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Complete Guide: Git Ignore Files Locally

Learn how to ignore files in Git locally without affecting global configuration. Clean up git status and manage untracked files with .git/info/exclude and skip-worktree methods.

#git-best-practices#git-configuration#git-local-ignore#git-status#git-workflow#version-control
Question

How do I configure Git to ignore files locally without affecting the global configuration?

I have untracked files appearing as spam in my git status, but I don’t want to commit git config changes for every random untracked file in my local branches. Is there a way to ignore these files locally without polluting the global git config for everyone else?

NeuroAgent

There are several effective ways to ignore files locally in Git without affecting the global configuration or committing .gitignore rules to the repository. The primary methods include using the .git/info/exclude file for local ignore patterns and the git update-index --skip-worktree command for ignoring changes in already tracked files.

Contents

Understanding Local Git Ignore Methods

When you need to ignore files locally without affecting other collaborators or the global Git configuration, you have several effective approaches. As the Stack Overflow community explains, “Patterns which are specific to… live inside the repository but are specific to one user’s workflow) should go into the $GIT_DIR/info/exclude file.”

The key difference between local and global ignore methods is that local ignore rules stay within your repository and don’t get shared with other contributors, while global ignore rules affect all your repositories. This is particularly useful for machine-specific configuration files, temporary files, or personal development artifacts that shouldn’t be part of the shared repository.

Git provides two main mechanisms for local ignoring:

  1. .git/info/exclude file - Works like .gitignore but is local to your repository
  2. git update-index --skip-worktree - Ignores changes in already tracked files

Both methods allow you to keep your git status clean without polluting the global configuration or committing unnecessary ignore rules to the repository.

Using .git/info/exclude File

The .git/info/exclude file is the most straightforward method for locally ignoring files. This file works exactly like a .gitignore file but is stored in your local Git repository and never gets committed or shared with other collaborators.

Step-by-Step Setup

  1. Navigate to your repository’s .git directory:

    bash
    cd /path/to/your/repository
cd .git

  2. Create or edit the exclude file:

    bash
    nano info/exclude

    Or use your preferred text editor.

  3. Add your ignore patterns using the same syntax as .gitignore:

    # Ignore a specific folder
my_folder/

# Ignore a file type
*.log

# Ignore a specific file
config.local

# Ignore IDE settings
.vscode/
.idea/

# Ignore OS files
.DS_Store
Thumbs.db

Key Advantages

  • Repository-specific: Each repository can have its own local ignore rules
  • No sharing required: Other collaborators won’t be affected by your local ignores
  • Same syntax: Uses the familiar .gitignore pattern syntax
  • Persistent: The ignore rules remain in place across different branches and sessions

As the DEV Community explains, “Locate the file Navigate to the root folder of your Git repository and look for the hidden .git folder. Create or edit the file Inside the .git folder, go to the info folder.”

Using git update-index --skip-worktree

The git update-index --skip-worktree command is another powerful method for locally ignoring files, particularly useful when you need to ignore changes in files that are already tracked by Git.

Basic Usage

To ignore changes in a specific file:

bash
git update-index --skip-worktree path/to/your/file

To stop ignoring changes:

bash
git update-index --no-skip-worktree path/to/your/file

Practical Examples

Ignoring a configuration file that changes frequently:

bash
# Ignore changes to local config
git update-index --skip-worktree config/local_settings.py

# Check which files are being ignored
git ls-files -v | grep '^[Ss]'

Creating convenient aliases (add to your ~/.gitconfig):

bash
[alias]
    skip = !git update-index --skip-worktree
    unskip = !git update-index --no-skip-worktree
    skipped = !git ls-files -v | grep '^[Ss]'

Then you can use:

bash
git skip path/to/file
git unskip path/to/file
git skipped

When to Use This Method

  • Files already tracked: Perfect for files that are already in the repository but shouldn’t be updated locally
  • Machine-specific configurations: Ideal for config files that need local modifications
  • Temporary suspending: You can easily toggle the skip-worktree state

As compiled successfully demonstrates, “If a config file changes upstream, that would mean that you need to change something on your end anyway, consider it a little reminder to update that local config and then re-apply update-index.”

Comparing Local Ignore Methods

Let’s compare the two main approaches to help you choose the right one for your situation:

Feature .git/info/exclude git update-index --skip-worktree
File status Works on untracked files only Works on tracked files only
Persistence Persistent across sessions Persistent until manually removed
Syntax .gitignore syntax No syntax, operates on files directly
Visibility Hidden in .git/info/ Visible via git ls-files -v
Best for New files, file types, directories Already tracked files needing local modifications
Learning curve Low (same as .gitignore) Medium (requires understanding Git plumbing)

Choosing the Right Method

Use .git/info/exclude when:

  • You want to ignore untracked files
  • You prefer the familiar .gitignore syntax
  • You need to ignore file patterns or directories
  • You want a simple, file-based solution

Use git update-index --skip-worktree when:

  • You need to ignore changes in tracked files
  • You want to temporarily suspend tracking
  • You need to handle machine-specific configurations
  • You want programmatic control over file ignoring

According to Better Stack Community, both methods are valid: “To configure Git to ignore certain files locally (without affecting other collaborators or the repository itself), you can use the .git/info/exclude file or the git update-index command with the --skip-worktree flag.”

Practical Examples and Use Cases

Let’s explore some common scenarios where local Git ignoring is particularly useful.

Example 1: Machine-Specific Configuration Files

Problem: You have a configuration file that contains local database credentials or API keys that shouldn’t be shared.

Solution using .git/info/exclude:

bash
# Add to .git/info/exclude
config/production.env
config/local_settings.py

Solution using skip-worktree (if the file is already tracked):

bash
git update-index --skip-worktree config/local_settings.py

Example 2: IDE and Editor Files

Problem: Your IDE generates workspace files that clutter your git status.

Solution:

bash
# In .git/info/exclude
.vscode/
.idea/
*.sublime-*
*.swp
*.swo

Example 3: Temporary Build Artifacts

Problem: Build artifacts appear as untracked files but shouldn’t be ignored globally.

Solution:

bash
# In .git/info/exclude
dist/
build/
temp/
*.tmp

Example 4: Personal Development Notes

Problem: You keep personal notes in the repository but don’t want to share them.

Solution:

bash
# In .git/info/exclude
notes/
personal/
*.md

As the Reddit community suggests, “Others already provided valuable tips, but it might also be worth checking why a config file that needs to be changed per machine even is in the repository. Hint: it shouldn’t be.”

Managing Local Ignore Rules

Once you’ve set up local ignore rules, you’ll need to manage them effectively. Here are some best practices and helpful commands.

Checking Which Files Are Ignored

For .git/info/exclude patterns:

bash
# Check git status - ignored files won't appear
git status

# See what patterns are in your exclude file
cat .git/info/exclude

For skip-worktree files:

bash
# List files with skip-worktree flag
git ls-files -v | grep '^[Ss]'

# Create an alias for this (as shown earlier)
git skipped

Common Management Tasks

Editing .git/info/exclude:

bash
# Open the exclude file for editing
nano .git/info/exclude

# Or use any editor you prefer
vim .git/info/exclude

Removing skip-worktree from files:

bash
# Remove from a single file
git update-index --no-skip-worktree path/to/file

# Remove from multiple files
git ls-files -v | grep '^[Ss]' | cut -c 3- | xargs git update-index --no-skip-worktree

Backup and Restore Local Ignore Rules

Backup your .git/info/exclude:

bash
# Copy to a safe location
cp .git/info/exclude ~/backup_local_ignore.txt

Restore later:

bash
# Restore from backup
cp ~/backup_local_ignore.txt .git/info/exclude

As the RipTutorial suggests, you can create helpful Git aliases to manage these operations more easily.

Best Practices for Local File Ignoring

When implementing local Git ignore strategies, follow these best practices to maintain a clean and effective workflow.

1. Use Appropriate Methods for Different Scenarios

  • For new/untracked files: Use .git/info/exclude
  • For tracked files needing local modifications: Use git update-index --skip-worktree
  • For truly global ignores: Use global .gitignore (but avoid this unless necessary)

2. Document Your Local Ignore Decisions

Keep a comment section in your .git/info/exclude file explaining why certain patterns are ignored:

# Local ignore rules for [Your Name]'s development environment
# These patterns are specific to this machine and shouldn't be shared
# 
# Machine-specific configs:
config/production.env
config/local_settings.py
#
# IDE-specific files:
.vscode/
.idea/

3. Regular Review and Cleanup

Periodically review your local ignore rules to ensure they’re still relevant:

bash
# Check current local ignore patterns
echo "=== .git/info/exclude ==="
cat .git/info/exclude

echo "=== Skip-worktree files ==="
git ls-files -v | grep '^[Ss]'

4. Communicate with Your Team

While local ignores don’t affect others, it’s good practice to:

  • Explain why you’re using local ignores in team discussions
  • Consider whether certain files should be in .gitignore instead
  • Document patterns that might be useful for other team members

5. Handle Conflicts Carefully

When using --skip-worktree, be aware that:

  • If upstream changes conflict with your local changes, you’ll need to temporarily disable skip-worktree
  • Use git update-index --no-skip-worktree to resolve conflicts, then re-enable if needed

As Eduardo Silva advises, “Temporarily Suspend Skip-Worktree: … that might trigger conflicts. Utilize the command git update-index --no-skip-worktree <file> to momentarily neutralize the flag.”

6. Use Version Control for Your Local Ignores

Consider tracking your .git/info/exclude file in a separate branch or location if you want to preserve your local ignore rules across different machines:

bash
# Backup your exclude file
cp .git/info/exclude ~/dotfiles/git/local_exclude

# Restore on another machine
cp ~/dotfiles/git/local_exclude .git/info/exclude

Conclusion

Local Git ignore methods provide powerful ways to keep your repository clean without affecting global configurations or sharing unnecessary ignore rules with collaborators. The two primary approaches—.git/info/exclude for untracked files and git update-index --skip-worktree for tracked files—offer flexibility for different scenarios.

Key takeaways:

  • Use .git/info/exclude for untracked files and patterns you want to ignore locally
  • Use git update-index --skip-worktree for ignoring changes in already tracked files
  • Both methods keep your git status clean without polluting global git config
  • Regular maintenance and documentation of local ignore rules improves workflow efficiency

Recommended actions:

  1. Start by using .git/info/exclude for common untracked files
  2. Set up helpful Git aliases for managing skip-worktree files
  3. Document your local ignore patterns for future reference
  4. Review and clean up local ignore rules periodically
  5. Consider whether certain patterns should be in .gitignore instead

By implementing these local ignore strategies effectively, you can maintain a clean working environment while respecting the collaborative nature of Git repositories.

Sources

  1. How do I configure git to ignore some files locally? - Stack Overflow
  2. How to ignore config files without adding them to .gitignore? - Reddit r/git
  3. Git: Ignore files locally - DEV Community
  4. How to Ignore Files in Git Without Using .gitignore - DEV Community
  5. How to configure Git to ignore some files locally - how.dev
  6. Git - gitignore Documentation
  7. Ignore files locally without committing ignore rules - RipTutorial
  8. How do you make Git ignore files without using .gitignore? - Stack Overflow
  9. git - .gitignore only on local - Stack Overflow
  10. How Do I Configure Git to Ignore Some Files Locally? - Better Stack Community
  11. Git - git-update-index Documentation
  12. Undo git update-index --skip-worktree - Stack Overflow
  13. Git update-index --skip-worktree, and how I used to hate config files - Reddit r/programming
  14. Git update-index --skip-worktree, and how I used to hate config files - compiled successfully
  15. Ignoring changes in tracked files - RipTutorial
  16. Don’t git angry, skip in worktree - Medium
  17. How do you ignore changes in files on your local so you never pull or push these changes to the remote repository? - Reddit r/git
  18. Git Tips — Ignoring local changes in versioned files using Skip-Worktree - Medium
How to use .git/info/exclude vs .gitignore in Git?What's the difference between skip-worktree and ignore in Git?How to manage local Git configurations across multiple machines?How to restore ignored files in Git after using skip-worktree?Best practices for Git ignore patterns in team environments?How to automate local Git ignore rules for specific file types?
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