How to ignore files which are in repository?

Question

I have a file (config.php), that is already commited to Git repository, but I want to ignore locally, i.e. I want that file to remain in repository, but force Git to ignore any changes to it.

I put the file into .gitignore, but it is still marked as changed and Git still is attempting to commit changes to it, every time I commit something. Any idea, what am I missing or doing wrong?

Answer 1

If the file is still displayed in the status, even though it is in the .gitignore, make sure it isn't already tracked.

git rm --cached config.php

If you just want to ignore it locally, you could also make it ignored by the git status:

git update-index --assume-unchanged config.php

As commented, do note that using --assume-unchanged might cause unwanted data loss as git stash resets the "ignored" files to the state in upstream, undoing local changes, without a warning or saving.

Answer 2

Ignore checked in file:

git update-index --assume-unchanged file

To revert

git update-index --no-assume-unchanged file

Revert All

git update-index --really-refresh 

Answer 3

If the file is already in the repository, and hence the Index/Staging area, then an update to .gitignore won't change that situation - It would keep beinging committed.

To remove the file from the Index/Staging area use git rm <file>.

Answer 4

Once a file is listed in the .gitignore you cannot change it.

So you could remove the file from the list in one commit, commit changes the next, then re-add the file to the ignore list in a 3rd commit afterwards.

What I usually do is split the file into two, one that is allowed and I can change, which includes the second file if it exists, then devs can make config changes in the ignored file optionally.