diff --git a/.lib/git-fleximod/git_fleximod/cli.py b/.lib/git-fleximod/git_fleximod/cli.py
index e4acc5558..7640bebe2 100644
--- a/.lib/git-fleximod/git_fleximod/cli.py
+++ b/.lib/git-fleximod/git_fleximod/cli.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 import argparse, os, sys
 from git_fleximod import utils
 
-__version__ = "1.0.3"
+__version__ = "1.1.0"
 
 class CustomArgumentParser(argparse.ArgumentParser):
     def print_help(self, file=None):
@@ -116,6 +116,13 @@ def get_parser():
         "verbosity level each time.",
     )
 
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--no-mods-details",
+        action="store_true",
+        default=False,
+        help="Suppress details on local mods in status output."
+    )
+
     parser.add_argument(
         "-V",
         "--version",
diff --git a/.lib/git-fleximod/git_fleximod/git_fleximod.py b/.lib/git-fleximod/git_fleximod/git_fleximod.py
index b3c4fece4..51a68a817 100755
--- a/.lib/git-fleximod/git_fleximod/git_fleximod.py
+++ b/.lib/git-fleximod/git_fleximod/git_fleximod.py
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ def commandline_arguments(args=None):
         options.components,
         options.exclude,
         options.force,
+        options.no_mods_details,
         action,
     )
 
@@ -189,29 +190,30 @@ def init_submodule_from_gitmodules(gitmodules, name, root_dir, logger):
     fxrequired = gitmodules.get(name, "fxrequired")
     return Submodule(root_dir, name, path, url, fxtag=tag, fxurl=fxurl, fxsparse=fxsparse, fxrequired=fxrequired, logger=logger)
 
-def submodules_status(gitmodules, root_dir, toplevel=False, depth=0):
+def submodules_status(gitmodules, root_dir, toplevel=False, depth=0, no_mods_details=False):
     testfails = 0
     localmods = 0
     needsupdate = 0
-    wrapper = textwrap.TextWrapper(initial_indent=' '*(depth*10), width=120,subsequent_indent=' '*(depth*20))
     for name in gitmodules.sections():
         submod = init_submodule_from_gitmodules(gitmodules, name, root_dir, logger)
-            
-        result,n,l,t = submod.status()
+
+        result,n,l,t = submod.status(depth=depth, no_mods_details=no_mods_details)
         if toplevel or not submod.toplevel():
-            print(wrapper.fill(result))
+            print(result)
             testfails += t
             localmods += l
             needsupdate += n
         subdir = os.path.join(root_dir, submod.path)
         if os.path.exists(os.path.join(subdir, ".gitmodules")):
             gsubmod = GitModules(logger, confpath=subdir)
-            t,l,n = submodules_status(gsubmod, subdir, depth=depth+1)
+            t, l, n = submodules_status(
+                gsubmod, subdir, depth=depth + 1, no_mods_details=no_mods_details
+            )
             if toplevel or not submod.toplevel():
                 testfails += t
                 localmods += l
                 needsupdate += n
-            
+
     return testfails, localmods, needsupdate
 
 def git_toplevelroot(root_dir, logger):
@@ -271,7 +273,7 @@ def local_mods_output():
 """
     print(text)
 
-def submodules_test(gitmodules, root_dir):
+def submodules_test(gitmodules, root_dir, no_mods_details=False):
     """
     This function tests the git submodules based on the provided parameters.
 
@@ -282,12 +284,15 @@ def submodules_test(gitmodules, root_dir):
     Parameters:
     gitmodules (ConfigParser): The gitmodules configuration.
     root_dir (str): The root directory for the git operation.
+    no_mods_details (bool, optional): If True, suppress details on local mods in status output
 
     Returns:
     int: The number of test failures.
     """
     # First check that fxtags are present and in sync with submodule hashes
-    testfails, localmods, needsupdate = submodules_status(gitmodules, root_dir)
+    testfails, localmods, needsupdate = submodules_status(
+        gitmodules, root_dir, no_mods_details=no_mods_details
+    )
     print("")
     # Then make sure that urls are consistant with fxurls (not forks and not ssh)
     # and that sparse checkout files exist
@@ -315,6 +320,7 @@ def main():
         includelist,
         excludelist,
         force,
+        no_mods_details,
         action,
     ) = commandline_arguments()
     # Get a logger for the package
@@ -322,7 +328,7 @@ def main():
     logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
     logger.info("action is {} root_dir={} file_name={}".format(action, root_dir, file_name))
-    
+
     if not root_dir or not os.path.isfile(os.path.join(root_dir, file_name)):
         if root_dir:
             file_path = utils.find_upwards(root_dir, file_name)
@@ -352,7 +358,9 @@ def main():
     if action == "update":
         asyncio.run(submodules_update(gitmodules, root_dir, fxrequired, force))
     elif action == "status":
-        tfails, lmods, updates = submodules_status(gitmodules, root_dir, toplevel=True)
+        tfails, lmods, updates = submodules_status(
+            gitmodules, root_dir, toplevel=True, no_mods_details=no_mods_details
+        )
         if tfails + lmods + updates > 0:
             print(
                 f"    testfails = {tfails}, local mods = {lmods}, needs updates {updates}\n"
@@ -360,7 +368,7 @@ def main():
             if lmods > 0:
                 local_mods_output()
     elif action == "test":
-        retval = submodules_test(gitmodules, root_dir)
+        retval = submodules_test(gitmodules, root_dir, no_mods_details=no_mods_details)
     else:
         utils.fatal_error(f"unrecognized action request {action}")
     return retval
diff --git a/.lib/git-fleximod/git_fleximod/submodule.py b/.lib/git-fleximod/git_fleximod/submodule.py
index c37e13540..6d0e58efb 100644
--- a/.lib/git-fleximod/git_fleximod/submodule.py
+++ b/.lib/git-fleximod/git_fleximod/submodule.py
@@ -38,13 +38,19 @@ def __init__(self, root_dir, name, path, url, fxtag=None, fxurl=None, fxsparse=N
             self.fxrequired = "AlwaysRequired"
         self.logger = logger
 
-    def status(self):
+    def status(self, depth=0, no_mods_details=False):
         """
         Checks the status of the submodule and returns 4 parameters:
         - result (str): The status of the submodule.
         - needsupdate (bool): An indicator if the submodule needs to be updated.
         - localmods (bool): An indicator if the submodule has local modifications.
         - testfails (bool): An indicator if the submodule has failed a test, this is used for testing purposes.
+
+        Args:
+            depth (int, optional): depth of this submodule relative to root, used to
+                                   indent output for nested submodules
+            no_mods_details (bool, optional): if True, suppress details on local mods in
+                                              status output
         """
 
         smpath = os.path.join(self.root_dir, self.path)
@@ -52,6 +58,18 @@ def status(self):
         localmods = False
         needsupdate = False
         ahash = None
+
+        # The following prefix gives a tree-like output:
+        tree_prefix_spaces = 3
+        if depth == 0:
+            tree_prefix = ""
+        else:
+            tree_prefix = " " * tree_prefix_spaces * (depth - 1) + "└─ "
+
+        full_name = tree_prefix + self.name
+        name_width = 20
+        full_width = name_width + len(tree_prefix)
+
         optional = ""
         if "Optional" in self.fxrequired:
             optional = " (optional)"
@@ -78,7 +96,7 @@ def status(self):
                 if hhash and atag:
                     break
             if self.fxtag and (ahash == hhash or atag == self.fxtag):
-                result = f"e {self.name:>20} not checked out, aligned at tag {self.fxtag}{optional}"
+                result = f"e  {full_name:<{full_width}} not checked out, aligned at tag {self.fxtag}{optional}"
                 needsupdate = True
             elif self.fxtag:
                 status, ahash = rootgit.git_operation(
@@ -86,20 +104,20 @@ def status(self):
                 )
                 ahash = ahash[1 : len(self.fxtag) + 1]
                 if self.fxtag == ahash:
-                    result = f"e {self.name:>20} not checked out, aligned at hash {ahash}{optional}"
+                    result = f"e  {full_name:<{full_width}} not checked out, aligned at hash {ahash}{optional}"
                 else:
-                    result = f"e {self.name:>20} not checked out, out of sync at tag {atag}, expected tag is {self.fxtag}{optional}"
+                    result = f"e  {full_name:<{full_width}} not checked out, out of sync at tag {atag}, expected tag is {self.fxtag}{optional}"
                     testfails = True
                 needsupdate = True
             else:
-                result = f"e {self.name:>20} has no fxtag defined in .gitmodules{optional}"
+                result = f"e  {full_name:<{full_width}} has no fxtag defined in .gitmodules{optional}"
                 testfails = False
         else:
             with utils.pushd(smpath):
                 git = GitInterface(smpath, self.logger)
                 status, remote = git.git_operation("remote")
                 if remote == '':
-                    result = f"e {self.name:>20} has no associated remote"
+                    result = f"e  {full_name:<{full_width}} has no associated remote"
                     testfails = True
                     needsupdate = True
                     return result, needsupdate, localmods, testfails
@@ -123,36 +141,76 @@ def status(self):
                 if rurl != self.url:
                     remote = self._add_remote(git)
                     git.git_operation("fetch", remote)
+
+                mod_char = " "
+                _, status_output = git.git_operation("status", "--ignore-submodules", "-uno")
+                if "nothing to commit" not in status_output:
+                    localmods = True
+                    mod_char = "M"
+
                 # Asked for a tag and found that tag
                 if self.fxtag and atag == self.fxtag:
-                    result = f"  {self.name:>20} at tag {self.fxtag}"
+                    result = f" {mod_char} {full_name:<{full_width}} at tag {self.fxtag}"
                     recurse = True
                     testfails = False
                 # Asked for and found a hash
                 elif self.fxtag and (ahash[: len(self.fxtag)] == self.fxtag or (self.fxtag.find(ahash)==0)):
-                    result = f"  {self.name:>20} at hash {ahash}"
+                    result = f" {mod_char} {full_name:<{full_width}} at hash {ahash}"
                     recurse = True
                     testfails = False
                 # Asked for and found a hash
                 elif atag == ahash:
-                    result = f"  {self.name:>20} at hash {ahash}"
+                    result = f" {mod_char} {full_name:<{full_width}} at hash {ahash}"
                     recurse = True
                 # Did not find requested tag or hash
                 elif self.fxtag:
-                    result = f"s {self.name:>20} {atag} {ahash} is out of sync with .gitmodules {self.fxtag}"
+                    result = f"s{mod_char} {full_name:<{full_width}} {atag} {ahash} is out of sync with .gitmodules {self.fxtag}"
                     testfails = True
                     needsupdate = True
                 else:
                     if atag:
-                        result = f"e {self.name:>20} has no fxtag defined in .gitmodules, module at {atag}"
+                        result = f"e{mod_char} {full_name:<{full_width}} has no fxtag defined in .gitmodules, module at {atag}"
                     else:
-                        result = f"e {self.name:>20} has no fxtag defined in .gitmodules, module at {ahash}"
+                        result = f"e{mod_char} {full_name:<{full_width}} has no fxtag defined in .gitmodules, module at {ahash}"
                     testfails = False
 
-                status, output = git.git_operation("status", "--ignore-submodules", "-uno")
-                if "nothing to commit" not in output:
-                    localmods = True
-                    result = "M" + textwrap.indent(output, "                      ")
+                if localmods and not no_mods_details:
+                    # Print details about the local mods, indented below the other
+                    # information about this submodule.
+                    #
+                    # We use a vertical bar to help with the visual alignment of child
+                    # submodules. There are two main goals of the spacing details here:
+                    # 1. If there is a child of this submodule, the vertical bar used here
+                    #    should connect with the vertical part of the tree_prefix.
+                    # 2. The details about any local mods should be indented an additional
+                    #    4 spaces beyond the start of the text like "at tag ..."
+                    #
+                    # Here are details on how we accomplish these goals:
+                    # - leading_spaces: This is key for accomplishing the first goal. We
+                    #   need 3 spaces for the first three characters in the output (two
+                    #   status characters and a space), plus an additional number of
+                    #   spaces matching the number of spaces that would be used in the
+                    #   tree_prefix of any *child* of this submodule.
+                    # - total_indent: This is the total indent needed to achieve the
+                    #   second goal. The first addition of 4 aligns the output with the
+                    #   status (e.g., "at tag ..."), accounting for the 3 leading
+                    #   characters before the name and the 1 trailing space after the
+                    #   name. The second addition of 4 indents the details about local
+                    #   mods an additional 4 spaces.
+                    # - trailing_spaces: This gives the correct total indentation given
+                    #   that we already have some leading spaces plus a vertical bar
+                    #   character.
+                    leading_spaces = " " * (3 + depth * tree_prefix_spaces)
+                    total_indent = full_width + 4 + 4
+                    trailing_spaces = " " * (total_indent - len(leading_spaces) - 1)
+                    result = result + "\n" + textwrap.indent(status_output,
+                                                             leading_spaces + "│" + trailing_spaces,
+                                                             # The following predicate
+                                                             # makes the vertical bar
+                                                             # appear even for blank
+                                                             # lines:
+                                                             predicate = lambda _: True)
+
 #        print(f"result {result} needsupdate {needsupdate} localmods {localmods} testfails {testfails}")
         return result, needsupdate, localmods, testfails
 
diff --git a/.lib/git-fleximod/pyproject.toml b/.lib/git-fleximod/pyproject.toml
index 211eac1dd..c5a2bb0d8 100644
--- a/.lib/git-fleximod/pyproject.toml
+++ b/.lib/git-fleximod/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [tool.poetry]
 name = "git-fleximod"
-version = "1.0.3"
+version = "1.1.0"
 description = "Extended support for git-submodule and git-sparse-checkout"
 authors = ["Jim Edwards <jedwards@ucar.edu>"]
 maintainers = ["Jim Edwards <jedwards@ucar.edu>"]
diff --git a/.lib/git-fleximod/tbump.toml b/.lib/git-fleximod/tbump.toml
index 20271f4de..cce9de850 100644
--- a/.lib/git-fleximod/tbump.toml
+++ b/.lib/git-fleximod/tbump.toml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 github_url = "https://github.com/jedwards4b/git-fleximod/"
 
 [version]
-current = "1.0.3"
+current = "1.1.0"
 
 # Example of a semver regexp.
 # Make sure this matches current_version before
diff --git a/.lib/git-fleximod/tests/test_b_update.py b/.lib/git-fleximod/tests/test_b_update.py
index 159f1cfae..570ffa2cb 100644
--- a/.lib/git-fleximod/tests/test_b_update.py
+++ b/.lib/git-fleximod/tests/test_b_update.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import pytest
 from pathlib import Path
-                
+from tests.utils_for_tests import normalize_whitespace
+
 def test_basic_checkout(git_fleximod, test_repo, shared_repos):
     # Prepare a simple .gitmodules
     gm = shared_repos['gitmodules_content']
@@ -9,7 +10,7 @@ def test_basic_checkout(git_fleximod, test_repo, shared_repos):
     repo_path = shared_repos["subrepo_path"]
 
     file_path.write_text(gm)
-    
+
     # Run the command
     result = git_fleximod(test_repo, f"update {repo_name}")
 
@@ -19,8 +20,7 @@ def test_basic_checkout(git_fleximod, test_repo, shared_repos):
     if "sparse" in repo_name:
         assert Path(test_repo /  f"{repo_path}/m4").exists()   # Did the submodule sparse directory get created?
         assert not Path(test_repo /  f"{repo_path}/README").exists()   # Did only the submodule sparse directory get created?
-    
+
     status = git_fleximod(test_repo, f"status {repo_name}")
-        
-    assert shared_repos["status2"] in status.stdout
-        
+
+    assert shared_repos["status2"] in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout)
diff --git a/.lib/git-fleximod/tests/test_c_required.py b/.lib/git-fleximod/tests/test_c_required.py
index 2ac661451..2ba17f1b9 100644
--- a/.lib/git-fleximod/tests/test_c_required.py
+++ b/.lib/git-fleximod/tests/test_c_required.py
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 import pytest
 import re
 from pathlib import Path
-                
+from tests.utils_for_tests import normalize_whitespace
+
 def test_required(git_fleximod, test_repo, shared_repos):
     file_path = (test_repo / ".gitmodules")
     gm = shared_repos["gitmodules_content"]
@@ -20,15 +21,15 @@ def test_required(git_fleximod, test_repo, shared_repos):
     result = git_fleximod(test_repo, "update")
     assert result.returncode == 0
     status = git_fleximod(test_repo, f"status {repo_name}")
-    assert shared_repos["status3"] in status.stdout
+    assert shared_repos["status3"] in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout)
     status = git_fleximod(test_repo, f"update --optional")
     assert result.returncode == 0
     status = git_fleximod(test_repo, f"status {repo_name}")
-    assert shared_repos["status4"] in status.stdout
+    assert shared_repos["status4"] in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout)
     status = git_fleximod(test_repo, f"update {repo_name}")
     assert result.returncode == 0
     status = git_fleximod(test_repo, f"status {repo_name}")
-    assert shared_repos["status4"] in status.stdout
+    assert shared_repos["status4"] in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout)
 
     text = file_path.read_text()
     new_value = "somethingelse"
diff --git a/.lib/git-fleximod/tests/test_d_complex.py b/.lib/git-fleximod/tests/test_d_complex.py
index edde7d816..a91a2ed7f 100644
--- a/.lib/git-fleximod/tests/test_d_complex.py
+++ b/.lib/git-fleximod/tests/test_d_complex.py
@@ -1,24 +1,25 @@
 import pytest
 from pathlib import Path
 from git_fleximod.gitinterface import GitInterface
+from tests.utils_for_tests import normalize_whitespace
 
 def test_complex_checkout(git_fleximod, complex_repo, logger):
     status = git_fleximod(complex_repo, "status")
-    assert("ToplevelOptional not checked out, aligned at tag v5.3.2" in status.stdout)
-    assert("ToplevelRequired not checked out, aligned at tag MPIserial_2.5.0" in status.stdout)
-    assert("AlwaysRequired not checked out, aligned at tag MPIserial_2.4.0" in status.stdout)
-    assert("Complex not checked out, aligned at tag testtag02" in status.stdout)
-    assert("AlwaysOptional not checked out, out of sync at tag None, expected tag is MPIserial_2.3.0" in status.stdout)
+    assert("ToplevelOptional not checked out, aligned at tag v5.3.2" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("ToplevelRequired not checked out, aligned at tag MPIserial_2.5.0" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("AlwaysRequired not checked out, aligned at tag MPIserial_2.4.0" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("Complex not checked out, aligned at tag testtag02" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("AlwaysOptional not checked out, out of sync at tag None, expected tag is MPIserial_2.3.0" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
     
     # This should checkout and update test_submodule and complex_sub
     result = git_fleximod(complex_repo, "update")    
     assert result.returncode == 0
 
     status = git_fleximod(complex_repo, "status")
-    assert("ToplevelOptional not checked out, aligned at tag v5.3.2" in status.stdout)
-    assert("ToplevelRequired at tag MPIserial_2.5.0" in status.stdout)
-    assert("AlwaysRequired at tag MPIserial_2.4.0" in status.stdout)
-    assert("Complex at tag testtag02" in status.stdout)
+    assert("ToplevelOptional not checked out, aligned at tag v5.3.2" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("ToplevelRequired at tag MPIserial_2.5.0" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("AlwaysRequired at tag MPIserial_2.4.0" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("Complex at tag testtag02" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
 
     # now check the complex_sub
     root = (complex_repo / "modules" / "complex")
@@ -36,22 +37,22 @@ def test_complex_checkout(git_fleximod, complex_repo, logger):
     assert result.returncode == 0
 
     status = git_fleximod(complex_repo, "status")
-    assert("ToplevelOptional at tag v5.3.2" in status.stdout)
-    assert("ToplevelRequired at tag MPIserial_2.5.0" in status.stdout)
-    assert("AlwaysRequired at tag MPIserial_2.4.0" in status.stdout)
-    assert("Complex at tag testtag02" in status.stdout)
-    assert("AlwaysOptional not checked out, out of sync at tag None, expected tag is MPIserial_2.3.0" in status.stdout)
+    assert("ToplevelOptional at tag v5.3.2" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("ToplevelRequired at tag MPIserial_2.5.0" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("AlwaysRequired at tag MPIserial_2.4.0" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("Complex at tag testtag02" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("AlwaysOptional not checked out, out of sync at tag None, expected tag is MPIserial_2.3.0" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
 
     # Finally update optional
     result = git_fleximod(complex_repo, "update --optional")
     assert result.returncode == 0
 
     status = git_fleximod(complex_repo, "status")
-    assert("ToplevelOptional at tag v5.3.2" in status.stdout)
-    assert("ToplevelRequired at tag MPIserial_2.5.0" in status.stdout)
-    assert("AlwaysRequired at tag MPIserial_2.4.0" in status.stdout)
-    assert("Complex at tag testtag02" in status.stdout)
-    assert("AlwaysOptional at tag MPIserial_2.3.0" in status.stdout)
+    assert("ToplevelOptional at tag v5.3.2" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("ToplevelRequired at tag MPIserial_2.5.0" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("AlwaysRequired at tag MPIserial_2.4.0" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("Complex at tag testtag02" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("AlwaysOptional at tag MPIserial_2.3.0" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
     
     # now check the complex_sub
     root = (complex_repo / "modules" / "complex" )
diff --git a/.lib/git-fleximod/tests/test_e_complex_update.py b/.lib/git-fleximod/tests/test_e_complex_update.py
index 0c3ab4c6a..8b79b07c3 100644
--- a/.lib/git-fleximod/tests/test_e_complex_update.py
+++ b/.lib/git-fleximod/tests/test_e_complex_update.py
@@ -1,24 +1,25 @@
 import pytest
 from pathlib import Path
 from git_fleximod.gitinterface import GitInterface
+from tests.utils_for_tests import normalize_whitespace
 
 def test_complex_update(git_fleximod, complex_update, logger):
     status = git_fleximod(complex_update, "status")
-    assert("ToplevelOptional not checked out, aligned at tag v5.3.2" in status.stdout)
-    assert("ToplevelRequired not checked out, aligned at tag MPIserial_2.5.0" in status.stdout)
-    assert("AlwaysRequired not checked out, aligned at tag MPIserial_2.4.0" in status.stdout)
-    assert("Complex not checked out, out of sync at tag testtag02, expected tag is testtag3" in status.stdout)
-    assert("AlwaysOptional not checked out, out of sync at tag None, expected tag is MPIserial_2.3.0" in status.stdout)
+    assert("ToplevelOptional not checked out, aligned at tag v5.3.2" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("ToplevelRequired not checked out, aligned at tag MPIserial_2.5.0" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("AlwaysRequired not checked out, aligned at tag MPIserial_2.4.0" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("Complex not checked out, out of sync at tag testtag02, expected tag is testtag3" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("AlwaysOptional not checked out, out of sync at tag None, expected tag is MPIserial_2.3.0" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
     
     # This should checkout and update test_submodule and complex_sub
     result = git_fleximod(complex_update, "update")    
     assert result.returncode == 0
 
     status = git_fleximod(complex_update, "status")
-    assert("ToplevelOptional not checked out, aligned at tag v5.3.2" in status.stdout)
-    assert("ToplevelRequired at tag MPIserial_2.5.0" in status.stdout)
-    assert("AlwaysRequired at tag MPIserial_2.4.0" in status.stdout)
-    assert("Complex at tag testtag3" in status.stdout)
+    assert("ToplevelOptional not checked out, aligned at tag v5.3.2" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("ToplevelRequired at tag MPIserial_2.5.0" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("AlwaysRequired at tag MPIserial_2.4.0" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("Complex at tag testtag3" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
 
     # now check the complex_sub
     root = (complex_update / "modules" / "complex")
@@ -37,22 +38,22 @@ def test_complex_update(git_fleximod, complex_update, logger):
     assert result.returncode == 0
 
     status = git_fleximod(complex_update, "status")
-    assert("ToplevelOptional at tag v5.3.2" in status.stdout)
-    assert("ToplevelRequired at tag MPIserial_2.5.0" in status.stdout)
-    assert("AlwaysRequired at tag MPIserial_2.4.0" in status.stdout)
-    assert("Complex at tag testtag3" in status.stdout)
-    assert("AlwaysOptional not checked out, out of sync at tag None, expected tag is MPIserial_2.3.0" in status.stdout)
+    assert("ToplevelOptional at tag v5.3.2" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("ToplevelRequired at tag MPIserial_2.5.0" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("AlwaysRequired at tag MPIserial_2.4.0" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("Complex at tag testtag3" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("AlwaysOptional not checked out, out of sync at tag None, expected tag is MPIserial_2.3.0" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
 
     # Finally update optional
     result = git_fleximod(complex_update, "update --optional")
     assert result.returncode == 0
 
     status = git_fleximod(complex_update, "status")
-    assert("ToplevelOptional at tag v5.3.2" in status.stdout)
-    assert("ToplevelRequired at tag MPIserial_2.5.0" in status.stdout)
-    assert("AlwaysRequired at tag MPIserial_2.4.0" in status.stdout)
-    assert("Complex at tag testtag3" in status.stdout)
-    assert("AlwaysOptional at tag MPIserial_2.3.0" in status.stdout)
+    assert("ToplevelOptional at tag v5.3.2" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("ToplevelRequired at tag MPIserial_2.5.0" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("AlwaysRequired at tag MPIserial_2.4.0" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("Complex at tag testtag3" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
+    assert("AlwaysOptional at tag MPIserial_2.3.0" in normalize_whitespace(status.stdout))
     
     # now check the complex_sub
     root = (complex_update / "modules" / "complex" )
diff --git a/.lib/git-fleximod/tests/utils_for_tests.py b/.lib/git-fleximod/tests/utils_for_tests.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..eb9ad88f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.lib/git-fleximod/tests/utils_for_tests.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+"""
+Helper functions that can be used in tests
+"""
+
+def normalize_whitespace(text):
+    """
+    Normalize whitespace for flexible string comparisons in tests.
+
+    This removes leading and trailing whitespace and collapses other whitespace down to a
+    single space.
+    """
+    return " ".join(text.split())
+