What Happens Behind the .gitignore: How Git Handles Ignored Files

Git’s .gitignore file: the mechanism behind ignoring files

Introduction

Have you ever wondered how Git handles ignored files, such as <code>dist/</code> directories? This article will take a Python project as an example to discuss how Git handles ignored files in scenarios such as CI/CD workflow, cloning and pulling code libraries.

Python project example

Typical project structure

<code>my-python-project/
├── src/
│   └── my_package/
│       └── __init__.py
├── tests/
│   └── test_my_package.py
├── dist/
│   ├── my_package-1.0.0-py3-none-any.whl
│   └── my_package-1.0.0.tar.gz
├── .gitignore
├── setup.py
├── README.md
└── requirements.txt</code>

Ignore dist/ directory in .gitignore

<code>dist/</code>

<code>dist/</code> directory usually contains the build artifacts (.whl, .tar.gz) generated during the packaging process. Keeping these files out of version control helps keep your codebase clean.

Why ignore the dist/ directory?

1. Manage code base size

?️ Do not ignore <code>dist/</code> Directory:

• Every build adds build artifacts to the code base.
• The codebase size bloated, causing cloning to be slower.

? Ignore <code>dist/</code> Directory:

• Only source code is tracked.
• The code base remains lean and efficient.

2. Avoid conflicts

⚠️ Don’t ignore <code>dist/</code> Directory:

• Changes to build files may cause unnecessary merge conflicts.
• Developers may push outdated or broken build artifacts.

✅ Ignore <code>dist/</code> Directory:

• Build products are generated on demand in CI/CD or locally.
• Ensure consistency across environments.

3. Improve CI/CD efficiency

? Do not ignore <code>dist/</code> Directory:

• CI/CD workflows may use outdated build artifacts that have already been pushed.
• Build failure may occur due to outdated files.

? Ignore <code>dist/</code> Directory:

• CI/CD dynamically generates build products to ensure their freshness.
• Reduce errors caused by outdated files.

Common scenarios for ignoring files

1. Push changes

• Ignored files (such as <code>dist/</code>) will never be pushed.
• Even if they exist locally, Git will ensure that these files are not included in the commit.

2. Clone the code base

• If <code>dist/</code> does not exist: The directory will not be recreated during the cloning process.
• If CI/CD created <code>dist/</code>: the clone will ignore it as it is not tracked into the code base.

3. Pull changes

• Ignored files are not affected during git pull.
• If the directory already exists locally, it will remain unchanged unless modified manually.

4. CI/CD workflow

The
• CI/CD pipeline dynamically generates the <code>dist/</code> directory during the build process.
• These files are temporary and are usually cleaned up after the build to avoid clutter.

Visual summary of ignored file scenarios

Best Practices for Managing Ignored Files

• Keep the .gitignore file updated: Regularly check and adjust the schema to ensure efficiency.
• Avoid over-ignoring: Make sure you don’t accidentally ignore any important files.
• Use build tools to generate build artifacts: Use tools like make, tox, or CI/CD pipelines to dynamically generate files.
• Record Mode: Add comments in .gitignore to explain why certain files are ignored.

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