diff --git a/Sofa/framework/Config/cmake/SofaMacrosConfigure.cmake b/Sofa/framework/Config/cmake/SofaMacrosConfigure.cmake
index acb4d2d31b7..0c69342ab15 100644
--- a/Sofa/framework/Config/cmake/SofaMacrosConfigure.cmake
+++ b/Sofa/framework/Config/cmake/SofaMacrosConfigure.cmake
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ endmacro()
 #
 function(sofa_add_generic_external directory name type)
     set(optionArgs FETCH_ONLY)
-    set(oneValueArgs DEFAULT_VALUE WHEN_TO_SHOW VALUE_IF_HIDDEN)
+    set(oneValueArgs DEFAULT_VALUE WHEN_TO_SHOW VALUE_IF_HIDDEN GIT_REF)
     set(multiValueArgs)
     cmake_parse_arguments("ARG" "${optionArgs}" "${oneValueArgs}" "${multiValueArgs}" ${ARGN})
 
@@ -223,6 +223,11 @@ function(sofa_add_generic_external directory name type)
     if(${fetch_enabled})
         message("Fetching ${type_lower} ${name}")
 
+        if("${ARG_GIT_REF}" STREQUAL "")
+            message(SEND_ERROR "One value argument GIT_REF is required when option EXTERNAL is set. This is the name of the branch or the tag checkouted when cloning the subdirectory.")
+            return()
+        endif()
+
         if(NOT EXISTS ${fetched_dir})
             file(MAKE_DIRECTORY "${fetched_dir}/")
         endif()
@@ -275,7 +280,7 @@ endfunction()
 
 macro(sofa_add_subdirectory type directory name)
     set(optionArgs EXTERNAL EXPERIMENTAL)
-    set(oneValueArgs)
+    set(oneValueArgs GIT_REF)
     set(multiValueArgs)
     cmake_parse_arguments("ARG" "${optionArgs}" "${oneValueArgs}" "${multiValueArgs}" ${ARGN})
 
@@ -291,8 +296,9 @@ macro(sofa_add_subdirectory type directory name)
         set(default_value ON)
     endif()
 
+
     if(ARG_EXTERNAL)
-        sofa_add_generic_external(${directory} ${name} "External ${type_lower}" DEFAULT_VALUE ${default_value} ${ARGN})
+        sofa_add_generic_external(${directory} ${name} "External ${type_lower}" GIT_REF ${ARG_GIT_REF} DEFAULT_VALUE ${default_value}  ${ARGN})
     else()
         sofa_add_generic(${directory} ${name} ${type_lower} DEFAULT_VALUE ${default_value} ${ARGN})
     endif()
diff --git a/applications/plugins/BeamAdapter/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in b/applications/plugins/BeamAdapter/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
index 5aa30f64ba1..88d1964e2a6 100644
--- a/applications/plugins/BeamAdapter/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
+++ b/applications/plugins/BeamAdapter/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.11)
 include(ExternalProject)
 ExternalProject_Add(BeamAdapter
     GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/sofa-framework/BeamAdapter
-    GIT_TAG origin/master
+    GIT_TAG origin/@ARG_GIT_REF@
     SOURCE_DIR "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/applications/plugins/BeamAdapter"
     BINARY_DIR ""
     CONFIGURE_COMMAND ""
diff --git a/applications/plugins/CGALPlugin/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in b/applications/plugins/CGALPlugin/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
index c87a29bb1af..9c2696cbf87 100644
--- a/applications/plugins/CGALPlugin/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
+++ b/applications/plugins/CGALPlugin/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.11)
 include(ExternalProject)
 ExternalProject_Add(CGALPlugin
     GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/sofa-framework/CGALPlugin
-    GIT_TAG origin/master
+    GIT_TAG origin/@ARG_GIT_REF@
     SOURCE_DIR "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/applications/plugins/CGALPlugin"
     BINARY_DIR ""
     CONFIGURE_COMMAND ""
diff --git a/applications/plugins/CMakeLists.txt b/applications/plugins/CMakeLists.txt
index ba0a49e6d0f..6a893fc483f 100644
--- a/applications/plugins/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/applications/plugins/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ endif()
 
 sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin CollisionOBBCapsule CollisionOBBCapsule)
 
-sofa_add_subdirectory(directory SofaHighOrder SofaHighOrder EXTERNAL)
+sofa_add_subdirectory(directory SofaHighOrder SofaHighOrder EXTERNAL GIT_REF master)
 
 sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin CImgPlugin CImgPlugin) # ON by default and first as it is used by other plugins.
 sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin ArticulatedSystemPlugin ArticulatedSystemPlugin ON)
@@ -22,15 +22,15 @@ sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin DiffusionSolver DiffusionSolver) # Depends on CImgP
 sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin image image) # Depends on CImgPlugin, DiffusionSolver, MultiThreading (soft)
 sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin SofaNewmat SofaNewmat)
 
-sofa_add_subdirectory(directory SofaPython3 SofaPython3 EXTERNAL)
-sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin CGALPlugin CGALPlugin EXTERNAL)     # Depends on image
-sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin Registration Registration EXTERNAL) # Depends on image, SofaPython, SofaGui and SofaDistanceGrid
+sofa_add_subdirectory(directory SofaPython3 SofaPython3 EXTERNAL GIT_REF master)
+sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin CGALPlugin CGALPlugin EXTERNAL GIT_REF master)     # Depends on image
+sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin Registration Registration EXTERNAL GIT_REF master) # Depends on image, SofaPython, SofaGui and SofaDistanceGrid
 sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin BulletCollisionDetection BulletCollisionDetection) # Depends on Compliant and LMConstraint
 sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin ExternalBehaviorModel ExternalBehaviorModel OFF WHEN_TO_SHOW "SOFA_ENABLE_LEGACY_HEADERS" VALUE_IF_HIDDEN OFF)
-sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin InvertibleFVM InvertibleFVM EXTERNAL)
+sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin InvertibleFVM InvertibleFVM EXTERNAL GIT_REF master)
 sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin MeshSTEPLoader MeshSTEPLoader)
-sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin PluginExample PluginExample EXTERNAL)
-sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin ManifoldTopologies ManifoldTopologies EXTERNAL)
+sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin PluginExample PluginExample EXTERNAL GIT_REF master)
+sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin ManifoldTopologies ManifoldTopologies EXTERNAL GIT_REF master)
 sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin SixenseHydra SixenseHydra)
 sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin SofaOpenCL SofaOpenCL)
 sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin Xitact Xitact)
@@ -45,16 +45,16 @@ sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin LeapMotion LeapMotion)
 sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin Geomagic Geomagic)
 sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin SofaAssimp SofaAssimp) # ColladaSceneLoader Depends on Flexible and image
 sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin SofaMatrix SofaMatrix ON) # Depends on image, CImgPlugin
-sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin BeamAdapter BeamAdapter EXTERNAL)
-sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin STLIB STLIB EXTERNAL)
-sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin SoftRobots SoftRobots EXTERNAL)
-sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin CollisionAlgorithm CollisionAlgorithm EXTERNAL)
-sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin ConstraintGeometry ConstraintGeometry EXTERNAL)
-sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin ShapeMatchingPlugin ShapeMatchingPlugin EXTERNAL)
-sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin CSparseSolvers CSparseSolvers EXTERNAL)
+sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin BeamAdapter BeamAdapter EXTERNAL GIT_REF master)
+sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin STLIB STLIB EXTERNAL GIT_REF master)
+sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin SoftRobots SoftRobots EXTERNAL GIT_REF master)
+sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin CollisionAlgorithm CollisionAlgorithm EXTERNAL GIT_REF master)
+sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin ConstraintGeometry ConstraintGeometry EXTERNAL GIT_REF master)
+sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin ShapeMatchingPlugin ShapeMatchingPlugin EXTERNAL GIT_REF master)
+sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin CSparseSolvers CSparseSolvers EXTERNAL GIT_REF master)
 
 
-sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin PSL PSL EXTERNAL)
+sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin PSL PSL EXTERNAL GIT_REF master)
 
 if((${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID} STREQUAL "GNU") AND (${CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME} MATCHES "Linux"))
     sofa_add_subdirectory(plugin SofaPardisoSolver SofaPardisoSolver) # SofaPardisoSolver is only available under linux with gcc
diff --git a/applications/plugins/CSparseSolvers/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in b/applications/plugins/CSparseSolvers/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
index 989dbe70379..bf0b64b9e25 100644
--- a/applications/plugins/CSparseSolvers/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
+++ b/applications/plugins/CSparseSolvers/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.11)
 include(ExternalProject)
 ExternalProject_Add(CSparseSolvers
     GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/sofa-framework/CSparseSolvers
-    GIT_TAG origin/master
+    GIT_TAG origin/@ARG_GIT_REF@
     SOURCE_DIR "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/applications/plugins/CSparseSolvers"
     BINARY_DIR ""
     CONFIGURE_COMMAND ""
diff --git a/applications/plugins/CollisionAlgorithm/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in b/applications/plugins/CollisionAlgorithm/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
index 372f6dbf768..d3c343a415a 100644
--- a/applications/plugins/CollisionAlgorithm/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
+++ b/applications/plugins/CollisionAlgorithm/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.11)
 include(ExternalProject)
 ExternalProject_Add(CollisionAlgorithm
     GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/courtecuisse/CollisionAlgorithm.git
-    GIT_TAG origin/master
+    GIT_TAG origin/@ARG_GIT_REF@
     SOURCE_DIR "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/applications/plugins/CollisionAlgorithm"
     BINARY_DIR ""
     CONFIGURE_COMMAND ""
diff --git a/applications/plugins/ConstraintGeometry/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in b/applications/plugins/ConstraintGeometry/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
index 4c10f3667bf..b91fe26f047 100644
--- a/applications/plugins/ConstraintGeometry/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
+++ b/applications/plugins/ConstraintGeometry/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.11)
 include(ExternalProject)
 ExternalProject_Add(ConstraintGeometry
     GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/courtecuisse/ConstraintGeometry.git
-    GIT_TAG origin/master
+    GIT_TAG origin/@ARG_GIT_REF@
     SOURCE_DIR "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/applications/plugins/ConstraintGeometry"
     BINARY_DIR ""
     CONFIGURE_COMMAND ""
diff --git a/applications/plugins/InvertibleFVM/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in b/applications/plugins/InvertibleFVM/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
index e3a5812dc20..e5e17538b36 100644
--- a/applications/plugins/InvertibleFVM/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
+++ b/applications/plugins/InvertibleFVM/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 2.8.2)
 include(ExternalProject)
 ExternalProject_Add(InvertibleFVM
     GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/sofa-framework/InvertibleFVM
-    GIT_TAG origin/master
+    GIT_TAG origin/@ARG_GIT_REF@
     SOURCE_DIR "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/applications/plugins/InvertibleFVM"
     BINARY_DIR ""
     CONFIGURE_COMMAND ""
diff --git a/applications/plugins/ManifoldTopologies/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in b/applications/plugins/ManifoldTopologies/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
index 94d5f942f6f..8146ab01c2c 100644
--- a/applications/plugins/ManifoldTopologies/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
+++ b/applications/plugins/ManifoldTopologies/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.11)
 include(ExternalProject)
 ExternalProject_Add(ManifoldTopologies
     GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/sofa-framework/ManifoldTopologies
-    GIT_TAG origin/master
+    GIT_TAG origin/@ARG_GIT_REF@
     SOURCE_DIR "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/applications/plugins/ManifoldTopologies"
     BINARY_DIR ""
     CONFIGURE_COMMAND ""
diff --git a/applications/plugins/PSL/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in b/applications/plugins/PSL/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
index f63a0e8a7a2..1ec08590cee 100644
--- a/applications/plugins/PSL/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
+++ b/applications/plugins/PSL/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.11)
 include(ExternalProject)
 ExternalProject_Add(PSL
     GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/sofa-framework/PSL
-    GIT_TAG origin/master
+    GIT_TAG origin/@ARG_GIT_REF@
     SOURCE_DIR "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/applications/plugins/PSL"
     BINARY_DIR ""
     CONFIGURE_COMMAND ""
diff --git a/applications/plugins/PluginExample/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in b/applications/plugins/PluginExample/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
index d0a67e5b63c..21e5d458439 100644
--- a/applications/plugins/PluginExample/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
+++ b/applications/plugins/PluginExample/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.11)
 include(ExternalProject)
 ExternalProject_Add(PluginExample
     GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/sofa-framework/PluginExample
-    GIT_TAG origin/master
+    GIT_TAG origin/@ARG_GIT_REF@
     SOURCE_DIR "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/applications/plugins/PluginExample"
     BINARY_DIR ""
     CONFIGURE_COMMAND ""
diff --git a/applications/plugins/Registration/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in b/applications/plugins/Registration/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
index 549b35faee0..768f1708ae2 100644
--- a/applications/plugins/Registration/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
+++ b/applications/plugins/Registration/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.11)
 include(ExternalProject)
 ExternalProject_Add(Registration
     GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/sofa-framework/Registration
-    GIT_TAG origin/master
+    GIT_TAG origin/@ARG_GIT_REF@
     SOURCE_DIR "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/applications/plugins/Registration"
     BINARY_DIR ""
     CONFIGURE_COMMAND ""
diff --git a/applications/plugins/STLIB/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in b/applications/plugins/STLIB/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
index 4a31917ad70..dbf37a68576 100644
--- a/applications/plugins/STLIB/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
+++ b/applications/plugins/STLIB/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.11)
 include(ExternalProject)
 ExternalProject_Add(STLIB
     GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/SofaDefrost/STLIB
-    GIT_TAG origin/master
+    GIT_TAG origin/@ARG_GIT_REF@
     SOURCE_DIR "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/applications/plugins/STLIB"
     BINARY_DIR ""
     CONFIGURE_COMMAND ""
diff --git a/applications/plugins/ShapeMatchingPlugin/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in b/applications/plugins/ShapeMatchingPlugin/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
index 3fbe8291ebd..8a6b093ddf8 100644
--- a/applications/plugins/ShapeMatchingPlugin/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
+++ b/applications/plugins/ShapeMatchingPlugin/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.11)
 include(ExternalProject)
 ExternalProject_Add(ShapeMatchingPlugin
     GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/sofa-framework/ShapeMatchingPlugin
-    GIT_TAG origin/master
+    GIT_TAG origin/@ARG_GIT_REF@
     SOURCE_DIR "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/applications/plugins/ShapeMatchingPlugin"
     BINARY_DIR ""
     CONFIGURE_COMMAND ""
diff --git a/applications/plugins/SofaHighOrder/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in b/applications/plugins/SofaHighOrder/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
index 7824bce591b..b21792528d9 100644
--- a/applications/plugins/SofaHighOrder/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
+++ b/applications/plugins/SofaHighOrder/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 2.8.2)
 include(ExternalProject)
 ExternalProject_Add(SofaHighOrder
     GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/sofa-framework/SofaHighOrder
-    GIT_TAG origin/master
+    GIT_TAG origin/@ARG_GIT_REF@
     SOURCE_DIR "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/applications/plugins/SofaHighOrder"
     BINARY_DIR ""
     CONFIGURE_COMMAND ""
diff --git a/applications/plugins/SofaPython3/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in b/applications/plugins/SofaPython3/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
index 1eebd415fc3..965cff02750 100644
--- a/applications/plugins/SofaPython3/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
+++ b/applications/plugins/SofaPython3/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.11)
 include(ExternalProject)
 ExternalProject_Add(SofaPython3
     GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/sofa-framework/SofaPython3
-    GIT_TAG origin/master
+    GIT_TAG origin/@ARG_GIT_REF@
     SOURCE_DIR "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/applications/plugins/SofaPython3"
     BINARY_DIR ""
     CONFIGURE_COMMAND ""
diff --git a/applications/plugins/SoftRobots/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in b/applications/plugins/SoftRobots/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
index 566d848f869..88e6563933c 100644
--- a/applications/plugins/SoftRobots/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
+++ b/applications/plugins/SoftRobots/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.11)
 include(ExternalProject)
 ExternalProject_Add(SoftRobots
     GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/SofaDefrost/SoftRobots
-    GIT_TAG origin/master
+    GIT_TAG origin/@ARG_GIT_REF@
     SOURCE_DIR "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/applications/plugins/SoftRobots"
     BINARY_DIR ""
     CONFIGURE_COMMAND ""
diff --git a/applications/projects/CMakeLists.txt b/applications/projects/CMakeLists.txt
index 8669b0a1415..e7cb9c14e21 100644
--- a/applications/projects/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/applications/projects/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ sofa_add_subdirectory(application SofaGuiGlut SofaGuiGlut OFF)
 sofa_add_subdirectory(application runSofa runSofa ON)
 sofa_add_subdirectory(application sofaOPENCL sofaOPENCL OFF)
 
-sofa_add_subdirectory(directory Regression Regression EXTERNAL)
-sofa_add_subdirectory(directory SofaGLFW SofaGLFW EXTERNAL)
+sofa_add_subdirectory(directory Regression Regression EXTERNAL GIT_REF master)
+sofa_add_subdirectory(directory SofaGLFW SofaGLFW EXTERNAL GIT_REF master)
 sofa_add_subdirectory(application sofaProjectExample sofaProjectExample)
 sofa_add_subdirectory(application sofaInfo sofaInfo)
diff --git a/applications/projects/Regression/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in b/applications/projects/Regression/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
index 6653d4075ff..9d1b66e6dd3 100644
--- a/applications/projects/Regression/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
+++ b/applications/projects/Regression/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 2.8.2)
 include(ExternalProject)
 ExternalProject_Add(Regression
     GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/sofa-framework/regression
-    GIT_TAG origin/master
+    GIT_TAG origin/@ARG_GIT_REF@
     SOURCE_DIR "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/applications/projects/Regression"
     BINARY_DIR ""
     CONFIGURE_COMMAND ""
diff --git a/applications/projects/SofaGLFW/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in b/applications/projects/SofaGLFW/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
index fd3922006de..22d1eaf4f1c 100644
--- a/applications/projects/SofaGLFW/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
+++ b/applications/projects/SofaGLFW/ExternalProjectConfig.cmake.in
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.11)
 include(ExternalProject)
 ExternalProject_Add(SofaGLFW
     GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/sofa-framework/SofaGLFW
-    GIT_TAG origin/master
+    GIT_TAG origin/@ARG_GIT_REF@
     SOURCE_DIR "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/applications/projects/SofaGLFW"
     BINARY_DIR ""
     CONFIGURE_COMMAND ""