git - How to remove committed files no longer in working directory -

i have repo lots of files no longer in working directory- files have been added , removed on months/years of repository.

i make file list of these files stored in commit histories no longer required, including locations.. i.e.

/web/scripts/index.php /sql/tables.sql ... 

then command runs through file , removes files referenced in commit history completely, git rm --cached list of files.

short answer

alias david underhill's script, run (with caution):

$ git delete `git log --all --pretty=format: --name-only --diff-filter=d` 

explanation

david underhill's command uses filter-branch modify history of repository, removing history of given file path.

the script, in entirety (source):

#!/bin/bash set -o errexit  # author: david underhill # script permanently delete files/folders git repository.  use  # it, cd repository's root , run script list of paths # want delete, e.g., git-delete-history path1 path2  if [ $# -eq 0 ];     exit 0 fi  # make sure we're @ root of git repo if [ ! -d .git ];     echo "error: must run script root of git repository"     exit 1 fi  # remove paths passed arguments history of repo files=$@ git filter-branch --index-filter "git rm -rf --cached --ignore-unmatch $files" head  # remove temporary history git-filter-branch otherwise leaves behind long time rm -rf .git/refs/original/ && git reflog expire --all &&  git gc --aggressive --prune 

save script location on hard drive (e.g. /path/to/deletion_script.sh), , make sure it's executable (chmod +x /path/to/deletion_script.sh).

then alias command:

$ git config --global alias.delete '!/path/to/deletion_script.sh' 

to sorted list of deleted files:

$ git log --all --pretty=format: --name-only --diff-filter=d | sort -u 

bringing together

with list of deleted files, it's matter of hooking git delete process each file in list:

$ git delete `git log --all --pretty=format: --name-only --diff-filter=d` 

---

testing/example usage

1. make dummy repository additions, renamings, , deletions:

   mkdir test_repo cd test_repo/ git init echo "dummy content" >> stays.txt git add stays.txt && git commit -m "first file, stay" echo "rename content" >> will_rename.txt git add will_rename.txt && git commit -m "going rename" echo "delete file" >> will_delete.txt git add will_delete.txt && git commit -m "delete file" git mv will_rename.txt renamed.txt && git commit -m "file renamed" git rm will_delete.txt && git commit -m "file deleted" 

2. inspect history:

   $ git whatchanged --oneline d768c58 file deleted :100644 000000 7a4187c... 0000000... d  will_delete.txt 96aadf0 file renamed :000000 100644 0000000... 94a12c7...  renamed.txt :100644 000000 94a12c7... 0000000... d  will_rename.txt 3ba05fa delete file :000000 100644 0000000... 7a4187c...  will_delete.txt c88850a going rename :000000 100644 0000000... 94a12c7...  will_rename.txt 6db6015 first file, stay :000000 100644 0000000... f3ae800...  stays.txt 

3. delete old files:

   $ git delete `git log --all --pretty=format: --name-only --diff-filter=d` rewrite 8c2009db5ac05b27cd065482da94dec717f5ef4a (8/9)rm 'will_delete.txt' rewrite e1348d588597f2f6dd63cade081e0fbdf8692c74 (9/9) ref 'refs/heads/master' rewritten counting objects: 27, done. delta compression using 4 threads. compressing objects: 100% (22/22), done. writing objects: 100% (27/27), done. total 27 (delta 12), reused 10 (delta 0) 

4. inspect repository now. notice deletions have been removed history, , renamings appear if file added way.

   c800020 file renamed :000000 100644 0000000... 94a12c7...  renamed.txt 0a729d7 first file, stay :000000 100644 0000000... f3ae800...  stays.txt