Github.com Project: Folder Mentioned In .gitignore Is Lost On Page Reload

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Introduction

As a developer, working on a GitHub repository can be a seamless experience, especially with the help of online code editors like StackBlitz. However, sometimes, unexpected issues can arise, causing frustration and hindering productivity. In this article, we will delve into a peculiar problem that has been reported by a developer, where a folder added to .gitignore disappears on page reload.

Description of Bug

The issue at hand is that when a temporary folder is added to .gitignore in a GitHub repository hosted on StackBlitz, it vanishes on page reload. This behavior is unexpected, as the folder is not supposed to be tracked by Git, and its presence should not affect the repository's functionality. The developer has reported that removing the folder from .gitignore resolves the issue, and the folder remains visible between reloads.

Steps to Reproduce

To reproduce this issue, follow these steps:

Step 1: Access the StackBlitz Dashboard

  1. Navigate to the StackBlitz dashboard and log in to your account.
  2. Click on the "Organizations" tab and select the GitHub organization containing the repository you want to work on.

Step 2: Open a Repository

  1. Click on the repository you want to work on.
  2. Click on the "Open in Editor" button to access the repository's code editor.

Step 3: Add a Folder to .gitignore

  1. In the code editor, navigate to the .gitignore file.
  2. Add a new line with the name of the folder you want to ignore, for example, "src".
  3. Save the changes to the .gitignore file.

Step 4: Commit and Push .gitignore

  1. Commit the changes to the .gitignore file using the commit message "Added src to .gitignore".
  2. Push the changes to the remote repository.

Step 5: Drag and Drop a Folder

  1. Drag and drop a folder with the same name (e.g., "src") from your operating system's desktop into the code editor.
  2. Observe that the folder is not visible in the code editor.

Step 6: Reload the Page

  1. Reload the page by clicking on the refresh button or pressing F5.
  2. Observe that the folder is still not visible in the code editor.

Step 7: Remove the Folder from .gitignore

  1. Remove the line with the folder name from the .gitignore file.
  2. Commit the changes to the .gitignore file using the commit message "Removed src from .gitignore".
  3. Push the changes to the remote repository.

Step 8: Drag and Drop a Folder Again

  1. Drag and drop a folder with the same name (e.g., "src") from your operating system's desktop into the code editor.
  2. Observe that the folder is now visible in the code editor.

Expected Behavior

The expected behavior is that the folder should remain visible in the code editor, even if it is added to .gitignore. This is because the folder contains working files that are not intended to be committed to Git.

Additional Context/Questions

It is possible that this issue also affects files, not just folders. Additionally, the developer has reported that uncommitted changes to .gitignore are sometimes lost between page reloads. In some cases, the .gitignore file is even replaced with an empty file after reload. To resolve this issue, the developer needs to use the command git checkout .gitignore in the Terminal.

Conclusion

Q: What is the issue with folders mentioned in .gitignore?

A: The issue is that when a folder is added to .gitignore in a GitHub repository hosted on StackBlitz, it disappears on page reload. This behavior is unexpected, as the folder is not supposed to be tracked by Git, and its presence should not affect the repository's functionality.

Q: Why does this issue occur?

A: The exact reason for this issue is not clear, but it is believed to be related to the way StackBlitz handles .gitignore files and the folders they ignore. It is possible that the issue is caused by a bug in the StackBlitz code or a misconfiguration of the repository.

Q: How can I reproduce this issue?

A: To reproduce this issue, follow these steps:

  1. Access the StackBlitz dashboard and log in to your account.
  2. Click on the "Organizations" tab and select the GitHub organization containing the repository you want to work on.
  3. Click on the repository you want to work on and open it in the code editor.
  4. Add a new line with the name of the folder you want to ignore to the .gitignore file.
  5. Save the changes to the .gitignore file.
  6. Commit the changes to the .gitignore file using the commit message "Added folder to .gitignore".
  7. Push the changes to the remote repository.
  8. Drag and drop a folder with the same name from your operating system's desktop into the code editor.
  9. Reload the page by clicking on the refresh button or pressing F5.
  10. Observe that the folder is not visible in the code editor.

Q: What is the expected behavior?

A: The expected behavior is that the folder should remain visible in the code editor, even if it is added to .gitignore. This is because the folder contains working files that are not intended to be committed to Git.

Q: How can I resolve this issue?

A: To resolve this issue, you can try the following:

  1. Remove the folder from .gitignore and commit the changes.
  2. Push the changes to the remote repository.
  3. Drag and drop a folder with the same name from your operating system's desktop into the code editor.
  4. Reload the page by clicking on the refresh button or pressing F5.
  5. Observe that the folder is now visible in the code editor.

Q: What about files? Does this issue affect files as well?

A: It is possible that this issue also affects files, not just folders. However, this has not been confirmed, and further investigation is needed to determine the scope of the issue.

Q: What about uncommitted changes to .gitignore? Do they get lost as well?

A: Yes, it is possible that uncommitted changes to .gitignore are sometimes lost between page reloads. In some cases, the .gitignore file is even replaced with an empty file after reload. To resolve this issue, you can use the command git checkout .gitignore in the Terminal.

Q: Is this issue specific to StackBlitz or can it occur on other platforms as well?

A: This issue is specific to StackBlitz, but it is possible that similar issues can occur on other platforms as well. If you are experiencing similar issues on other platforms, please report them to the platform's support team.

Q: How can I report this issue to StackBlitz?

A: To report this issue to StackBlitz, follow these steps:

  1. Log in to your StackBlitz account.
  2. Click on the "Help" button in the top right corner of the dashboard.
  3. Click on the "Report an issue" button.
  4. Fill out the issue report form with as much detail as possible.
  5. Submit the issue report.

By following these steps, you can report this issue to StackBlitz and help them to resolve it.