Oops! Did You Accidentally Tell Git to Ignore Your Changes? Reverting `assume unchanged`
1. Understanding `git assume unchanged`
Ever been in a situation where Git seems to be stubbornly ignoring your file changes? You swear you've modified something, but `git status` just shrugs its shoulders? Chances are, you (or maybe someone else) might have used the `git assume unchanged` command. This command is like telling Git, "Hey, trust me, I haven't touched this file, even if I have." It's a handy tool in specific scenarios, but it can also lead to confusion if you forget you've used it.
Think of it as putting a post-it note on a file that says, "Ignore any changes to this." Git, being the obedient version control system it is, will then cheerfully disregard any modifications you make to that file. While this can be useful for temporarily excluding files from version control (like configuration files that are specific to your local environment), it's not a permanent solution and can easily lead to headaches down the road.
Now, you might be wondering, "Why would anyone use this in the first place?" Well, imagine you have a massive project with tons of files. Some files might be automatically updated by your IDE or a build process. If you don't want Git constantly tracking these minor changes, `git assume unchanged` can temporarily silence the noise. However, the key word here is temporarily. For persistent exclusions, `.gitignore` is generally a better approach.
But what if you want Git to start tracking your changes again? That's where reverting `git assume unchanged` comes in. Fortunately, it's a relatively straightforward process. Let's dive into the how-to, shall we?
