Bitbake provides a fetcher which fetches a Git repository with sub-modules, It
is called 'gitsm' [1], it inherits from the 'git://' fetcher, augmenting it with
fetching of sub-modules.
If gitsm is used, then there is no need to call 'git submodule' manually. Using gitsm has some additional benefits:
The recipe is simpler.
Submodules are also cached in the download directory(improves the build speed)
If used with BB_GENERATE_MIRROR_TARBALLS, submodules are included in the mirror tarballs (helps with build reproducability).
Bitbake provides a fetcher which fetches a Git repository with sub-modules, It is called 'gitsm' [1], it inherits from the 'git://' fetcher, augmenting it with fetching of sub-modules.
If gitsm is used, then there is no need to call 'git submodule' manually. Using gitsm has some additional benefits:
BB_GENERATE_MIRROR_TARBALLS, submodules are included in the mirror tarballs (helps with build reproducability).[1] https://www.yoctoproject.org/docs/latest/bitbake-user-manual/bitbake-user-manual.html#gitsm-fetcher