How can I specify a branch/tag when adding a Git submodule?

Question

How does git submodule add -b work?

After adding a submodule with a specific branch, a new cloned repository (after git submodule update --init

Answer 1

To switch branch for a submodule (assuming you already have the submodule as part of the repository):

• cd to root of your repository containing the submodules
• Open .gitmodules for editing
• Add line below path = ... and url = ... that says branch = your-branch, for each submodule; save file .gitmodules.
• then without changing directory do $ git submodule update --remote

...this should pull in the latest commits on the specified branch, for each submodule thus modified.