gitvimignoretemporary-files

git ignore vim temporary files


What is the correct way to make git ignore temporary files produced by vim in all directories (either globally across the system or locally for a single project)?


Solution

  • Vim temporary files end with ~ so you can add to the file .gitignore the line

    *~
    

    Vim also creates swap files that have the swp and swo extensions. to remove those use the lines:

    *.swp
    *.swo
    

    This will ignore all the vim temporary files in a single project

    If you want to do it globally, you can create a .gitignore file in your home (you can give it other name or location), and use the following command:

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

    Then you just need to add the files you want to ignore to that file.

    If you want to comment in a Git file you must do this on a separate line:

    # Ignore vim files:
    *~
    *.swp
    *.swo
    

    Any comments placed on the same line as an active git ignore will cause the whole line to be misinterpreted.