Fixing a .gitignore Rule That Isn’t Working & Understanding Git Index Metadata
Why does .gitignore fail on tracked files?
A .gitignore file only prevents Git from tracking untracked files. If a file or folder was already added or committed to the repository in the past, Git stores a reference to it in its internal cache and will continue tracking it regardless of your .gitignore rules.
The Git cache isn’t a browser or app cache—it is a binary database file stored locally at:
YourProject/.git/index
It acts as a middle layer (staging area) between your working directory and your commit history. You can view its raw tracked contents anytime by running:
git ls-files --stage
Important distinction
Using the --cached flag tells Git to stop tracking the file/folder in its index, but it will not delete the files from your local machine or hard drive. Your local runtime folder remains completely safe and untouched.
Step-by-Step Resolution: Untracking a Folder
1. Untrack the folder from cache
Run the following command in your repository’s root directory to remove the folder from Git’s index without deleting local files:
git rm -r --cached runtime
2. Commit the change
Save the removal to your repository history:
git commit -m "Stop tracking runtime folder"
Verification
Run git status afterwards to ensure the folder is ignored moving forward.