Learn how to Purge Repository Data using Git Filter-Repo tool and BFG Repo-Cleaner

Learn how to Purge Repository Data using Git Filter-Repo tool and BFG Repo-Cleaner

Sometimes, repositories accumulate unnecessary data such as old branches, large binary files, or sensitive information that needs to be cleaned up. Tools like git filter-repo and BFG Repo-Cleaner provide powerful solutions to purge this data while maintaining the integrity of the repository.

1. Git Filter-Repo Tool

git filter-repo is a versatile tool designed to filter and modify Git repositories efficiently. It can clean, rewrite, or modify data without affecting the commit history.

Key Features of git filter-repo:

1. Removes or replaces large files.

2. Rewrites commit history.

3. Filters data by file extensions or content.

4. Efficiently handles large repositories.

Usage Example:

1. Install git filter-repo:

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   pip install git-filter-repo
   

2. Filtering and Rewriting:

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   git filter-repo --path 'path/to/directory' --invert-paths --ref 'main'
   

2. BFG Repo-Cleaner

BFG Repo-Cleaner is another powerful tool for cleaning up Git repositories. It is designed to handle large repositories and can efficiently remove sensitive data, large files, and unwanted history.

Key Features of BFG Repo-Cleaner:

1. Removes sensitive files or patterns.

2. Cleans large binary files and blobs.

3. Deep rewriting of commit history.

4. Can handle specific paths or file patterns.

Usage Example:

1. Install BFG Repo-Cleaner:

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   java -jar bfg.jar --help
   

2. Cleaning Up Sensitive Files:

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   java -jar bfg.jar --delete-files '.log' --no-blob-protection --no-repo-info <repository_url>
   

3. Using git filter-repo and BFG Repo-Cleaner Together

Use Case:

Cleaning both binary files and sensitive data in a large repository.

1. Remove Large Files: Using BFG Repo-Cleaner:

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   java -jar bfg.jar --delete-files '.bin' --delete-files '.jpg' --no-blob-protection <repository_url>
   

2. Rewrite History: Using git filter-repo:

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   git filter-repo --path '.log' --invert-paths --ref 'main'
   

4. Considerations Before Purging Data

1. Backup: Always create a backup before performing data purges to avoid accidental data loss.

2. Branch Consistency: Ensure that branches are merged or preserved before rewriting history.

3. Rebase and Merge: Ensure that changes in main branches are appropriately merged after history rewriting.

5. Benefits of Using Tools

1. Efficiency: BFG and git filter-repo handle large repositories quickly and effectively.

2. Precision: Both tools allow targeted purging of data without affecting other parts of the repository.

3. Simplicity: Easy-to-use interfaces for both novice and experienced users.

Summary

By using tools like git filter-repo and BFG Repo-Cleaner, repositories can be cleaned of unnecessary data while maintaining a clean and efficient Git history.