Re: [PATCH v1] git-clone.txt: add the --recursive option

[Eric Sunshine <sunshine@sunshineco.com>]

On Tue, Sep 14, 2021 at 1:46 PM Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com> wrote:
> I am wondering if it is just a matter of either
>
>  * removing the "recursive" alias from the options table.  Because
>    we accept unique prefix, --recurse=<arg> the user types will be
>    taken as --recurse-submodules=<arg> anyway (until "git clone"
>    learns another option --recurse-xyzzy=<arg>, at which time it
>    will become ambiguous and error out, that is).

With this option, we risk breaking existing tooling which happens to
use the deprecated --recursive.

> or
>
>  * adding the PARSE_OPT_HIDDEN bit to the OPT_ALIAS() element for
>    the deprecated "recurse" option.

I was going to suggest this as a possible way forward to address
Alban's most recent response to my response. The lack of
PARSE_OPT_HIDDEN on OPT_ALIAS() almost seems like an oversight.

> Between adding "--recursive" to the manual and describing it as a
> deprecated synonym for "--recurse-submodules", and not doing so, I
> do not have a strong preference.

I don't have a strong preference either, especially considering how
long ago --recursive was removed from the manual, however, adding it
would help someone who runs across --recursive in existing tooling or
old blog post and wants to know what it does.