# \[Proposal\] Lock file for Swift Package Manager **URL:** \ **Category:** Discussion\ **Created:** [December 20, 2015, 9:01am UTC](https://forums.swift.org/t/proposal-lock-file-for-swift-package-manager/686 "2015-12-20T09:01:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ankit\_Agarwal1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@Ankit\_Agarwal1](https://forums.swift.org/u/Ankit_Agarwal1)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 7:34pm UTC](https://forums.swift.org/t/proposal-lock-file-for-swift-package-manager/686/21 "2016-01-07T19:34:24Z")
I think git submodules can be added as an additional feature rather than depending on it completely for locking because it is a bit problematic to use with a team and has many issues > **[Why your company shouldn’t use Git submodules](https://codingkilledthecat.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/why-your-company-shouldnt-use-git-submodules/)** > > A programmer had a version control problem and said, “I know, I’ll use submodules.” Now they have two problems. It is not uncommon at all when working on any kind of larger-scale … > **···** > > On Thu, Jan 7, 2016 at 1:10 AM, Max Howell \ wrote: > > > Another option that has occurred to me after talking with Tim Kientzle is > > to use \*git submodules\* > > > > submodules lock other clones to a specific revision. Our Packages/ > > directory is already a directory of clones. > > > > I have not given it a lot of thought yet, but there is possibly power in > > reusing this existing part of git. > > > > Mailed here for input. > > -- > Ankit ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Howell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@Max\_Howell](https://forums.swift.org/u/Max_Howell)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 7:39pm UTC](https://forums.swift.org/t/proposal-lock-file-for-swift-package-manager/686/22 "2016-01-07T19:39:23Z")
> I think git submodules can be added as an additional feature rather than depending on it completely for locking because it is a bit problematic to use with a team and has many issues > > [Why your company shouldn’t use Git submodules | Coding Killed the Cat](https://codingkilledthecat.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/why-your-company-shouldnt-use-git-submodules/) All the issues in the article are addressed by wrapping git with another tool, which we would do. ---
**Author:** ![Ankit\_Agarwal1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@Ankit\_Agarwal1](https://forums.swift.org/u/Ankit_Agarwal1)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 7:53pm UTC](https://forums.swift.org/t/proposal-lock-file-for-swift-package-manager/686/23 "2016-01-07T19:53:22Z")
Can you elaborate "wrapping git with another tool" ? > **···** > > On Fri, Jan 8, 2016 at 1:09 AM, Max Howell \ wrote: > > > I think git submodules can be added as an additional feature rather than > > depending on it completely for locking because it is a bit problematic to > > use with a team and has many issues > > > > [Why your company shouldn’t use Git submodules | Coding Killed the Cat](https://codingkilledthecat.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/why-your-company-shouldnt-use-git-submodules/) > > > > All the issues in the article are addressed by wrapping git with another > > tool, which we would do. > > -- > Ankit ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Howell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@Max\_Howell](https://forums.swift.org/u/Max_Howell)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 8:00pm UTC](https://forums.swift.org/t/proposal-lock-file-for-swift-package-manager/686/24 "2016-01-07T20:00:35Z")
> > I think git submodules can be added as an additional feature rather than depending on it completely for locking because it is a bit problematic to use with a team and has many issues > > > > [Why your company shouldn’t use Git submodules | Coding Killed the Cat](https://codingkilledthecat.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/why-your-company-shouldnt-use-git-submodules/) > > All the issues in the article are addressed by wrapping git with another tool, which we would do. > > Can you elaborate "wrapping git with another tool" ? `swift build` wraps git. All the pain points in that article are due to a lack of automation for various git-steps. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Howell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@Max\_Howell](https://forums.swift.org/u/Max_Howell)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 1:01am UTC](https://forums.swift.org/t/proposal-lock-file-for-swift-package-manager/686/25 "2016-01-13T01:01:34Z")
Just to follow up here. This is not forgotten. I’ll be trying to follow up with more details this week. > **···** > > > > > I think git submodules can be added as an additional feature rather than depending on it completely for locking because it is a bit problematic to use with a team and has many issues > > > > > > > > [Why your company shouldn’t use Git submodules | Coding Killed the Cat](https://codingkilledthecat.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/why-your-company-shouldnt-use-git-submodules/) > > > > > > All the issues in the article are addressed by wrapping git with another tool, which we would do. > > > > > > Can you elaborate "wrapping git with another tool" ? > > > > `swift build` wraps git. All the pain points in that article are due to a lack of automation for various git-steps. ---
**Author:** ![Ankit\_Agarwal1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@Ankit\_Agarwal1](https://forums.swift.org/u/Ankit_Agarwal1)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 1:06am UTC](https://forums.swift.org/t/proposal-lock-file-for-swift-package-manager/686/26 "2016-01-13T01:06:58Z")
Great! > **···** > > On Wed, Jan 13, 2016 at 6:31 AM, Max Howell \ wrote: > > > Just to follow up here. This is not forgotten. I’ll be trying to follow up > > with more details this week. > > -- > Ankit [Previous page](https://forums.swift.org/t/proposal-lock-file-for-swift-package-manager/686.md?page=1)