# Feat. req.: add a flag to `git clean` to also remove ignored nested repositories 3 messages from 2026-01-09 to 2026-01-16. Participants: Simon Cheng, brian m. carlson. Thread: https://gitlist.dev/t/64761 ## Simon Cheng, 2026-01-09 03:50 Subject: Feat. req.: add a flag to `git clean` to also remove ignored nested repositories Message-ID: URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/CA%2BitcS3-RQ%3DESqcWj0Pkw%3DN4e4gwaz2fp2xH2M1MPXQXaMDmCw%40mail.gmail.com ``` Currently, running `git clean -dxf` on a repository that includes another repository under an ignored path would skip said repository: $ git clean -dxf Removing foo Skipping repository ignored-path/repo Removing bar This is to request the addition of a new flag to allow altering this behaviour, i.e. to make `git clean` remove those repositories too. For me, this feature is relevant for building `*-git` packages from the AUR, for example https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/paru-git. By default `makepkg` would clone the source repo into `./src/NAME`, which creates the aforementioned condition. Without such an option on `git clean`, cleanup after build is rather complicated. Thanks and regards, Simon Cheng ``` ## brian m. carlson, 2026-01-09 13:18 Subject: Re: Feat. req.: add a flag to `git clean` to also remove ignored nested repositories Message-ID: URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/aWEAHQLzwTxCpD5Q%40fruit.crustytoothpaste.net In-Reply-To: ``` On 2026-01-09 at 03:50:30, Simon Cheng wrote: > Currently, running `git clean -dxf` on a repository that includes > another repository under an ignored path would skip said repository: > > $ git clean -dxf > Removing foo > Skipping repository ignored-path/repo > Removing bar > > This is to request the addition of a new flag to allow altering this > behaviour, i.e. to make `git clean` remove those repositories too. > > For me, this feature is relevant for building `*-git` packages from > the AUR, for example https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/paru-git. By > default `makepkg` would clone the source repo into `./src/NAME`, which > creates the aforementioned condition. Without such an option on `git > clean`, cleanup after build is rather complicated. Does this work if you use `git clean -dxff` (that is, with a second `-f` flag)? I do often clean up ignored repositories that way (and it's documented to do that in the manual page), but I'm not sure if you're maybe doing something a little different from my workflow. If that _doesn't_ work for you, would you mind creating a quick shell script to demonstrate the problem that you're seeing so that we could provide better advice? -- brian m. carlson (they/them) Toronto, Ontario, CA ``` ## Simon Cheng, 2026-01-16 05:16 Subject: Re: Feat. req.: add a flag to `git clean` to also remove ignored nested repositories Message-ID: URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/CA%2BitcS3S3SXWGSwFp%3Dk%3Df0u%2Bq5eEqSqKMzFwLzKHLzLOtYpH9g%40mail.gmail.com In-Reply-To: ``` Ah yes that's exactly what I need, thanks a lot. Pebkac moment for me sorry. I must say though, the discoverability of this "double -f" behaviour can be improved. Maybe the "nested repository skipped" message can include a hint? Something like this I imagine: Skipping repository ignored-path/repo (pass a second `-f` to remove) Wdyt? On Fri, 9 Jan 2026 at 21:18, brian m. carlson wrote: > > On 2026-01-09 at 03:50:30, Simon Cheng wrote: > > Currently, running `git clean -dxf` on a repository that includes > > another repository under an ignored path would skip said repository: > > > > $ git clean -dxf > > Removing foo > > Skipping repository ignored-path/repo > > Removing bar > > > > This is to request the addition of a new flag to allow altering this > > behaviour, i.e. to make `git clean` remove those repositories too. > > > > For me, this feature is relevant for building `*-git` packages from > > the AUR, for example https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/paru-git. By > > default `makepkg` would clone the source repo into `./src/NAME`, which > > creates the aforementioned condition. Without such an option on `git > > clean`, cleanup after build is rather complicated. > > Does this work if you use `git clean -dxff` (that is, with a second `-f` > flag)? I do often clean up ignored repositories that way (and it's > documented to do that in the manual page), but I'm not sure if you're > maybe doing something a little different from my workflow. > > If that _doesn't_ work for you, would you mind creating a quick shell > script to demonstrate the problem that you're seeing so that we could > provide better advice? > -- > brian m. carlson (they/them) > Toronto, Ontario, CA ```