Should I version app/build files in Android Studio?

Question

I'm new to Git and Android development and I could not find an answer to this question.

When I build a project in Android Studio a lot of files are created in the folder app/build.

I guess I don't need that files, but before ignoring them in the .gitignore, I would like to be sure to not mess my repo since from the first commit :D

I checked this question, but I cannot see in the example .gitignore the folder app/build.

Should I add it to my .gitignore?

P.S. I'm using Android Studio 2.2.3, if relevant

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 01 '17 at 07:57

3

I guess I don't need that files, but before ignoring them in the .gitignore I would like to be sure to not mess my repo since from the first commit :D

You don't need build files in your repo.

Usually .gitignore file contains /build.

I checked this question but I cannot see in the example .gitignore the folder app/build.

You can place another one .gitignore file to app directory, the content of this file also contains /build.

/project
     .gitignore
     /app
         .gitignore

answered Jan 01 '17 at 07:57

Vasily Kabunov

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Ok, this is weird. If I copy/past the example `.gitignore` (which contains `build/` ) in the `app/` folder, build files are not ignored. Same result if I add `/app/build/`,`/*/build/` or `app/build/`. – Michele Fortunato Jan 01 '17 at 08:07
Android studio uses this approach:) Try creating a new project to check – Vasily Kabunov Jan 01 '17 at 08:13
>If I copy/past the example .gitignore (which contains build/ ) in the app/ folder, build files are not ignored. That's not right – Vasily Kabunov Jan 01 '17 at 08:14
I see some `.gitignore` ignoring the entire `.idea` folder, some only few files like `.idea/workspace.xml` or folders like `.idea/libraries`. Which is the correct approach? – Michele Fortunato Jan 01 '17 at 08:34
I prefer ignoring whole `.idea` folder. – Vasily Kabunov Jan 01 '17 at 08:35

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 01 '17 at 08:12

If I copy/past the example .gitignore (which contains build/ ) in the app/ folder, build files are not ignored.

That would be because those files are already tracked.

Try:

cd app
git rm --cached -r build/
git add .
git commit -m "record build content deletion"
git push

Then app/build will be ignored.

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 01 '17 at 07:58

1

Have a look at gitignore.io for generating gitignore files

answered Jan 01 '17 at 07:58

Isaac

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Should I version app/build files in Android Studio?

3 Answers3