git add with patterns and directories - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

💻 Command Output

intermediate

What files are staged after running this command?

Given a directory with files:

• src/app.js
• src/utils.js
• test/app.test.js
• README.md

What files will be staged after running:
git add src/*.js

A src/app.js and src/utils.js

B src/app.js only

C src/app.js, src/utils.js, and test/app.test.js

D All .js files in the repo

💡 Hint

The pattern matches files only in the specified directory, not subdirectories.

The pattern 'src/*.js' matches all .js files directly inside the 'src' directory only. It does not include files in subdirectories like 'test/'.

💻 Command Output

intermediate

What is the effect of this git add command?

Assuming the current directory contains:

• docs/intro.md
• docs/setup.md
• docs/images/logo.png

What files will be staged after:
git add docs/*.md

A No files staged, pattern is invalid

B docs/intro.md, docs/setup.md, and docs/images/logo.png

C Only docs/intro.md

D docs/intro.md and docs/setup.md

💡 Hint

The pattern '*.md' matches markdown files only in the specified directory.

The pattern 'docs/*.md' matches all markdown files directly inside 'docs' but not files in subdirectories like 'docs/images/'.

❓ Configuration

advanced

How to stage all files recursively in a directory?

You want to stage all files inside the 'src' directory and all its subdirectories. Which command achieves this?

A git add src/**/*.js

B git add src/*

C git add src/

D git add src/*.**

💡 Hint

Adding a directory stages all files inside it recursively.

Using 'git add src/' stages all files inside 'src' and its subdirectories recursively. Patterns like 'src/*' only match files directly inside 'src'.

❓ Troubleshoot

advanced

Why does this git add command not stage files in subdirectories?

You run:
git add logs/*.log
But files in 'logs/2024/' are not staged. Why?

A The pattern '*.log' matches only files directly inside 'logs', not in subdirectories

B Git does not support adding files with patterns

C The command needs sudo privileges to add files in subdirectories

D The files in 'logs/2024/' are ignored by .gitignore

💡 Hint

Patterns without recursive wildcards do not match files in subfolders.

The pattern '*.log' matches only files directly inside 'logs'. To include subdirectories, you must add the directory or use recursive patterns.

🔀 Workflow

expert

Which command stages only .js files in all subdirectories of 'src'?

You want to stage all .js files inside 'src' and any nested folders. Which command works correctly?

A git add src/*.js

B git add 'src/**/*.js'

C git add src/

D git add src/*/*.js

💡 Hint

Use double star '**' for recursive matching in supported shells.

The pattern 'src/**/*.js' matches all .js files recursively in 'src' and subfolders. Other options either match only top-level files or all files.