I need help removing a specific directory called levelbuilder from my C++ game project repository on GitHub. I’ve been trying different commands in Git Bash using rm with various flags like -rf but nothing seems to work properly. The folder I want to delete is part of my main game engine code and I want to completely remove it from the repository history as well. I’m still pretty new to Git commands so I’m not sure what the correct approach is. Can someone walk me through the proper steps to permanently delete this levelbuilder folder from my project? I want to make sure I don’t accidentally mess up other parts of my codebase while doing this.
Been wrestling with this on a React project where I had to purge some experimental components. What tripped me up was the difference between removing from working directory vs removing from Git tracking. If you just want the directory gone from future commits, git rm -r levelbuilder then commit and push works fine. But if you’re worried about history because the folder has sensitive data or bloats your repo size, you’ll need to rewrite history. I used git filter-repo --path levelbuilder --invert-paths which is way cleaner than the old filter-branch approach. Just heads up - once you rewrite history and force push, anyone else on the project needs a fresh clone or they’ll deal with merge conflicts. Test it on a backup branch first.
I’ve dealt with this exact scenario multiple times in production. Here’s what I learned.
rm -rf won’t work - it only removes files locally, not from Git’s tracking.
To remove going forward: git rm -r levelbuilder, then git commit -m "Remove levelbuilder" and git push. That’s it.
For complete history removal, the manual approaches others mentioned work but they’re honestly a pain at scale. I’ve cleaned up repositories dozens of times and automation is key.
I now use an automated workflow for repository cleanup tasks. It detects unwanted directories, removes them from current state and history, handles branch protection rules, and notifies team members automatically.
This saved me hours last month when I had to clean up 15+ repositories after a major refactoring. Instead of running risky commands manually on each repo, everything was handled consistently and safely.
Best part? Set it up once and reuse it whenever you need to clean up repositories.
Check out Latenode for building automated Git management workflows: https://latenode.com
I faced a similar challenge before. To begin, clarify your objective: whether you want to stop tracking the levelbuilder directory or remove it completely from the repository’s history. For the first option, navigate to your repository’s root and execute git rm -r --cached levelbuilder, then commit the changes with git commit -m "Remove levelbuilder directory". This will stop Git from tracking it while keeping the folder locally. If your goal is to erase it from the entire history, I recommend using BFG Repo-Cleaner, which is more effective than filter-branch. Bear in mind that altering history affects everyone who has cloned the repository, so they will need to address those changes. It’s wise to test your approach on a separate branch first.
just run git rm -r levelbuilder, commit it, and that’s it for future tracking. only do history stuff if you really need it, can create a mess for others, you know?
I encountered a similar situation with obsolete folders in my project. First, clarify your goal: if your aim is to only stop tracking the folder, use git rm -r levelbuilder to remove it and commit the change. However, if you wish to erase it completely from the repository history, you will need to utilize git filter-branch or the git filter-repo tool, which is more efficient. Always ensure to back up your repository, as history rewriting could lead to complications. Be mindful that anyone who has cloned the repository will need to re-clone it because the commit history will change.