How do I exclude a file from being updated?

Heya,

you are on the correct path!

Your .gitignore file should include the relative path to the database file. For example, if your database is named db.sqlite3 and located in the project root, your .gitignore should look like this:

db.sqlite3

If the database is inside a folder, include the folder in the path:

path/to/db.sqlite3

3. Verify .gitignore is Working

After setting up .gitignore, test to ensure Git ignores the database file:

• Make a change to the database file.
• Run:

git status

The database file should no longer appear in the list of changes.

Hey Mark! 👋

Actually using the .gitignore file is the right way to exclude your database file from being updated when syncing your repository.

What you could do is, you can add the database file’s name or path to your .gitignore file. And then if the database is already tracked by Git, .gitignore won’t take effect until you remove it from Git’s index. Run the following commands in your repository directory locally on your laptop:

git rm --cached db.sqlite3
git commit -m "Stop tracking the database file"

This removes the database from version control but keeps it on your Droplet.

Now, when you sync your files, Git will no longer update or overwrite the db.sqlite3 file on your Droplet.

Let me know if this works!

- Bobby