submodules usage w/o .gitmodules file

[andry81]

Some time ago i have started to search a replacement for svn externals:
#243

And found that the gil tool may fit to that:
chronoxor/gil#6

But while I dig up futhere I found more issues with it which draws the tool is not acceptable for the replacement. And one of the side issues were with the GitExtensions:
gitextensions/gitextensions#10642
gitextensions/gitextensions#10644

And this is what they said:
gitextensions/gitextensions#10642 (comment)

You have a funky state and I doubt is supported as valid git state.

So just because git is detecting nested repo and helping you out in summary call, it is not a submodule. The modules file is required to actually work git submodules.

Is the vcstool does the same and alter the state of git submodules into a "funky" state just gil tool does? Or it does work quite differently?

PS: Also have read:
#221 #57 #33 #195

[andry81]

Just for instance. Have sent questions into git folks mailing list:
https://lore.kernel.org/git/1716310675.20230122233403@inbox.ru/