A Linux Script to Delete All the .git Folders Hidden in Your Repo Folders

When dealing with numerous git repositories scattered across various directories, managing multiple projects can often lead to clutter. The manual procedure of identifying and removing these repositories can prove to be time-consuming and prone to errors.

Imagine a scenario where your projects are spread across dozens of directories, each containing its own .git folder. Navigating through each directory manually to clean up unnecessary repositories eats up your valuable time and disrupts your workflow. This clutter can slow down your system, create confusion, and hinder productivity.

To streamline this process, I’ve crafted a simple yet effective Linux script 🤖 that automates the tedious task of locating and optionally deleting .git directories within the current directory and all its subdirectories.

This script ensures you can focus more on development and less on directory management.

Cleaning Up Git Directories

Understanding the Script

The script is designed to search for .git directories recursively, print their paths, and give you the option to delete them all at once. It uses the powerful find command to achieve this, enhancing efficiency and accuracy.

#!/bin/bash


# Array to hold paths of found .git directories
git_dirs=()


# Function to find .git directories and list them
find_git_directories() {
  echo -e "🔍 Searching for .git directories...\n"

  (sleep 1) &
  show_loader

  # Use find to locate all .git directories starting from the current directory
  git_dirs=($(find . -type d -name ".git"))

  # Print each found .git directory
  if [ ${#git_dirs[@]} -eq 0 ]; then
    echo "❌ No .git directories found."
  else
    for dir in "${git_dirs[@]}"; do
      echo "📂 Found .git directory: $dir"
    done
  fi
}


# Function to delete found .git directories after confirmation
delete_confirmed_git_directories() {
  if [ ${#git_dirs[@]} -eq 0 ]; then
    return
  fi

  # Ask if the user wants to delete all found .git directories
  echo -e "\n"
  read -p "🚨 Do you want to delete all found .git directories? (y/n): " choice

  if [[ "$choice" == "y" || "$choice" == "Y" ]]; then
    (sleep 1) &
    show_loader
    for dir in "${git_dirs[@]}"; do
      rm -rf "$dir" && echo "🗑️ Deleted: $dir"
    done
  else
    echo -e "\n✅ No directories deleted."
  fi
}


# Function to display a rotating loader
show_loader() {
  local delay=0.1
  local spinner='|/-\'
  local i=0

  # Loop until the background job completes
  while kill -0 $! 2>/dev/null; do
    printf "\r%c" "${spinner:i++%${#spinner}:1}"
    sleep $delay
  done

  # Clean up
  printf "\r"
}


# Call the functions
find_git_directories
delete_confirmed_git_directories

Breaking Down the find Command

• find This robust command allows for searching through directories.
• . Sets the current directory as the starting point of the search, ensuring every subdirectory is included.
• -type d Filters the search to directories only (d stands for directory).
• -name ".git" Matches directories with the name .git, crucial for targeting git repositories.

Implementing the Solution

First you should create a new file, say cleanup_git_dirs.sh, and paste the script above into it. Then run chmod +x cleanup_git_dirs.sh to make the script executable.

Finally navigate to the directory where you want to clean up git repositories and run ./cleanup_git_dirs.sh. The script will display all found .git directories and prompt you for deletion confirmation.

Conclusion

By automating the cleanup of your .git directories, you save time and decrease the risk of errors. This streamlined process keeps your system organized and running efficiently, allowing you to maintain focus on what truly matters: developing top-tier code without the distraction of directory clutter.