From: Rafael Ascensão <rafa.almas@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2018 13:28:25 GMT
Subject: Re: the opposite of .gitignore, whitelist
Message-ID: <CACUQV5-t5NHwQMC0=TYZVmPT1NSQn_J+Nz+vj4jj9-b=pn9oTw@mail.gmail.com>
In-Reply-To: <87tvl8lw5d.fsf@evledraar.gmail.com>

One other option is to just use a pattern that matches everything, i.e:
    echo '*' > .gitignore

And take advantage that ignore rules do not apply to tracked files.
So instead of using an explicit .gitonly, you add files using:
   git add -f <file_to_be_included>

All files should be ignored except the ones that were forcibly added.

If needed, git ls-files can be used to list either category.

Cheers,
Rafael Ascensão