Git: Keep Scratch Files Private

Are you tired of your Git repository being cluttered with temporary scratch files? It's a common issue, especially when using extensions that create these files directly in your project's root directory. This can lead to unnecessary commits, confusion, and even accidental sharing of work-in-progress notes that aren't meant for version control. Fortunately, there's a straightforward way to hide scratch files from Git and keep your repository clean and focused. This article will guide you through the process, explaining why it's important and how to implement it effectively.

Why Hide Scratch Files from Git?

Scratch files are often used for quick notes, temporary code snippets, or experimentation. They are typically personal and transient, meaning they don't represent stable or essential parts of your project. When these files are visible to Git, they can:

• Clutter your commit history: Every time you save a scratch file, Git might see it as a change, leading to numerous small, irrelevant commits. This makes it harder to track meaningful changes to your actual project code.
• Increase repository size: While scratch files might be small individually, they can accumulate over time, unnecessarily increasing the size of your Git repository.
• Cause confusion: Team members might mistake scratch files for actual project assets, leading to misunderstandings about the project's state or intended functionality.
• Lead to accidental sharing: You might unintentionally commit sensitive information or unfinished thoughts contained within scratch files, which could be a security risk or simply embarrassing.

By keeping scratch files out of Git's view, you ensure that your version control system remains dedicated to tracking the core components of your project, promoting a cleaner workflow and better collaboration.

Implementing a .gitignore Strategy

To hide scratch files from Git, the most effective method is to use a .gitignore file. This file tells Git which files and directories it should ignore. Here's how you can set it up:

1. Identify Your Scratch File Locations

First, you need to know where your scratch files are being created. As mentioned in the discussion, extensions often place them in the project's root directory. A common suggestion is to have them reside in a dedicated directory, such as .vscode/scratches. This location is often preferred because it's hidden by default in many file explorers and is less likely to be mistaken for project code.

2. Create or Update Your .gitignore File

If you don't already have a .gitignore file in the root of your Git repository, create one. If you do, you'll simply add new rules to it.

• Create the file: In your project's root directory, create a file named .gitignore.
• Add rules: Open the .gitignore file in your text editor and add the following line:

  .vscode/scratches/
  

This rule tells Git to ignore everything within the .vscode/scratches/ directory. The trailing slash is important as it signifies that this is a directory and everything inside it should be ignored.

3. What if Scratch Files are Scattered?

If your scratch files aren't confined to a single directory, you might need to use wildcard patterns. For instance, if scratch files are named with a .scratch extension anywhere in your project, you could add:

*.scratch

However, a more organized approach is to configure your extension to use a dedicated directory for scratches, as suggested, and then ignore that directory. This is generally cleaner and easier to manage.

Configuring Your Extension for Per-Workspace Scratches

Many extensions that provide scratch file functionality allow you to customize their behavior. The key is to ensure that the extension creates these files in a location that you can then ignore with Git.

Example: Adjusting Extension Settings

Let's assume you're using an extension that creates scratch files. You would typically find its settings within your IDE (like VS Code) under File > Preferences > Settings or Code > Preferences > Settings.

Look for settings related to:

• Scratch directory: This setting allows you to specify the folder where scratch files are stored.
• Scratch file naming conventions: Sometimes you can configure how files are named, which can help in creating ignore rules.

If your extension has a setting like scratch.directory, you would change it to something like .vscode/scratches.

Crucially, after changing this setting, you must ensure this new directory is added to your .gitignore file.

• Create the directory: If the directory doesn't exist, create it: mkdir .vscode/scratches.
• Add to .gitignore: Make sure .vscode/scratches/ is in your .gitignore file.

By doing this, you achieve two goals: you keep your scratches organized within a specific folder, and you prevent Git from tracking them. This approach supports the desire for per-workspace scratches without the clutter of version control.

Beyond .gitignore: Other Considerations

While .gitignore is the primary tool for hiding scratch files from Git, there are a few other points to keep in mind for a seamless workflow:

1. IDE Configuration

Some IDEs have settings to hide certain directories from the file explorer. While this doesn't affect Git directly, it can make your workspace feel cleaner. For example, in VS Code, you can use the files.exclude setting in your settings.json to hide directories like .vscode/scratches from your visual file tree.

2. Global Git Ignore

For certain types of files or directories that you never want to track across any of your projects (like temporary build artifacts or IDE-specific config), you can configure a global .gitignore file. This is done via the Git command line:

git config --global core.excludesfile ~/.gitignore_global

Then, you would add rules to ~/.gitignore_global. However, for project-specific ignores like scratch files, a project-level .gitignore is generally preferred.

3. Alias for Clarity

If you're using a command-line workflow extensively, you might consider Git aliases to make certain actions easier. For example, you could create an alias to stage and commit only non-ignored files. However, for the specific goal of hiding files, .gitignore is the direct and intended solution.

Conclusion: A Cleaner Workflow with Ignored Scratches

Effectively hiding scratch files from Git is a crucial step towards maintaining a clean, organized, and efficient version control workflow. By understanding why it's important and implementing the simple yet powerful .gitignore mechanism, you can prevent unnecessary clutter in your repositories. Configuring your extensions to use dedicated, ignored directories for scratch files, like .vscode/scratches, is the most robust approach.

This strategy not only keeps your Git history pristine but also enhances collaboration by ensuring that only essential project files are tracked. It allows you to experiment freely with your scratch files without worrying about polluting your version control system. Remember to always check your extension's settings for customization options and ensure your .gitignore file is up-to-date.

For more detailed information on managing your Gitignore file and best practices for version control, you can refer to the official Git Documentation on .gitignore. Additionally, exploring resources on GitHub's guide to .gitignore can provide further insights and examples to tailor your ignore rules effectively.