README

This library can be used to programmatically add and remove items from a .gitignore file. Allthough it would work on any type of file that considers the prefix # an comment line.

Managing entries works based on a section name, this way you can manage multiple sections separately. It is also used to find the section when adjusting it.

Usage

$gitIgnoreWriter = new \Zawadi\GitignoreWriter\GitignoreWriter(
    './path/.gitignore', # the path of your .gitignore file 
    'name-of-my-section' # the name of the section you want to edit
);
# add items
$gitIgnoreWriter->updateSection(['/robots.txt', '/admin']);

# remove items
$gitIgnoreWriter->updateSection([], ['/robots.txt', '/admin']);

# add and remove items at the same time
$gitIgnoreWriter->updateSection(['/robots.txt', '/admin'], ['to.remove.txt']);

# replace entire section with new items; all existing items will be removed
$gitIgnoreWriter->replaceSection(['/robots.txt', '/admin']);

# remove entire section is the same as replacing it with nothing
$gitIgnoreWriter->replaceSection();

# get list of current entries in a section
$entries = $gitIgnoreWriter->getEntries();

The output in the .gitignore file will look like this:

###> name-of-mysection >###
/admin
/robots.txt
###< name-of-mysection <###

Leave the comments around the entries, as those are used to find the section again when you need to update it again.

Common questions answered

• When the file does not exist, it will be created.
• When a section does not exist, it will be appended to the end of the file.
• When a section is removed or when the last item is removed from a section, the entire section will be removed from the file.
• When updating a section, but it would result in nothing changing, the file will not be touched.
• Duplicate entries will be removed inside the section.
• Entries outside the section are ignored and not touched.
• Entries will be sorted alphabetically.
• Entries are added as-is.

Newlines

Don't use newlines in entries, they will not be considered when writing the file, but will when reading the file.