linuxgitgitignoregitattributes

Is it possible to make .gitignore configurable based on environment variables?

Is it possible to add to .gitignore rules depends on environment variables?

for example

if -e $(ENV_VAR) "AAA"
!liba.so
else
liba.so

Basically what I want is to have a repository such that if ENV_VAR = "AAA" the local repository will have a.txt and if ENV_VAR isn't set the a.txt will be removed.

Solution

  • Currently the answer is no Yes, but not using an environment variable.

    My use case is simple; I'd like to avoid accidentally checking in changes that I've made to a specific file so I can run my code locally.

    Let's say I add my super secret password to the src/assets/secrets.xml file so that I can run my code locally, but I never want my password to leak to github so it can be found with tools like this.

    Originally I thought having the ability to export GITIGNORE=path/to/that/file would be helpful in this circumstance.

    But since that's not an option, here's how to accomplish the same goal.

    git update-index --assume-unchanged src/assets/secrets.xml

    To undo this effect:

    git update-index --no-assume-unchanged src/assets/secrets.xml

    After re-reading the OP's question a couple of times, I'm not sure if this will do what he's asking.