GIT · Foundations · 10 min

Untrack a file without deleting it

An ignore rule was added after a log had already been committed.

Not completed

Your task

Remove runtime.log from Git tracking and commit that change. Keep the file and its contents on your computer.

What you’re aiming for

runtime.log is ignored and no longer tracked.
The file still contains the original sample log.

1. Prepare your practice folder

Use Git 2.28 or newer. The setup commands below use a Bash-compatible shell: Git Bash on Windows, or Bash on Linux/macOS.

Create a new, empty folder for this exercise. If that name already exists, choose another new name. Continue only after you’re inside the new folder.

NEW PRACTICE FOLDER

mkdir opsrung-git-stop-tracking-log && cd opsrung-git-stop-tracking-log

Run these setup commands in that folder:

SETUP — RUN ONCE

git init --initial-branch=main
git config --local user.name 'Practice Learner'
git config --local user.email 'practice@example.invalid'
printf '%s\n' 'A disposable OpsRung practice repository.' > README.txt
git add -- README.txt
git commit -m 'Start practice'
printf '%s\n' 'INFO synthetic event' > runtime.log
git add -- runtime.log
git commit -m 'Accidentally track log'
printf '%s\n' '*.log' > .gitignore
git add -- .gitignore
git commit -m 'Ignore future logs'

Only if your personal Git settings interfere

You can normally skip this. If a commit asks for a signing key, runs a custom hook, or changes line endings unexpectedly, these repository-local overrides keep this disposable exercise independent of those settings.

OPTIONAL REPOSITORY OVERRIDES

git config --local commit.gpgsign false
git config --local core.autocrlf false
git config --local core.hooksPath .git/practice-no-hooks

Retry the failed command afterward. These settings apply only inside this practice repository.

2. Try the task

Work toward the goal above. Start by inspecting the files or resources, then use a hint if you need one.

Hint 1

Ignore rules do not remove files already in the index.

Hint 2

The --cached option affects the index instead of deleting your working file.

Hint 3

Use git rm --cached -- runtime.log and commit.

3. Review your result

Use these commands to look at your result and compare it with the goals. The website does not run or verify them.

REVIEW IN YOUR TERMINAL

git status
git log --oneline --graph --all -12

What you should see

runtime.log is ignored and no longer tracked.
The file still contains the original sample log.

If your result differs: Work only in this exercise’s repository. Compare the branch, files, and history with every goal before marking complete.

Compare with one possible solution

ONE POSSIBLE SOLUTION — BASH

git rm --cached -- runtime.log
git commit -m 'Stop tracking generated log'

Other approaches are fine if you reach the same goal. Opening this solution does not mark the exercise complete.

Finished this exercise?

You decide when you’re done. Your choice is saved in this browser, and you can change it later.