No, subtree means that the files/commits of another repository are directly integrated in a new one. – MrTux Jan 28 '16 at 12:35

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 28 '16 at 05:36

github does not support nesting repositories. If you don't want to have absolute urls for submodules the custom is to place them next to super-repository and use "../" in urls, like here: https://github.com/losalamos/cinch-nested-example/blob/d59c26a89153148ba29d68dd5ee455a88efbc9a2/.gitmodules

2 Answers2