# unclear description of git-rm on kernel.org

2 messages from 2009-01-04 to 2009-01-04. Participants: alec resnick, Miklos Vajna.
Thread: https://gitlist.dev/t/16987

## alec resnick, 2009-01-04 22:10

Subject: unclear description of git-rm on kernel.org
Message-ID: <62a60dd90901041410j283866e5ja39c3bda447fed36@mail.gmail.com>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/62a60dd90901041410j283866e5ja39c3bda447fed36%40mail.gmail.com

```
Hi!

I was trying to remove a number of files from a git repo I had.  I
read http://kernel.org/pub/software/scm/git/docs/v1.4.4.4/git-rm.html
which I interpreted to mean that git-rm removed only from the index,
and not from the working tree.  In retrospect, the short description
is clear: "git-rm - Remove files from the working tree and from the
index," but I was confused by the language:
"<file>…

    Files to remove from the index and optionally, from the working
tree as well.
-f

    Remove files from the working tree as well as from the index."

Because of "optionally" and the very existence of the "-f" option
suggests that you have to do something extra to ask git-rm to mess
with the working tree.

The manpage is much clearer, and while I recovered the files I
accidentally removed simply with git checkout, I suggest that the
webpage be made a bit clearer.  In particular, adding info about how
to _only_ remove files from the index would be helpful.

I'd be happy to make the changes to the webpage; I don't know how to
do that or if it's appropriate.

Thanks!


-a.

```

## Miklos Vajna, 2009-01-04 22:35

Subject: Re: unclear description of git-rm on kernel.org
Message-ID: <20090104223522.GH21154@genesis.frugalware.org>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/20090104223522.GH21154%40genesis.frugalware.org
In-Reply-To: <62a60dd90901041410j283866e5ja39c3bda447fed36@mail.gmail.com>

```
On Sun, Jan 04, 2009 at 05:10:11PM -0500, alec resnick <alec@sproutward.org> wrote:
> I was trying to remove a number of files from a git repo I had.  I
> read http://kernel.org/pub/software/scm/git/docs/v1.4.4.4/git-rm.html

Ugh, why are you reading that ancient version?

I would try:

http://www.kernel.org/pub/software/scm/git/docs/git-rm.html

> I'd be happy to make the changes to the webpage; I don't know how to
> do that or if it's appropriate.

They are generated from asciidoc files from the Documentation/ dir, but
documentation fixes are welcome against 1.6.1.x or master only, I'm
afraid.

```