Is there a way to sync only specific directories (and their subdirectories) between two git repositories ? If yes, how?

Question

I have two GIT repositories and I would like to be able to sync only some of the directories (and their subdirectories) at a time.

Let's say I have two repositories containing the same directories tree as they started from a single base:

repo1/.git
repo1/A/file1
repo1/A/a/file2
repo1/B/file3
repo1/B/b/file4

repo2/.git
repo2/A/file1
repo2/A/a/file2
repo2/B/file3
repo2/B/b/file4

git pull from repo1 to repo2 would bring the changes in all the files. Instead of that, I would like for example to sync only the files below the A directory (file1 and file2) from repo1 into repo2 without syncing the files below the B directory (file3 and file4). Files below the B directory could be still be synced later on.

Is this somehow possible? How can I do that?

Thanks in advance for your answer(s).

I didn't try anything yet. I looked at the sparse checkout feature but I don't understand whether it can be used for that purpose. — Cyril Klec, Apr 04 '17 at 09:36
We need a good description what **exactly** you want to do. Also, a few examples what have you tried so far. See the [how to ask](http://stackoverflow.com/help/how-to-ask) page for further details. Anyway, [git](https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2) can do this. — Tamas Rev, Apr 04 '17 at 09:44
Hi Tamas, thanks for your comments. I edited the question. Is it clear enough now? — Cyril Klec, Apr 04 '17 at 11:01
Hi Tamas, do you have an answer for that question: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/43867127/how-to-diff-with-git-a-subtree-within-a-bigger-repo-and-the-repo-it-originates-f ? — Cyril Klec, May 09 '17 at 21:55

score 0 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 10:31

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I believe this boils down to fetching the other repo, then checking out the specific files only. Something like this must do:

git fetch repo2
git checkout -m FETCH_HEAD A/file1 A/file2
git add A/file1 A/file2
git commit

You can find more on this here.

edited May 23 '17 at 10:31

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answered Apr 04 '17 at 13:38

Tamas Rev

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Thanks Tamas. Would that merge changes in the files or only overwrite them? Actually I need a merge (like what happens in a pull). – Cyril Klec Apr 04 '17 at 13:57
ok great, I will test this out. Do you have also a solution without naming the files explicitely and that will take care as well of removing files that were removed in the other repo? – Cyril Klec Apr 04 '17 at 14:14
Unfortunately, I don't think I have such command right away. You can try though to checkout the directory only: `git checkout -m FETCH_HEAD A` – Tamas Rev Apr 04 '17 at 14:33
Thank you! Running git checkout on a directory is supposed to be recursive? – Cyril Klec Apr 05 '17 at 11:57

Is there a way to sync only specific directories (and their subdirectories) between two git repositories ? If yes, how?

1 Answers1