Why does git keep deleting my folder?

Question

I have a folder in my repository called 'activity'. It keeps getting strangely deleted from the repository, and isn't seen as an untracked file.

In github, it is rendered as a folder with a green arrow, and the text '→ f32111b' next to it. This has happened several times now, and only with this one folder.

I've already checked .gitignore. Is there another reason why a folder called 'activity' would be trouble in git?

Can you provide more detail about when it gets deleted (i.e., what command are you performing, etc)? — totorocat
– totorocat, Commented Jul 9, 2009 at 5:18

Jörg W Mittag · Accepted Answer · 2009-07-09 08:53:53Z

12

That's not a directory, that's a submodule. Or at least GitHub seems to think so.

What does your .gitmodules file look like? Did you maybe forget to run git submodule init and git submodule update?

Submodules can be a little bit tricky, especially when you convert from a directory to a submodule or back.

answered Jul 9, 2009 at 8:53

Jörg W Mittag

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2 Comments

JJ. Over a year ago

This was my problem. I had never before used git submodule, so didn't know to use it for this.

yurisich Over a year ago

Can you link to some supplemental info here? I've seen some "permalinked" folders in other people's repos...mine won't hyperlink to the repo I cloned. For the lazy: No submodule mapping found in .gitmodules for path 'your/path'

madlep · Accepted Answer · 2009-07-09 05:29:42Z

5

Is the directory empty?

Git doesn't track empty dirs.

The hack trick is to touch an empty file in there if you really need to keep the directory kicking around.

answered Jul 9, 2009 at 5:29

madlep

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1 Comment

Jakub Narębski Over a year ago

Most common used file name for this is empty .gitignore file (or .gitkeep file).

Mark van Lent · Accepted Answer · 2009-07-09 08:27:47Z

In addition to the answer madlep gave (git doesn't tracks empty directories):

http://git.or.cz/gitwiki/GitFaq#CanIaddemptydirectories.3F:

That is, directories never have to be added to the repository, and are not tracked on their own.

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