How to delete commit files in git

Git provides multiple ways to delete files in a commit, including: modifying the workspace file directly and resubmitting (not recommended, leaving traces of modification) Using git filter-branch (rewrite history, use with caution) Using git revert (create new commits to revoke previous commits, does not change history) Using git rebase -i (interactively modify the commit history, use with caution) The best practice is to use .gitignore files to prevent unnecessary files from being committed.

How to elegantly delete files in Commit?

Have you ever found that a file that shouldn't exist in the code library after committing it? Or have you submitted sensitive information? Don't panic, Git provides a variety of ways to solve this problem, but which method to choose depends on the effect you want to achieve and the importance you attach to history. It’s not a good idea to simply and roughly rewrite history, and unless you know very well what you are doing, it can lead to a confusion of teamwork.

Let’s talk about the most direct, but usually not the best solution: directly modify the workspace file and then resubmit. It's simple and crude, but it leaves traces of modification, and if multiple people work together, it's a disaster.

Let's dive into several more finer approaches that, like surgical procedures, accurately remove unwanted files and minimize the impact on history.

Understand the power of git filter-branch (use with caution!)

git filter-branch is the most powerful tool in Git for rewriting history, which allows you to modify anything in a historical commit, including deleting files. But remember, this will rewrite your Git history , and if you have pushed your code to a remote repository, it can cause huge trouble for your team. Unless you are very sure and have a backup, don't try it easily.

For example, suppose you want to delete a file named secret.txt from all commits:

 <code class="bash">git filter-branch --index-filter 'git rm --cached --ignore-unmatch secret.txt' --prune-empty --tag-name-filter cat -- --all</code>

This line of command will iterate through all commits, delete secret.txt , then clear empty commits, and finally update the tag. --ignore-unmatch avoids errors because the file does not exist. But this will create a whole new history and your local repository will become a brand new standalone branch. You need to force push ( git push --force ) to the remote repository, which will cover the history of the remote repository, so again, use it with caution !

A safer way: git revert and git rebase -i

Compared to directly rewriting history, these two methods are safer and more suitable for teamwork.

git revert creates a new commit to revoke the previous commit, which does not change the previous history. If you want to delete the file added in a commit, you can first git revert <commit-hash></commit-hash> undo that commit, and then resubmit the code as needed. This time remember to exclude files that should not be submitted. This method is clean and neat and will not mess up history.

git rebase -i allows you to interactively modify commit history. You can use it to delete a commit, or modify the commit information. This will also modify history, so you need to be cautious and it is best to operate on local branches to avoid affecting others. After entering interactive rebase mode, you can change pick before the commit line of the file you want to delete edit , then modify the workspace, delete the file, then git add . and git commit --amend to submit the modification, and finally git rebase --continue to continue the rebase process. This is more refined than git filter-branch , but it still requires careful operation.

Best Practice: The Importance of .gitignore

The best way to avoid problems is to prevent them. Create a .gitignore file at the beginning of the project, listing all files that should not be tracked, such as temporary files, compiled intermediate files, sensitive information, etc. This will save you from submitting unnecessary documents from the beginning, saving you a lot of trouble.

Finally, remember that Git's power also means it has the power to ruin your work. Before performing any modification of history, be sure to back up your repository and fully understand the commands you are using. Choose a method that suits your scenario to avoid unnecessary hassle. Only by mastering Git's various commands can you be at ease in the version control world.

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