til/git/keep-file-locally-with-git-rm.md

Keep File Locally With git rm

Let's say I've added a new file data.json to my repo as part of the most recent commit. I realize this isn't the point at which I want to add that file. So, I do git rm data.json and then git commit --amend to rework that commit.

However, when I look in my working tree, or even just my file system, I'll notice that data.json is gone. The git rm command completely removed the file since it was previously an untracked file.

To keep git rm from tossing out my file like that, I can include the --cached flag which will remove the file from the index (stages it to be deleted), but restore it to the working directory.

$ git rm --cached data.json

See man git-rm for more details on the --cached flag.