# git: Show submodule changes in commit diffs \(\#60479\) · gitcafe/zed

[View on GitCafe](https://git.cafe/gitcafe/zed/commit/ca0b3c92d7f3f92d32b98a18eec2df89a1c4e4a3)

Repository: [gitcafe/zed](https://git.cafe/gitcafe/zed)

Visibility: public

Requested revision: ca0b3c92d7f3f92d32b98a18eec2df89a1c4e4a3

Requested commit: ca0b3c92d7f3f92d32b98a18eec2df89a1c4e4a3

Commit: ca0b3c92d7f3f92d32b98a18eec2df89a1c4e4a3

Tree: b3e95c96d0caef75fadb432019649941a667192d

Author: Eagl61

Committer: GitHub

## Message

```
git: Show submodule changes in commit diffs (#60479)

## Objective

Fix Git Graph showing `0 Changed Files` for commits that modify
submodules.

This happened because submodule entries are gitlinks rather than regular
blobs, so the existing commit diff loading path could not resolve them
correctly.

I ran into this issue previously, and it was confusing because the
commit clearly contained changes, but the UI did not reflect them. If a
commit included many file changes plus a submodule update, the submodule
change was effectively hidden and the UI could still show `0 Changed
Files` for that entry. Since submodules are not used in every
repository, the bug is easy to miss and may go unnoticed for a long
time.

## Solution

- Switched commit diff loading to use Git's raw diff output so submodule
entries are represented explicitly.
- Added parsing for gitlink entries alongside regular file changes.
- Render submodule changes as `Subproject commit <oid>` so they show up
in commit diffs instead of being dropped.

## Testing

- Added a repository test covering commit diffs that include submodule
changes.
- Ran the `git` crate test suite.
- Ran formatting and lint checks.
- Verified the Git UI crate still builds.
- Ran and tested it locally on MacOS.

Reviewer notes:
- The change is limited to commit diff loading and should not affect
normal blob diffs.
- Submodule changes now appear as explicit entries instead of being
counted as zero files.

## Self-Review Checklist:

- [x] I've reviewed my own diff for quality, security, and reliability
- [x] Unsafe blocks (if any) have justifying comments
- [x] The content adheres to Zed's UI standards
([UX/UI](https://github.com/zed-industries/zed/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md#uiux-checklist)
and [icon](https://github.com/zed-
industries/zed/blob/main/crates/icons/README.md) guidelines)
- [x] Tests cover the new/changed behavior
- [x] Performance impact has been considered and is acceptable

## Showcase

Before:
<img width="200" alt="Screenshot 2026-07-06 at 19 22 57"
src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/16efc348-5909-4cb0-8589-b0662923df56"
/>

After:
<img width="200" alt="Screenshot 2026-07-06 at 20 20 11"
src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/3201b264-6e61-45de-a9fc-c585f3b54e09"
/>

<img width="200" alt="Screenshot 2026-07-06 at 20 37 57"
src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/182ed4e1-9e90-4e33-9136-7626aba31153"
/>

---

Release Notes:

- Fixed Git Graph showing `0 Changed Files` for commits that update
submodules.
```

## Parents

- [08359123ac72a8e5b2dde63d81e5a453c47703ce](https://git.cafe/gitcafe/zed/commit/08359123ac72a8e5b2dde63d81e5a453c47703ce?format=markdown)

[Source at this commit](https://git.cafe/gitcafe/zed/tree/ca0b3c92d7f3f92d32b98a18eec2df89a1c4e4a3?format=markdown)