Documentation / technical / api-directory-listing.txton commit Git 1.8.2.3 (92758dd)
   1directory listing API
   2=====================
   3
   4The directory listing API is used to enumerate paths in the work tree,
   5optionally taking `.git/info/exclude` and `.gitignore` files per
   6directory into account.
   7
   8Data structure
   9--------------
  10
  11`struct dir_struct` structure is used to pass directory traversal
  12options to the library and to record the paths discovered.  A single
  13`struct dir_struct` is used regardless of whether or not the traversal
  14recursively descends into subdirectories.
  15
  16The notable options are:
  17
  18`exclude_per_dir`::
  19
  20        The name of the file to be read in each directory for excluded
  21        files (typically `.gitignore`).
  22
  23`flags`::
  24
  25        A bit-field of options:
  26
  27`DIR_SHOW_IGNORED`:::
  28
  29        The traversal is for finding just ignored files, not unignored
  30        files.
  31
  32`DIR_SHOW_OTHER_DIRECTORIES`:::
  33
  34        Include a directory that is not tracked.
  35
  36`DIR_HIDE_EMPTY_DIRECTORIES`:::
  37
  38        Do not include a directory that is not tracked and is empty.
  39
  40`DIR_NO_GITLINKS`:::
  41
  42        If set, recurse into a directory that looks like a Git
  43        directory.  Otherwise it is shown as a directory.
  44
  45The result of the enumeration is left in these fields:
  46
  47`entries[]`::
  48
  49        An array of `struct dir_entry`, each element of which describes
  50        a path.
  51
  52`nr`::
  53
  54        The number of members in `entries[]` array.
  55
  56`alloc`::
  57
  58        Internal use; keeps track of allocation of `entries[]` array.
  59
  60
  61Calling sequence
  62----------------
  63
  64Note: index may be looked at for .gitignore files that are CE_SKIP_WORKTREE
  65marked. If you to exclude files, make sure you have loaded index first.
  66
  67* Prepare `struct dir_struct dir` and clear it with `memset(&dir, 0,
  68  sizeof(dir))`.
  69
  70* To add single exclude pattern, call `add_exclude_list()` and then
  71  `add_exclude()`.
  72
  73* To add patterns from a file (e.g. `.git/info/exclude`), call
  74  `add_excludes_from_file()` , and/or set `dir.exclude_per_dir`.  A
  75  short-hand function `setup_standard_excludes()` can be used to set
  76  up the standard set of exclude settings.
  77
  78* Set options described in the Data Structure section above.
  79
  80* Call `read_directory()`.
  81
  82* Use `dir.entries[]`.
  83
  84* Call `clear_directory()` when none of the contained elements are no longer in use.
  85
  86(JC)