Ignore files in Git without adding them to .gitignore

When it comes to managing version control in your project with Git, .gitignore files typically handle most cases of excluding specific files or directories from being tracked. However, there are instances when you either can’t or simply prefer not to modify the .gitignore file directly.

Fortunately, Git offers several alternative methods to tackle these scenarios effectively.

Why You Might Want to Avoid Modifying .gitignore

There are generally two key situations where you might opt to keep your .gitignore unchanged:

1. Personal or local-specific files: Say you have custom settings or environment files (like .envrc or personalized IDE configurations). You wouldn’t want to clutter the repository with your personal preferences that aren’t relevant to others.
2. Temporarily ignoring changes to tracked files: Perhaps you’re making adjustments to a file that’s already under version control (such as a Docker configuration or database settings), but you want to ensure these changes don’t appear in every commit.

Here’s how to handle both situations gracefully.

Ignoring untracked files

Git provides a straightforward solution that keeps personal preferences out of sight from collaborators: the .git/info/exclude file. This file acts just like .gitignore but remains local—meaning your teammates won’t be affected by your individual exclusions.

To put this into action, simply open the .git/info/exclude file in your repository and list the files or directories you wish to ignore:

.idea/
*.log
.env.local

Now, your IDE settings, log files, or local environment configurations will no longer clutter your Git status or lead to accidental commits without interrupting your teammates’ workflow.

Temporarily Ignoring Changes with git update-index

At some point, you’ll find it necessary to tweak files you’re already tracking, but you have no intention of committing those changes (for example, adjusting local ports or temporary debugging code). That’s where the git update-index --assume-unchanged command comes in.

Here’s how it works:

To temporarily ignore changes in a tracked file, simply run:

git update-index --assume-unchanged docker-compose.yml

This command tells Git to overlook any further changes made to docker-compose.yml, treating it as if it hasn’t been modified.

However, use this feature with caution! Overuse can lead to confusion, especially if you forget you’ve set it. To resume tracking the changes, you can run:

git update-index --no-assume-unchanged docker-compose.yml

If you ever need a quick way to check which files are being ignored, you can use:

git ls-files -v | grep '^h'

This command lists the files that Git currently assumes are unchanged, helping you maintain organization.

Final Thoughts

While .gitignore is a powerful tool, it’s not always enough on its own. By incorporating .git/info/exclude and the git update-index technique into your toolkit, you can enjoy greater flexibility in managing your repository.

Precise management leads to fewer headaches and cleaner commits, ensuring a smoother and more intuitive approach to version control.