To ignore changes to a file that is already tracked by Git, you can use the following approach:
1. Update .gitignore (Optional): First, add the file to your .gitignore file if you want Git to stop tracking its changes. This step is not strictly necessary for ignoring changes to a file that's already tracked, but it helps clarify that you want to ignore future changes.
2. Use git update-index: You can ignore future changes to a tracked file by using the git update-index command with the --assume-unchanged flag. This will tell Git to ignore changes to the specified file.
Here's the command you should run:
git update-index --assume-unchanged <file>
Replace <file> with the path to the actual file you want to ignore.
3. Reverting Changes: If you later decide that you want Git to track changes to the file again, you can run:
git update-index --no-assume-unchanged <file>
Important Notes
- Local Only: The --assume-unchanged flag is a local change and only affects your working copy of the repository. Other clones of the repository will continue to see the changes to the file unless they make the same adjustment.
- Don't Use It for Important Files: This method is generally used for local configurations or temporary changes. Avoid using this on files that are critical for builds or deployments since it can lead to confusion about the state of the repository.
This method provides a straightforward way to effectively "ignore" changes to specific files while still keeping them tracked in your repository, allowing you to manage your workflow without pushing local modifications unintentionally.