Git Best Practices: Using .gitignore Instead of .gitkeep for Empty Directories
By
frou_dh
Plain bagel done well. Pleasantly substantive.
Summary
The article explains that Git only tracks files, not directories, and discusses two methods to ensure directories exist in fresh repository clones. It critiques the common .gitkeep technique (using an empty file) and recommends a simpler approach using .gitignore files instead. The author argues that .gitignore is more appropriate for this purpose since it's designed to handle empty directories and is a standard Git feature.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledGit only tracks files, not directories. It will only create a directory if it contains a tracked file.
But sometimes you need to 'track' a directory, to ensure it exists for fresh clones of a repository.
First, the common but slightly flawed .gitkeep technique, then a simpler one using only a .gitignore file.
The empty file ensures that Git creates the directory with minimal cost.
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