Understanding the Difference: git add -A vs git add .

The Question

What distinguishes git add -A from git add . in Git?

The Explanation

Both git add -A and git add . are commonly used to stage multiple changes in a Git repository, but they have subtle differences that are important to understand.

1. git add .

• Stages new files and modifications to existing tracked files
• Only affects the current directory and its subdirectories
• Does not stage file deletions
• Results depend on the directory from which it’s executed

1. git add -A

• Stages all changes throughout the entire repository
• Includes new files, modifications, and deletions
• Behaves consistently regardless of the current directory
• Equivalent to git add --all

Key Differences:

1. Scope:

• . is directory-specific
• -A is repository-wide

1. File Deletions:

• . ignores deletions
• -A stages deletions

1. Consistency:

• . results vary based on current directory
• -A gives consistent results anywhere in the repository

When to Use Each:

• Use git add . when you want to stage changes only in your current directory and below.
• Use git add -A when you want to stage all changes across the entire repository.

Note: Both commands respect .gitignore rules.

For comprehensive staging of all repository changes, git add -A is generally the safer and more thorough option.

Would you like me to elaborate on any aspect of this explanation?