Stop VS Code from traking changes to node_modules

Question

I am working on a git branch and I'm using VS Code to track any changes I make to the branch.

However, when I ran npm install, VS Code started to track node_modules which has 850+ changes.

I've added it to .gitignore file but there is no change so far.

Node modules has been committed. They need to be removed and then ignored. — evolutionxbox, Nov 02 '20 at 10:10
you will drag on this committed stuff in the repository. Start a new repository and setup correct and copy over the old source files and do an initial commit. Check each file before putting to the stage to see if `.gitignore` is configured correct. Do not commit anything that is generated — rioV8, Nov 02 '20 at 10:42
@evolutionxbox thank you. Someone at work told me the same thing and it was actually the problem. — Christopher Kinyua, Nov 02 '20 at 12:46
@rioV8 thank you. That's the exact procedure I followed and now node_modules/ are being ignored. — Christopher Kinyua, Nov 02 '20 at 12:48

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 02 '20 at 06:14

4

make sure your .gitignore file is in the same parent directory as the node_modules folder.

project_directory
  - .gitignore
  - node_modules
  - other files

answered Nov 02 '20 at 06:14

andersryanc

I'll try this out; I've accidentally commited and there's no changes to be tracked. – Christopher Kinyua Nov 02 '20 at 06:38
1

oh yep! once you commit a file it becomes tracked by git no matter what... so as the others have mentioned in the comments on your question, you have to remove the file(s) and then ignore them for it to stick. – andersryanc Nov 02 '20 at 16:59
Exactly! Thank was actually what the issue was. Thank you for your answer as well. I moved the file from the root folder and now it is working. – Christopher Kinyua Nov 03 '20 at 11:18

1 Answers1