X Symlinking gitlab-root-shadow does not work

Because ruby determines realpath of imported modules and gitlab / rails use
that as a base in a lot of places.

software/gitlab/instance.cfg.in

@@ -79,9 +79,18 @@ command-line =
 
 
 # Gitlab/Rails operation is tighted that config/ lives inside code.
-# to have ability to create several instances configured differently from 1 SR,
-# we make another Gitlab root symbolically linked to original SR _and_ several
-# configuration files symbolically linked to instance place.
+# to have ability to create several instances configured differently from 1 SR.
+#
+# One possibility to overcome this could be to make another Gitlab root
+# symbolically linked to original SR _and_ several configuration files
+# symbolically linked to instance place. Unfortunately this does not work -
+# Ruby determines realpath on module import and Gitlab and Rails lookup config
+# files relative to imported modules.
+#
+# we clone cloned gitlab and add proper links to vendor/bundle and instance
+# config files.
+# XXX there is no need fo full clone - we only need worktree checkout (a-la git
+# worktree add, but without creating files in original clone)
 #
 # This way Gitlab/Rails still think they work in 1 code / 1 instance way,
 # and we can reuse SR.
@@ -91,37 +100,64 @@ recipe  = plone.recipe.command
 stop-on-error = yes
 location = $${directory:home}/$${:_buildout_section_name_}
 command =
-    mkdir $${:location} && cd $${:location} &&
-#   XXX .[a-z]* - hacky to skip . and ..
-    for i in ${gitlab-repository:location}/* ${gitlab-repository:location}/.[a-z]* ; do ln -s $i ; done  &&
+    ${git:location}/bin/git clone ${gitlab-repository:location} $${:location}    &&
+    cd $${:location}    &&
 # secret* tmp/ log/
-    rm -f .secret .gitlab_shell_secret log tmp &&
+    rm -f .secret .gitlab_shell_secret  &&
+    rm -rf log tmp                      &&
     ln -s $${gitlab:etc}/secret .secret &&
     ln -s AAA/.gitlab_shell_secret .    &&
     ln -s $${gitlab:log} log            &&
     ln -s $${gitlab:var}/tmp .          &&
 # config/
-    rm config && mkdir config && cd config   &&
-    for i in ${gitlab-repository:location}/config/* ; do ln -s $i ; done    &&
+    cd config   &&
     ln -s $${gitlab:etc}/unicorn.rb .   &&
     ln -s $${gitlab:etc}/gitlab.yml .   &&
     ln -s $${gitlab-database.yml:output} database.yml  &&
     ln -s $${gitlab:etc}/resque.yml .   &&
 # config/initializers/
-    rm initializers && mkdir initializers && cd initializers    &&
-    for i in ${gitlab-repository:location}/config/initializers/* ; do ln -s $i ; done    &&
+    cd initializers     &&
     ln -s $${gitlab:etc}/rack_attack.rb .   &&
     ln -s $${gitlab:etc}/smtp_settings.rb . &&
 # public/
-    cd ../../ &&
-    rm public && mkdir public && cd public  &&
-    for i in ${gitlab-repository:location}/public/* ; do ln -s $i ; done    &&
-    rm uploads  &&
+    cd ../../public     &&
+    rm -rf uploads  &&
     ln -s $${gitlab:var}/uploads .  &&
     true
 
 
 
+#     mkdir $${:location} && cd $${:location} &&
+# #   XXX .[a-z]* - hacky to skip . and ..
+#     for i in ${gitlab-repository:location}/* ${gitlab-repository:location}/.[a-z]* ; do ln -s $i ; done  &&
+# # secret* tmp/ log/
+#     rm -f .secret .gitlab_shell_secret log tmp &&
+#     ln -s $${gitlab:etc}/secret .secret &&
+#     ln -s AAA/.gitlab_shell_secret .    &&
+#     ln -s $${gitlab:log} log            &&
+#     ln -s $${gitlab:var}/tmp .          &&
+# # config/
+#     rm config && mkdir config && cd config   &&
+#     for i in ${gitlab-repository:location}/config/* ; do ln -s $i ; done    &&
+#     ln -s $${gitlab:etc}/unicorn.rb .   &&
+#     ln -s $${gitlab:etc}/gitlab.yml .   &&
+#     ln -s $${gitlab-database.yml:output} database.yml  &&
+#     ln -s $${gitlab:etc}/resque.yml .   &&
+# # config/initializers/
+#     rm initializers && mkdir initializers && cd initializers    &&
+#     for i in ${gitlab-repository:location}/config/initializers/* ; do ln -s $i ; done    &&
+#     ln -s $${gitlab:etc}/rack_attack.rb .   &&
+#     ln -s $${gitlab:etc}/smtp_settings.rb . &&
+# # public/
+#     cd ../../ &&
+#     rm public && mkdir public && cd public  &&
+#     for i in ${gitlab-repository:location}/public/* ; do ln -s $i ; done    &&
+#     rm uploads  &&
+#     ln -s $${gitlab:var}/uploads .  &&
+#     true
+
+
+
 
 
 # etc/