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Discover how to tackle and resolve the hidden files issue in your Git repository, ensuring your repo size accurately reflects its contents.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/64589592/ asked by the user 'stranger555' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/12846131/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/64590201/ provided by the user 'Edward Thomson' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/729881/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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How to Resolve the Hidden Files Issue in Your Git Repository

Git repositories are a vital part of software development, but they can sometimes present unexpected challenges. One common issue developers face is hidden files that seem to bloat the size of their repositories. If you've ever deleted all the files in your repository and yet noticed that the reported size is still significant, you're not alone. Let’s explore why this happens and how to resolve it.

The Problem: Hidden Files in Your Git Repository

In the scenario presented, the user had removed all files from their Git repository using the command:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Despite this, when querying the repository size using the curl command, it still reported a size of 37MB. This can be quite perplexing, especially for beginners who might think that deleting everything would result in a size of 0.

Why Does This Happen?

The root cause of this situation lies in the way Git handles repositories, especially when they are part of a "repository network". Each time you fork a repository on GitHub, your repository shares certain objects stored on GitHub's servers. Here are key points regarding this:

Repository Network: When you fork a repository, it becomes part of a network that allows for sharing of objects for efficiency and space-saving on GitHub's servers. This includes commit history, branches, and other data.

Object Storage: Even if you’ve rewritten your repository history and deleted the files locally, the underlying objects related to your repository can still exist on the server, leading to an inflated size.

Forked Repositories: If your repository has multiple forks (in this case, 38), it’s part of a larger network, and its size is reflective of that network, not just your individual repository.

The Solution: Resetting the Repository Network

If you want your repository to accurately reflect a size of 0, you'll need to disrupt this network connection. Here are steps to achieve that:

Step 1: Understand the Implications

Before taking drastic action, be sure you understand what deleting your repository entails. This will remove it from GitHub, which could affect anyone who has forked it, as they will then lose their connected version.

Step 2: Delete Your Repository

Backup Your Code: Ensure you have a complete backup of your repository locally or in another backup solution.

Delete the Repository: On GitHub, navigate to your repository settings and look for the option to delete the repository.

Caution: This action is irreversible.

Create a New Repository: After deletion, create a fresh repository, effectively disconnecting it from the previous network of forks.

Step 3: Verify the Size

Once you have set up your new repository, you can check the size again using the same curl command. This time it should reflect 0 if there are no objects remaining in your new setup.

Conclusion

Dealing with hidden files in your Git repository can be daunting, especially when you're trying to track down the reason for an unexpected size on GitHub. By understanding how GitHub manages repository networks and following the steps to delete and recreate your repository, you can take full control of your Git environment. Remember, careful management and backup are key to preventing such situations in the future.

If you find yourself confronting similar issues again, don’t hesitate to revisit this guide. Happy coding!