git and removing files

Question

so the only way to remove files froma working tree and have git register it and incorporate that change in future HEAD's is to use 'git rm'? I just want to be sure. I've been using regular bash 'rm' for a bit now and git is never picking up on those file/dir deletions, and it was bugging me why it wasnt.

thank you

Answer 1

yes you have to use git rm to remove them from the source control, you can see the man page for more details.

Answer 2

git rm is the usual way but there are other ways. If you use git add -u or git commit -a to stage all changes to currently tracked files then the deletion action for tracked files which have been removed will be correctly staged. git add -A will also notice deleted files.

Answer 3

git commit -a would automatically pick up file deletions.