If you’ve been working on a development project in homebrew and received the “Homebrew-Core is a Shallow Clone” warning message, then you’ve likely wondered how you can get rid of it and silence the message once and for all.
Fortunately, this is just a warning message that doesn’t mean your code or application has anything critically broken, and it can be silenced very easily. Another positive of receiving this warning message is the fact that it applies to older homebrew versions and no longer requires you to silence it in newer versions.
In this guide, we’re going to dive into this error message in detail and show you exactly what it means and how you can get rid of it as quickly and as easily as possible. Since receiving this warning also likely means you’re using an older version of homebrew, we’ll recommend you upgrade unless you are working on an air-gapped system that doesn’t allow updates for security purposes or to preserve a particular legacy environment.
If you’re ready to begin troubleshooting this error message and dig into its solution, then read on – you should know precisely what causes this warning message as well as how to silence it at the end of this troubleshooting guide.
In This Article
Solutions & Troubleshooting: Homebrew-Core is a Shallow Clone
You’re developing an application or working on homebrew and suddenly receive a warning message that states, “Homebrew-Core is a Shallow Clone” – what do you do? The first thing you should know is that there’s no need to panic, as this is typically just a warning message that occurs and not a critical error.
We’re going to walk you through the troubleshooting process in the next few sections and show you exactly why you are receiving this warning message in your homebrew installation.
Why does this warning/error message occur?
The “Homebrew-Core is a Shallow Clone” warning message most commonly occurs when homebrew creates shallow clones while it’s being installed. Fortunately, as of October 2020, this is no longer the case.
If you have a homebrew version that’s later than October 2020, you’ll no longer have shallow clones being created during the installation process. Better yet, after December 2020, updating existing shallow clones is no longer allowed either, which essentially removes this warning message altogether.
The short answer for why this warning/error occurs is this:
This error occurs when you’re using shallow clones that are configured in homebrew.
If you’re using newer versions of homebrew, you should have no reason to silence this error, as it will likely no longer appear. If you’re using legacy systems or systems that cannot be updated on a regular basis, we’re still going to show you what you can do to silence this error and get rid of it.
If a shallow clone is configured and you receive a message saying “Homebrew-Core is a Shallow Clone,” then it is required for you to perform the “unshallow process” by running the git commands within the error message.
This error message doesn’t come by itself, but in fact, it also states several git commands underneath the shallow clone message itself. To resolve it, you’ll need to enter the git commands into your terminal and then wait for the process to complete.
Note that these git commands may take an extensive amount of time to run through all the way, so be prepared to wait a little bit upon executing each git command.
How to properly troubleshoot & silence this warning/error
The warning or error message “Homebrew-Core is a Shallow Clone” is caused by shallow clone configurations in homebrew and is most common for versions before December 2020 and October 2020. If you’re using a newer version of homebrew, the fact that shallow clones are no longer allowed to be updated or used during the installation process should prevent you from getting this error in the first place.
If you do get it, however, note that it will also state several git commands below the error message itself. If you run these git commands and wait until they execute to completion, you will resolve this error and completely fix your current homebrew installation and configurations that were using shallow clones beforehand.
The git commands perform a process called “unshallow,” which will then completely resolve this error and prevent it from coming up in the future unless you change a configuration or re-configure shallow clones within homebrew.
Is this warning/error message vague in its meaning?
Compared to other errors you may experience when using homebrew, this error message is actually rather clear, which is a refreshing thing to see. Some error messages have absolutely no relation (directly) to what the underlying problem actually is, forcing you to dig deep into troubleshooting and find the adjacent problem or contributing problem.
The error message “Homebrew-Core is a Shallow Clone” tells you exactly what the problem is firsthand – that your homebrew-core is currently a shallow clone and that it must be made unshallow.
It also clarifies what the resolution is by giving you git commands to run directly underneath the error message itself. If you run these commands, your homebrew configuration will undergo the unshallow process and get rid of this error message once and for all, giving you the peace and quiet you deserve in your homebrew environment.
Final Verdict
When you see an error message in homebrew that states, “Homebrew-Core is a Shallow Clone,” you’ll likely be stumped by what it means unless you’ve run into this problem before or you instinctively run the git commands underneath the error message.
When your homebrew configuration has shallow clones that are configured, either during installation or post-installation, then this error will occur. By this point, you should know that this error is most typical for homebrew installations that were done prior to December 2020, meaning that it shouldn’t be a problem in newer versions.
When you receive this error message or warning message, remember that all you have to do to resolve it is to run the git commands underneath the message with the –unshallow flags. Be patient, let the commands run, and you’ll be all set!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is possible to homebrew a DS. There are a number of different ways to do this, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. For more information on how to homebrew a DS, check out our guide.
Yes, you can homebrew a GameCube. Homebrewing a GameCube allows you to run custom code and play unofficial games on your console. There are a few different methods for doing this, so be sure to check out our guide for more information.
If you want to uninstall homebrew from your system, the process will vary depending on which method you used to install it. For more information on how to uninstall homebrew, check out our guide.
No, it is not illegal to homebrew a Wii. Homebrewing your Wii simply allows you to run unofficial code and play unlicensed games on your console. However, keep in mind that some games may require you to modify your Wii in order to run them, which could void your warranty.
Yes, Homebrew is safe for Mac. Homebrew is a package manager for Mac that makes it easy to install and manage software packages. However, as with any third-party software, you should always exercise caution when installing and running unfamiliar programs on your computer.
Installing Homebrew on Mac is easy. Simply open your Terminal and enter the following command: ruby -e “$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)” This will download and install Homebrew on your computer. For more information, check out our guide.
Yes, Homebrew 3DS is legal. Homebrew 3DS allows you to run unofficial code and play unlicensed games on your console. However, keep in mind that some games may require you to modify your 3DS in order to run them, which could void your warranty.
Image Credit: GitHub.com
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