The directory listing API is used to enumerate paths in the work tree, optionally taking .git/info/exclude and .gitignore files per directory into account.

Data structure

struct dir_struct structure is used to pass directory traversal options to the library and to record the paths discovered. A single struct dir_struct is used regardless of whether or not the traversal recursively descends into subdirectories.

The notable options are:

exclude_per_dir

The name of the file to be read in each directory for excluded files (typically .gitignore).

flags

A bit-field of options (the *IGNORED* flags are mutually exclusive):

DIR_SHOW_IGNORED

Return just ignored files in entries[], not untracked files.

DIR_SHOW_IGNORED_TOO

Similar to DIR_SHOW_IGNORED, but return ignored files in ignored[] in addition to untracked files in entries[].

DIR_COLLECT_IGNORED

Special mode for git-add. Return ignored files in ignored[] and untracked files in entries[]. Only returns ignored files that match pathspec exactly (no wildcards). Does not recurse into ignored directories.

DIR_SHOW_OTHER_DIRECTORIES

Include a directory that is not tracked.

DIR_HIDE_EMPTY_DIRECTORIES

Do not include a directory that is not tracked and is empty.

DIR_NO_GITLINKS

If set, recurse into a directory that looks like a Git directory. Otherwise it is shown as a directory.

The result of the enumeration is left in these fields:

entries[]

An array of struct dir_entry, each element of which describes a path.

nr

The number of members in entries[] array.

alloc

Internal use; keeps track of allocation of entries[] array.

ignored[]

An array of struct dir_entry, used for ignored paths with the DIR_SHOW_IGNORED_TOO and DIR_COLLECT_IGNORED flags.

ignored_nr

The number of members in ignored[] array.

Calling sequence

Note: index may be looked at for .gitignore files that are CE_SKIP_WORKTREE marked. If you to exclude files, make sure you have loaded index first.

(JC)